To new journeys…

[Nubica Felidae]

With lowlifes of every species from three-eyed Gran to four-armed Hekto standing belly-to-bar, the Red Ronto reminded Nubica of that cantina back on Mos Eisley — the one every Jedi gets told about in history lessons. Smoke hung in the air so thick and green she could taste it, and the bartender was pulling drinks from a tangle of pipes and spigots more complicated than a hyperdrive unit. There was even an all-Bith band onstage — though instead of upbeat jatz, they were blasting the room with outdated smazzo.

Usually, the driving bass and stabbing wailhorn made Nubica think of banging coolant lines. But today she was feeling it, and why not? This part of the trip promised to be more relaxed than what was to come. They were here to collect coordinates and then perform a little reconnaissance.

“I don’t like it,” she said to Anderit, raising her voice over the music. “Even undercover operatives aren’t this late.”

She turned to look across the table, where Anderit sat with a half-empty drink in front of him. Nubica was wearing the jumpsuit she’d been bought all that time ago. Over time she’d adapted it — and now it was her go to undercover clothing. Her robes were back on the ship.

She now sported a grey gunner’s jacket over the suit. She thumbed a control pad on the edge of the table, and the faint yellow radiance of a tranquillity screen rose around their booth. The screen was a rare touch of quality for a place like the Red Ronto, but one Nubica appreciated as the raucous music faded to a muffled booming.

“Take a look at that miner over there. His Force aura is filled with anxiety.”

Nubica gazed toward a young olive-skinned human dressed in the dust-caked safety boots and molytex jumpsuit of an asteroid miner. With a nose just crooked enough to be rakish and a T-6 blaster pistol hanging from his side, the kid was clearly no stranger to a fight. But he was not exactly streetwise, either. He was just standing there in the doorway, squinting into dark corners while he remained silhouetted against the light behind him.

The miner’s gaze stopped at the their booth. He flashed a brash smile, then said something to the bartender and raised three fingers.

[member="Anderit Rinaren"]

 

[Placeholder 0134]

The Galactic Alliance had not been the most accepting of the Rinaren brothers, and why should they? The duo were Nightbrothers, and had dragged a Nightsister, a known user of the dark magicks, along with them. Of course, he'd already done his part to garner some of Commander Starchaser's trust, and had succeeded somewhat in that right. It was easy to level with folks when you both wanted the same thing to do.

Unfortunately, the brothers and their comrade were separated to test their 'loyalty' to the alliance. The Jedi Marshals that were put in charge of the trio had decided that Anderit was well suited for this kind of thing -- apparently his casual take on things made him well suited for this kind of operation. He did not mind, but there was a thousand questions he needed to ask.

The foremost being what in the Gods' great wrath really were Jedi. He was partnered up with this one, [member="Nubica Felidae"], and sent to the backside of the galaxy. He had not found the chance to inquire this 'padawan' about her people -- the music was far too loud, and reminded him of the Sisters's cleansing ceremonies far too much.

He drained what remained of the drink he'd ordered with a look of disdain. There 'spacers' truly had no eye for real taste, or perhaps they were all looking for a way to get intoxicated quickly. Likely the latter. "Perhaps his mate kept him," he leaned back in his chair and shrugged.

The clothing he was provided with was...well, quite uncomfortable. Instead of the hooded combat leather he was so fond of, he'd been forced to don the garments of these common folk. In other words, he was wearing a black hoodie made of cloth --cloth! -- and combat boots. He had refused to leave his lightsaber staff at home; the weapon was the first trophy he would take from the Sith. He wasn't leaving home without it. It lay awkwardly in the middle pocket of his hoodie. The point was sticking out, so he had to keep a hand over it at all times.

First class operative.

"Yes, the magicks do seem a little off with him," the Nightbrother snickered, "Now he is looking at us. He is either our operative, or I've charmed him with my tattoo. It is an ancient Dathomiri rune designed to bring other sentients under my thrall, you know." A lie, of course.

He chuckled, "I'm surprised you haven't lost all your sense, Lady Nubica -- here he comes."

 

[Nubica Felidae]

She ignored the title she’d been bestowed. He was either of a persuasion that used such nomenclatures or he was trying to goad her. So she chose not to react. The former was excusable and the latter beneath her.

The miner placed a hand on his chest. “Doma Geak, at your service,” he said, bowing. “Captain, owner and operator of one of the oldest and most profitable asteroid tugs in the Rift.”

Nubica rolled her eyes at the overblown introduction, but refrained from biting. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Captain.” She motioned at the table. “Won’t you join us?”

He flashed his brash smile again. “It would be an honor.”

Instead of taking a seat where Nubica had indicated, he leaned across the table to set his glass in the shadows on the far side of the booth — an obvious attempt to position himself where he could watch the door. Nubica quickly rose and allowed him into the back of the booth. If a stranger wanted to place himself in a crossfire zone between the two of them, she wasn’t going to argue.

“You’re not our contact, that much I deduce. So where is he?”

“He’s no longer in a position to meet you. He’d dead.” The message lingered in the air for a few moments.

His hand dropped toward his thigh pocket, causing Nubica to cover her saber hilt.

But he was only reaching for a datapad. “He gave me this. Apparently it has all you need. Coordinates and specifications.”

[member="Anderit Rinaren"]

 

[Placeholder 0134]

Doma Geak.

Anderit's lips pressed into a thin line. He lacked experience in this sort of setting, so he deferred to [member="Nubica Felidae"] for dealing with the informant. However, when he admitted that the true contact was dead, it was all Anderit could do to restrain himself from springing at the captain. In his mind, the logical explanation was that this man had killed their agent. Oddly enough, Felidae seemed unperturbed; meaning that he shouldn't be either.

Grumbling a curse under his breath, the Nightbrother forced himself to relax.

"Thank you." It was forced, though it sounded genuine at the very least. Anderit was quickly glowing to dislike this business.

His gaze fell down to the datapad. He wanted to see what was on it for himself, but he would leave that to Lady Nubica. He had no desire to reveal his ineptitude with common technologies such as that -- he could read, what more could these people want from him?

"I suppose you might be expecting a reward, Captain?" Anderit lofted a tattooed brow. He had a credit chip provided to him by the quartermaster on Sulust if such was required. From his relatively short experience with these kind of people, he had come to learn they operated on material greed rather than the goodness of their hearts.

 

[Nubica Felidae]

Nubica had no credit chips. She was here for information to be given willingly. If the interloper had expected payment from her, he’d have been found wanting. But her accomplice had a credit chip for him, so she allowed the transaction to happen.

Did she trust the informant? No. But she took the datapad and its contents at face value for now. She tapped the screen as the two men spoke. The coordinates seemed straightforward and a preliminary scan of the data suggested the target was well defended and getting any intelligence would be a challenge of them. But it was too late to call in more senior operatives.

She nodded a good-bye to the young captain and once he had gone, she shared what she knew.

“So, stake-outs. Intelligence gathering? Do you have experience?”

[member="Anderit Rinaren"]