Faction Suspicious Times

[Kadann]

Kadann sat in plain clothes on a folding chair in the shade of a tall tree in a clearing in the market. Across his lap was a book.

"I am going to spend the next week reading."

He pointed to a building that overlooked the bustling marketplace.

"Over there. Nothing is going to bother me except for two possible things."

"First of all, one of you brings me a bookmark."

Kadann pointed up. In the highest branches hung a series of colourful bookmarks.

"Secondly, one of my security team calls me to tell me they've seen one of you."

Kadann paused and a series of market goers in plain clothes suddenly stopped and turned to face the group of acolytes.

"That's the test. Team of two, plan your approach. You have to pick a bookmark out of the tree with your bare hands without being seen."

"Any questions before you leave to plan and I go and read my book?"

 

[Vestara VII]

Location: Marketplace
Dialogue Legend: “Galactic Basic” │ <”ur-Kittât”>
Equipment and Attire: Pants and Boots │ Top │ Jin'Wodasir - Pins of Protection │ Spirit Anchor │ Amulet of Many │ Electro-Whip
Tag: Kadann

Colorful bookmarks hanging off of high branches like a row of flags on top of a foreign embassy building. Security guards in plain clothes. A busy marketplace. A towering tree. Vestara took in all of those elements and more as she quietly mulled over the task at hand. The scenario would have been a challenge for any acolyte with a conventional skillset. However, for a healer like her, at first glance it seemed to be a nigh-impossible task.

It was just her luck then, that she would have to do it while working with a partner.

Under any other scenario, that might have been cause for celebration. However, in this particular instance, Vestara felt that she might only drag her partner down. She would have preferred to fail alone and thus, take the consequences of it for herself, rather than causing someone else to fail through her inability to carry her own weight. Such an occurrence would likely cause the acolyte who had failed because of her weakness to subsequently belittle and attack her.

Said acolyte might even attempt to kill her. Weakness could not be tolerated in the Sith, after all.

Nevertheless, Vestara would try, no doubt. However, her abilities were not in any way geared towards stealth or mesmerism.

Perhaps here then, she might learn.

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT MISSION -
Immediate Goals -
1: Deliver a Bookmark Unseen
1.1: Attain and Ascertain Partner
1.2: Ascertain the abilities of the security team

BLUFOR - Kadann , Vestara VII , related Sith Acolytes

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Kadann Vestara VII

---

"Actually, Ah do, two actually: Firstly, we have an entire week to do this?" The Kiffar stood above most other Acolytes, and stood older still. He was a late bloomer, he knew this, but this would be something more in his wheelhouse. While moonlighting as an Acolyte, he by occupation was a detective, and technically an asset collector. As such, all of this slinking around security could be easy, it takes one to stop one, eh?

Trayze looked at the other acolyte. A young, pale woman with blue eyes, and an uncertain yet pious gait. She was a healer, Trayze could see it as much, and she seemed almost resign to be trampled over. What a terrible upbringing, to be resigned to be alone, the Kiffar thought to himself as he assessed and marked a potential partner. This would be an excellent test, to not only overcome an obstacle, but to do so while teaching another, an excellent means for his future goals.

To ensure the Sith Order passes through this age of backstabbing into an age of unity.

"Secondly, whaddya readin'?" This latter one was framed under genuine curiosity, and to make a mental note as to how quickly his "target" may parse through each possible novel.

 

[Annika Starfire]

Location: Marketplace
Objective: Retrieve bookmark
Tags: Kadann Vestara VII Trayze Tesar
Gear: in bio

Wearing: this but with her hat

Annika looked up at the towering tree and at the bookmarks that hung up there. "Seems like an inconvenient place to store your bookmarks" she joked to the teacher. With her skillset she didn't actually see much of a challenge actually retrieving the bookmark, open a portal, reach out and take it, job done. But there must be more to learn than that, so she would be patient and she would observe her acolyte peers.

"These guards, do they know we are coming?" it was a fair question, it changed the makeup of the challege drasticallt if the guards were literally watching the bookmarks through scopes, they would need to be neutralised first, if they were on a more natural setting, then stealth would be the approach. She looked at her own partner Rayth and smiled, she enjoyed training with him, their physical training regime was certainly adding to her educational experience. She did however wonder whether working out with a vampire might be a mistake as she was sure she had lot a little weight from their rigorous routine. "What do you think babe? You want the guards or the tree?" she dropped to a lower whisper "Or maybe you want a crack at the opposition?" she raided her eyebrows and gave a pleasant greeting look towards the other pair.

 

[Kadann]

"Actually, Ah do, two actually: Firstly, we have an entire week to do this?"

"An entire week, yes. I expect - no actually I suggest that you go away and work with your partner. I think the two of you are probably working together," he said, nodding at Vestara VII

"Secondly, whaddya readin'?"

"Actually I have quite the collection on right now," Kadann replied. "From a study on the Great Galactic rebellion that started at Yavin, through to some pre-gulag romance novels. Hence, I will be quite glad to have some bookmarks back," he added, hiding most of the brief smile in his beard.

"These guards, do they know we are coming?"

"Indeed they do. If my reading is interrupted by a call from a guard, you lose. Bring me a bookmark you win. There is no need to try and sabotage each other," Kadann added. It was very different teaching Sith, he found.

 

[Rayth]

She looked at her own partner Rayth Rayth and smiled, she enjoyed training with him, their physical training regime was certainly adding to her educational experience. She did however wonder whether working out with a vampire might be a mistake as she was sure she had lot a little weight from their rigorous routine. "What do you think babe? You want the guards or the tree?" she dropped to a lower whisper "Or maybe you want a crack at the opposition?" she raided her eyebrows and gave a pleasant greeting look towards the other pair.

Rayth looked towards the other two, following Annika's gaze. He didn't want to go right for the other teams if they could complete the task on their own, but he would also do whatever Annika told him to do.

"Let's plan away from them maybe," Rayth suggested.

He looked around them. He couldn't memorise the faces of all the guards who had showed themselves. If the master was canny then they wouldn't have revealed themselves anyway.

He could move quickly, but he couldn't think how to get up the tree in broad daylight without being seen.

"Let's get a room overlooking the square if we can," he whispered.

 

[Vestara VII]

Location: Marketplace
Dialogue Legend: “Galactic Basic” │ <“ur-Kittât”> <
Equipment and Attire: Pants and Boots │ Top │ Jin'Wodasir - Pins of Protection │ Spirit Anchor │ Amulet of Many │ Electro-Whip
Tag: Kadann Trayze Tesar Annika Starfire Rayth

Vestara listened to the questions and the elderly Dark Jedi’s subsequent responses. Then, she turned towards her partner—a tall (relative to her own height), olive-skinned Kiffar with black dreadlocks and a piercing gaze. The Hapan offered him a wary glance before briefly looking at the others in the group, none of whom she immediately recognized. They quickly moved to talk among themselves, at which point Vestara took the cue and shifted her gaze back towards her assigned partner.

“I am called Vestara.” The short-statured healer promptly introduced herself, speaking in a low whisper. Even a name could be a weapon. “Let us first move away from here as soon as possible.” She suggested, her tone hurried and paranoid.

“Will you lead the way?”

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT MISSION - Deliver a Bookmark
Immediate Goals -
1: Deliver a Bookmark Unseen
1.1: Escort the young lady
1.2: Ascertain the abilities of the security team

BLUFOR - Fellow Acolytes

OPFOR - ENEMY UNKNOWN

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Vestara VII

---

Trayze drank deep the surrounding sensations, allowing the Force to slouch outward like like a curtain in water. He wanted to glide over each moving part of the crowd, before a brunt of his own mind regarded the healer. She was quiet. Panicked. Dainty.

But Trayze knew far better than to underestimate her.

As she introduced herself, he offered an arm to the petite woman, "Ah believe Ah know my way 'round here." he answered, a gentle smile upon his face as he continued to silently assess all parties involved. Whether this was a competition between the pairs, or could some coordinated compromise occur? There was a week to figure things out, and so, Trayze did not rush initially.

As the two would walk idly around the plaza, the Kiffar would lean down and match her tone, their auras whispering in the shadows of the crowds and buildings. "So, Miss Vestera," he began. "How experienced are ya in this field?"

 

[Vestara VII]

Location: Marketplace
Dialogue Legend: “Galactic Basic” │ <“ur-Kittât”> <
Equipment and Attire: Pants and Boots │ Top │ Jin'Wodasir - Pins of Protection │ Spirit Anchor │ Amulet of Many │ Electro-Whip
Tag: Kadann Trayze Tesar

Vestara accepted her partner’s arm and allowed herself to be led away from the main group, her gaze shifting from one direction to another as she did. Nevertheless, the Kiffar’s confidence was somewhat relieving, in that it eased the frantic beating of the healer’s heart, if only for a moment.

And yet, Vestara could not allow herself to get comfortable, nor would she suppress the fear that kept her awareness honed to a lethal edge.

“There.” Vestara said, before subtly gesturing towards a small sign in the far distance which was on the fourteenth floor of a tall building overlooking the marketplace. However, while the establishment stood over the marketplace, it was still more than a few kilometers away, which was perfect for Vestara. “Soul Brothers & and Sisters.” The Hapan added softly, not wanting to be overheard. “We can get seats by one of the windows, so we can look down on the plaza.” She suggested.

As the two would walk idly around the plaza, the Kiffar would lean down and match her tone, their auras whispering in the shadows of the crowds and buildings. "So, Miss Vestera," he began. "How experienced are ya in this field?"

“I…” Vestara paused, before casting her glance around to ensure that no one was eavesdropping on the conversation. Even so, she was hesitant to admit her lack of expertise, even to an individual who was supposed to be her ally in this endeavor. “I’m a healer.” The Hapan stated softly, a slight frown coming over her features as she did. “So, none. I have no experience when it comes to tasks of this nature.” She admitted.

 

[Annika Starfire]

Location: Marketplace
Objective: Retrieve bookmark
Tags: Kadann Vestara VII Trayze Tesar Rayth
Gear: in bio
Wearing: this but with her hat

"A whole week?" she had missed that part. "Might just suggest an easier book... and certainly a pot too p..." her boyfriend nudged her to remind her to stop talking. And she simply smiled angelically.

The other pair had walked quickly away so it the turn of her and Rayth .

"Let's get a room overlooking the square if we can,"

She grinned, a hotel room would be a good plan, they had time to get this done and apparently it wasn't a race so they might as well do it properly. She pulled out her holodevice "Hang on, let's see.... ooh, this hotel has a balcony room with a hot tub ... oh stars? How much?" she laughed and send a quick message to the owner to put in a better offer for the room. A few moments later her device pinged and she started frantically typing again. Then another ping.

"Perfect, all booked. You might need to be in a couple of shots though yeah?" she said to Rayth, forgetting he likely had no idea what she was up to. She slipped it away and bowed her head to Kadann before turning to leave with the other acolyte.

The room she had found was lovely, fairly quaint but recently modernised, a big comfortable bed in the main room that led out onto a large balcony with an already bubbling hot tub. Annika tossed her stuff onto the bed and walked out, putting her hands on the bars and beckoning that Rayth join her. The square was busy down below but she imagined it being fairly romantic once then sun went down and all the street lights were fired up. "Come on, I want to hear it... Annika, you are...." she giggled. Amazing, wonderful, clever, all acceptable answers.

"So how do you think we approach this then?"

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT MISSION - Deliver a Bookmark
Immediate Goals -

BLUFOR - Sith Acolytes

OPFOR - Enemy Unknown

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Vestara VII

---

"A healer, eh?" Trayze echoed in inquiry, his smile going from polite to genuine. Solly's - or at least, that's what true blooded Besberrans called "Soul Brothers & Sisters" - his family's ranch had supplied a few of those cantinas in their time. "Any specific practice?"

There were a few klicks out to where food was, and while Trayze would work up an appetite, he's gonna hold off on their famous beer and fried chicken combo. That would be for after they accomplish their mission.

In the meanwhile, he kept a steady pace, allowing his mind to attune itself to the din of the crowd, the energy, and maybe lingering up to any snoops that Kadann snuck out. He knew to fear an old man in a profession where many died young, and he was at peace with the prospect of failure - mentally he knew he could have grilled the Dark Jedi for more: for all it's worth, their mentor had no reason to tell them the truth. But there was a week between here and the end, and there would be plenty of time to avoid worse fates.

"B'cuz Ah'm a detective, Lt. Inspector." He explained, then sighed... "And Captain under Marque, courtesy of the SIBC, and sometimes Ah'm a Sith." That last part was the most genuine, as he was "seldom a Sith". It was his greatest strength and a damning weakness, and he knew that only a Sith could surpass a Jedi in open combat, so he made sure to budget his time accordingly, allowing him to have a more guided study of the Force and the Dark Side.

"While Ah do have some knowledge, an extra set of eyes and a diff'rent perspective's always helpful." He reassured Vestara, in case she felt the comforting call of falling back into oneself and one's despondency.

 

[Rayth]

"Come on, I want to hear it... Annika, you are...."

Rayth was turning a slow circle in the room. He was dumbfounded by the space she'd managed to book. He bumbled out onto the balcony.

"You're amazing, how did you even afford this?"

Her earlier comment had flown directly over his head. Rayth hadn't been aware that hotels existed just a few months ago, let alone how influencers worked.

Rayth leaned on the balcony. There was no way to remember each of the security guards Master Kadann had hired.

"We watch, I guess. Work out who the guards are. Maybe if it's less protected at night..."

Rayth let his eyes trace the rooftops. He could almost leap from the nearest roof into the tree, but he wouldn't be able to do it quietly.

"What do you think the point of the exercise is?"

 

[Annika Starfire]

Location: Marketplace
Objective: Retrieve bookmark
Tags: Kadann Vestara VII Trayze Tesar Rayth
Gear: in bio
Wearing: this but with her hat

She shrugged innocently when he asked how she had afforded it, she had explained all that before. She shimmied up close to him and pulled his arm around her for the warmth. Even his cold blooded nature kept her very cosy.

She leaned her hands out of the balcony and started idly playing with purple mist that formed and disappated between her hands. "I'm not sure to be honest, stealth... subterfuge. Useful skills yeah but there are many ways to skin a cat." the mists briefly formed into the shape of a humanoid make that looked as though he was perhaps biting the throat out of another armed male. She smirked and that too disappeared.

"I can scout myself about pretty easily now, but i cant seem to work out how to allow other people through.... try and put your hands through this." she summoned a small disc of pure black about a foot across. If Rayth did as he was told he would feel nothing, as if it wasn't even there. "I can send stuff through it, sort of, but I can't get it back if I don't go through too." she sounded thoughtful. Then a playful grin appeared on her face. "What if we were to look at the problem from another route. If we take Kadann out, the guards cannot interrupt him."

Dropped her hands and sighed, cuddling further into Rayth so he was mostly wrapped around her. " What do you think of Vestara VII ? Shes pretty isnt she?" she smiled kindly, knowing very well she had just placed a landmine at her boyfriend's feet.

 

[Kadann]

Kadann proceeded to do exactly what he had said he would. He had a quiet little room and a small stack of books.

He couldn't see the marketplace. He also could not reach out towards the tree.

Because hidden in the canopy, silently drawing from its nutrient frame, was a very content ysalmiri.

 

[Rayth]

Annika Starfire Vestara VII Trayze Tesar

Rayth tilted his head and considered the black disk for a few moments. He pushed his hand into it. Regardless of his reservations, he almost always did what he was told by Annika. He probably would have placed his hand into a roaring fire if she asked nicely enough.

. "What if we were to look at the problem from another route. If we take Kadann out, the guards cannot interrupt him."

"Maybe thinking at it from different angles is the point," Rayth ventured. "We don't even need to take him out. Just stop him answering his comm."

He didn't have an idea of how to do that.

"At least we have time to figure it out. But we only have one real chance." He pulled his hand out of the black disc and gave Annika a gentle squeeze with his other arm.

. " What do you think of Vestara? Shes pretty isnt she?"

"Yeah quite pretty," Rayth replied matter-of-factly without seeing the barb.

"Oh... Er... I mean not as pretty as you though!"

 

[Vestara VII]

Location: Marketplace
Dialogue Legend: “Galactic Basic” │ <“ur-Kittât”> <
Equipment and Attire: Pants and Boots │ Top │ Jin'Wodasir - Pins of Protection │ Spirit Anchor │ Amulet of Many │ Electro-Whip
Tag: Kadann Trayze Tesar

“I am a nurse.” Vestara answered. “I am also training to become a Fleshmender.” She added.

When the Kiffar spoke next, Vestara felt her skin tighten. A ship captain under a letter of marque and a detective? He was clearly far more than a Sith, which made the healer feel even more inadequate than she already did. In that, the strand-cast fell back into her own fear and paranoia, as she glanced around the street for what was the fifth time that minute, in search for eavesdroppers, traps, and other hidden dangers. However, when he spoke again, his voice was comforting and reassuring as it always was. And yet…

Vestara hated it.

Her gaze narrowed with equal parts intensity, focus, and fear as she scanned the area again. On cue, her senses registered an odd void within the currents of the Force. With her emotions as unstable and nervous they were, there was only one conclusion to make of it.

They were being followed.

“We need to move faster.” Vestara hissed as she glanced behind her back, her strides turning long and powerful as she did. “I think we’re being followed.” She added.

Of course, it was the wrong conclusion to make. Nevertheless, Vestara was completely sure of her assessment.

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT MISSION - Deliver a Bookmark
Immediate Goals -
1: Deliver a Bookmark Unseen
1.1: Escort the young lady to Solly's
1.2: Ascertain if we're being followed.

BLUFOR - Vestara VII Annika Starfire Rayth Kadann

OPFOR - ENEMY UNKNOWN

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Vestara VII

---

As soon as Trayze had heard the dreaded word, he recalled what little bits of lore that his lordly cousin extrapolated on the various functions of the Sith Order. Being the Lord of the Tsis'kaar, Trayze learned about the various strange and competing intelligence gathering agencies within the Order, and Trayze understood that even through the passive act of his natural psychometry, he knew his partner Vestara was far more than a dainty nurse. No wonder she felt pressured, and Trayze's eyes widened instinctively.

"Yer in info-gathering, huh?" the Kiffar began. "Y'know my cousin's actually in-"

“We need to move faster.” Vestara hissed as she glanced behind her back, her strides turning long and powerful as she did. “I think we’re being followed.” She added.

And rather than in panic, Trayze's eyes narrowed as he cast his mind's mind in a leering sweep of the crowd. Biting back the quip that she decided to peg an albeit good restaurant a kilometer away. "How many?" he asked under his breath. Had their instructor let slip the harriers in order to force his students' hands?

 

[Annika Starfire]

Location: Marketplace
Objective: Retrieve bookmark
Tags: Kadann Vestara VII Trayze Tesar Rayth
Gear: in bio
Wearing: this but with her hat

"Oh... Er... I mean not as pretty as you though!"

"Ooh, narrowly dodged that one didn't you?" she laughed. A small black bird landed on the balcony next to them and Annika watched it a little as it bounced along, she had liked birds even as a child and make little noise to encourage it.

"Do you think we are over thinking this? I can literally portal to within arms reach and snatch the bookmark. The challenge is stopping the guards reporting to Kadann right? Maybe if we got him away from his comm? Then it's just a matter of speed?" she made a humming noise as she pondered things. She fiddled with her device looking at the building that Kadann was on. "Fire evacuation maybe? No, he'd take his comm. Hmmm." she was chilly and looked at the tub.

She pulled away and moved to uncover the tub. "We aren't doing anything tonight are we. Go get us a bottle and a couple of glasses out of the minifridge while I get this all sorted out."

By the time he returned the lights would be dimmed and Annika would be up to her neck in the bubbling water, illuminated only by blue glow of the tub lights.

"He never set any rules that we couldnt relax and enjoy our week while we made our plans did he?" she laughed and made a little beckoning gesture towards the bottle with her hand.

 

[Rayth]

Vestara VII Trayze Tesar Annika Starfire

Moving Team Raynnika to night one.


"Look," Rayth called for Annika.

They had relaxed in the warm water and let the assignment settle. If the exercise was to be bold and make the first move, then they were taking a risk. One that he was glad they had.

From the balcony, they could still see the tree. The marketplace had emptied. It seemed, on first glance, like a clear run.

"Can you see on the rooftop over there?" Rayth asked.

His eyes were well adapted to the night. The houses were silhouetted against the low cloud and light pollution.

"There are at least five of them."

At night, the hidden security guards in the crowd had been replaced with several watching the tree from the rooftops.