An Open Mind is an Open Book

[Koedi_Se'Roc]

The underworld of Coruscant is somewhere Koedi never wanted to be, but here he was. Sometimes the dirty work just had to get done. Koedi's force cloak was especially useful for avoiding the shifty characters at every turn and corner. Which is why he was always the one sent to places like this. Koedi never knew if these people were going to help him or hurt him. Even with his powers he never felt... safe.

​Normally Koedi came to this place on a mission from his master, but this time he was there on his own accord. He had set up a meeting with a contact of much notoriety and his audience was not going to be ignored. Koedi needed answers and he needed them now. If his contact would not cooperate, he would make her, whether she wanted to or not.

​Approaching the meeting place, Koedi noticed the place was empty. Something wasn't right, and he wasn't going to stand for it.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Coruscant was never a place someone wanted to be alone, especially in the underworld. Allyson made sure that she had nothing on her that tied her to the Galactic Alliance or to the SIS. The last thing she needed was to become something compromised either group. Above all of the faction protocol, she wanted to make sure that nothing – if something happened to her tied her back to [member="Kaili Talith"]. The girl knew where Allyson was going for the most part and a part of her figured that Kaili was the type to make sure that she could find Allyson where ever the Corellian decided to disappear to. It was comforting and Allyson wondered if in their past life together, before the amnesia if she was alright with the overprotectiveness of the Talith girl.

Either way, Allyson was grateful for it in the end. Inhaling deeply, Allyson took a shot of the copycat Corellian whiskey. Choking slightly, she grunted and slid the glass back to the bartender. “Ah they’re getting closer with mimicking the style – but nothing beats true Corellian Whiskey.” The bartender chuckled and nodded. He agreed and took Allyson’s payment and went about the other patrons. Looking over her shoulder, Allyson made a quick check that no one noticed her and she dipped into the crowd. Training with the SIS made sure she could move within a crowd unnoticed, the perks of being a spy of sorts. Also, helped that her specialty within the Force was with technology.

The woman moved briskly through the dark alleyways security cameras that lined each entrance and exit would suddenly have a static pause and then reactivate. It was quick and something that security wouldn’t make any fuss over. She arrived and kept her eye out for this contact. His name was something she didn’t recognize, but she wondered if it was the amnesia. Either way, something in her gut kept her on edge – either she knew him and knew he was dangerous or it was just that feeling in the Force that alerted someone that something wasn’t as it seemed. Once more taking a deep breath, the Corellian woman placed her hands in her pockets and waited for the man to arrive.

[member="Koedi_Se'Roc"]

 

[Koedi_Se'Roc]

Koedi sensed the woman getting closer. This sensation made him feel at peace somehow. For the first time in this place Koedi felt safe. It was very odd. Koedi brushed off the feeling though as he knew he needed to be on his guard.

Koedi became visible again. As he did this he noticed the woman he was there to see. He felt the urge to pull his lightsaber on her but he didn't. It was almost as if the force told him not to. This meeting was the will of the force and he was not one to counter the force. Koedi spoke,

"Allyson right?"

 

[Gavin Coral]

When Gavin began selling reverse engineered imperial technology, he never thought he would end up here. He never imagined himself as a criminal, even though he stole technology and sold it, he thought it was just a job. But now, here he was, landing his ship, The Twilight in the Coruscant underworld to find a personal stealth drive for sale. Even though he kept his Relby-V10, which he used when he was a sunguard, and his lightsaber pike on him, he didn't feel safe. He wasn't in his shadow guard armor, and he doubted how well the blaster proof vest would work. He remembered his last day at the academy, where he trained as a shadow guard. The instructor had told them that one could not master a lightsaber without the force, now Gavin wished he had stayed a bit longer, to learn the force. He shook off the memory, he was here now, and had a job to do. He saw Koedi appear out of nowhere and decided that Koedi was the man Gavin was looking for. Doing his best to blend in, he watched [member="Koedi_Se'Roc"] from the crowd.

 

[Koedi_Se'Roc]

​Not knowing what to do, Koedi walked toward the woman in the corner. ​"Maybe you didn't hear me before, in that case I'll ask again. Allyson right?"

[member="Allyson Locke"]
[member="Gavin Coral"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson had hoped she would be able to hide in the shadows for a bit and get a good look at this guy that contacted her. Grumbling under her breath she kept her hands in her jacket pockets and removed herself from the protection of the underground's shadows. There was another with the man. Her senses were officially on high alert. The last thing she wanted to deal with was two sith. The sound knew she needed to play it cool, give whatever information is asked of her and make sure neither followed her.

A hand shifted from the pocket and rubbed the back of her neck. The man addressing her was upfront and abrasive, but weren't all Sith like that? Still in the back of her mind she memorized his voice and labeled him as someone she intended to stay away from after this.

The brunette woman nodded, “That’s the name my mother gave me on my name day.” Why did she have to be sarcastic at this time? The Corellian smiled nervously as she pondered her actions. “Didn't know there would be two of you. I would have brought your buddy a dancing partner.” A grin and she turned her attention to the man that summoned her. “So what's this all about? All you Sith like meeting in alleys or something? What happened to good ol bar meetings?”

[member="Koedi_Se'Roc"]
[member="Gavin Coral"]

 

[Koedi_Se'Roc]

​"I might take you up on that dance offer...." ​

Koedi changed his tone,

​"Save me the humor and we can make this fast and painless."

Koedi walked up to the woman and whispered in her ear so the other sith would not hear, ​"Honestly, I have no idea who this other man is. He was not a part of our agreement." Koedi whispered. ​"I just want what I came here for then I'll be out of your way."

Koedi backed away from Allyson and was once again standing in-between the two parties. He kept his hand on his lightsaber and did not let it stray. His former fealing of ease was long gone as the spontaneity of the situation really caught him off guard. He could tell the brunette was trying the make the situation gel more fluently and he was grateful for that, but still Koedi could not back down. Koedi hated being so forceful. That wasn't Koedi, or at least the Koedi who left his family all those years ago. This Koedi was hard, hurtful, and savage. He was sith.

​​Koedi announced to both of them, ​"I am here for a reason, a reason that is very dear to me. Now, if you want to help me follow me to my secret place, if not..." Koedi paused, "You have no place here and will soon meet the tip of my blade."

​Then Koedi just stood there, waiting for one of them to break the silence.

[member="Allyson Locke"]
[member="Gavin Coral"]

 

[Gavin Coral]

Gavin continues to hide in the crowd and watch the conversation.
[member="Koedi_Se'Roc"] [member="Allyson Locke"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

As Koedi moved towards her and closed into her personal space, Allyson felt her hand twitch against the holster where her blaster resided. He spoke quick and backed away. When he did, she kept her hand on her blaster and took a step back away from the Sith. Her eyes narrowed as she looked towards him. HE seemed to think that she and the rest of the galaxy revolved around him at this very moment. She remained silent for a moment – allowing him to finish his small speech.

“We will conduct business here.” She wasn’t an idiot, follow a Sith down to his secret place. That was just asking to appear on some holonet news show. Shaking her head, she reiterated her stance. “Don’t make threats you can’t uphold. I came on whatever crazy reason – to meet you – someone I don’t fully trust just yet. How do I know that you’re not just going to decapitate me in your secret place?” Another step back and the former smuggler wrapped her fingers around the butt of her blaster.

“If you wanting for this little exchange to happen you need to show me some good faith mate. I came here, that’s my good faith, but I’m not going anywhere else with you – unless it’s to a crowded bar or something where I know you won’t do anything moronic.” [member="Gavin Coral"] [member="Koedi_Se'Roc"]

 

[Leo Vandermolen]

Life was hard for a smuggler turned vigilantly, and alcohol was good. Well, most alcohol, but Leo had grown used to the watered down swill they passed off as whiskey in the many bars in and around Coruscant, it was his home after all. And life wasn't all that hard, his position came with some perks, but nevertheless, here he sat, relaxing in a corner booth in some backstreet cantina, the dirty light grabbing at his dirtier hair as he thumped a rhythm on the table of the booth he now sat at, sipping at his drink. The though dawned on Leo that he had never really ordered food at a bar before, and on the many occasions he had treated himself in the back alley cantinas and downright filthy bars, he would only ever get a drink. "Waitress." He raised his hand to the nearest person in a work uniform, a lovely, young Twi'lek woman, "Something to snack on, please. Surprise me." He said with the slyest of smiles and a devilish wink. She giggled and responded under her breath before retreating back to the kitchen, leaving Leo alone with his thoughts.

But his thoughts suddenly pricked up as he spied a commotion near another both, some Zabrak draped in an unoriginal black cloak, clearly playing at being a sith, was harassing a fine, young woman, making what seemed to be advances on her. Intrigued by something interesting actually happening, Leo decided to play it out, concealing himself with the force, attempting to shrink his presence down to a pinprick as he attempted to listen in on what has happening. He'd been out of the game for awhile, and boy, was it good to be back.

| [member="Allyson Locke"] | [member="Gavin Coral"] | [member="Koedi_Se'Roc"] |

 

[Koedi_Se'Roc]

​​Koedi could definitely feel the tension rising.

"I cannot conduct business with all these people around. You have​ to trust me, ok? I know that doesn't sound good coming from a sith but you have to trust me and follow me to my meeting place."

​After he finished talking Koedi felt a certain familiarity within the force. As someone who has been able to force cloak themselves from a very young age, he didn't think anyone else could also have his power. Could it be?

"Come on out shadow. I know you are here. I am like you."

 

[Leo Vandermolen]

Leo mustn't have heard the kid properly, but sure enough, he had turned to address the scraggly haired man as he reclined in his booth. "I'm sorry, what?" he asked the Zabrakian who looked no older than a teenager, "I'm just trying to enjoy my drink, get some food and bask in the nightlife, friend." He spoke a partial truth, but Leo's intentions need not concern this boy playing at a sith.

But, he was still curious as to how this kid had picked up on his force sensitivity so quickly, maybe he just needed more practice, or maybe this one had something more to him. Leo decided to find out. "I don't know why you've decided to strike up such a strange conversation, my friend, but you're welcome to join me for a drink. Come, sit." He gestured to the seat in front of him, calling for the bartenders attention, "What's your poison?" he questioned the boy.

| [member="Koedi_Se'Roc"] |

 

[Koedi_Se'Roc]

"Fine... we will conduct our meeting here in this bar."

Koedi didn't want to have to do this but he figured it was the only way he would get the information he needed. Besides, these people were probably all too drunk to remember anything about his presence there.

[member="Leo Vandermolen"]
[member="Allyson Locke"]
[member="Gavin Coral"]

 

[Gavin Coral]

Gavin walked into the bar and went directly to [member="Koedi_Se'Roc"]. He said "Sorry I have to sit here, but I couldn't find an empty seat." Keeping a straight face, He was not in his Shadow guard armor, but he had his pike and his relby. He passed Koedi a note reading "Unless you want this seen to turn from a bar to a bloodbath, I would tell me how you became invisible earlier, you have fifteen minutes. Carry on a normal conversation." He called for a waiter and got a non alcholic drink and meal.

 

[Koedi_Se'Roc]

​Koedi read the note that was slid to him. He was strictly prohibited from telling anyone about his powers unless he was told to. But that didn't mean he was always going to follow those rules. Still, his knowledge came at a price. Koedi wrote back, ​"I will tell you what you want... but only if you do something for me."

​Koedi was getting impatient with his contact. Somehow his simple meeting had now turned into a group meeting of four around a table at a bar. This woman knew something about his past yet, he didn't even know if she still knew that she knew. Something was definitely off.

[member="Gavin Coral"]
[member="Leo Vandermolen"]
[member="Allyson Locke"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson looked at the crowd that gathered. She wondered what was in that shot she took earlier before all of this. Blinking, she decided to just go with the flow and see how this all panned out. Her blaster was at the ready if anything weird happened. As the waitress wandered by, Allyson quickly ordered a drink and waited for it to arrive. At least she was getting what she wanted and that was a crowded place to do whatever business that was needed.

She cursed the SIS for this mission, but she was happy there was no skimpy outfit involved. That was a plus for the situation at hand. Looking at the small group she shook her head, this was an odd group and it was just screaming at every other patron in the bar that this was some shady stuff. Either way, Allyson pulled her jacket tighter around her and unfolded the collar so it stood protecting her neck. Another heavy sigh and she looked towards [member="Koedi_Se'Roc"]

“Why did you call for me?”

[member="Gavin Coral"]
[member="Leo Vandermolen"]

 

[Koedi_Se'Roc]

Koedi looked at [member="Allyson Locke"]. He started speaking in a very serious tone...

​"I was taken from my home a while ago by the sith. I can remember that day in vivid detail. What a throbbing headache I had. I came here searching for answers about that day. I did some digging and found you. (I know, the sith have more information than you'd expect) The database said you were stuggling with amnesia and that things have happened in your past you may not even know about. My father was once an SIS agent before he met my mother. His name was Koebo Se'Roc. I have no idea if you knew him in your "past life" but I need you to try to remember otherwise this whole blasted trip was for nothing."

​Koedi knew that was a lot to throw at the brunette but he felt he made himself clear.

[member="Gavin Coral"]
[member="Leo Vandermolen"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson sipped her drink after the waitress dropped it off along with whatever the others had ordered. That weird feeling, the vibe that you get that this wasn’t the best situation to put yourself in continued to throb in her stomach. She wondered if she should leave, mostly because the situation wasn’t going to provide her with anything she wanted. Her nose wrinkled as she looked towards the Zabrak as his tone became even more serious that it was before.

She blinked and listened to his words. Her glass found its place back on the table and her head tilted slightly. How in the galaxy did the Sith even know about her, on top of knowing the intimate details of her health condition…even more curious why would they even care? Allyson wasn’t a powerful Jedi. Heck, she could only control machines through the force, beyond that she was basically a non-force user. Her expression darkened as she examined the Zabrak even more, she was barely older than he was and here he was assuming she knew his father. From her knowledge, the SIS wasn’t even a thing, it was new and came about when the Galactic Alliance arose from the rubble of the collapsing republic.

Inhaling deeply, she knew the answer to this. It was time for her to leave along with deny everything he was asking. More so, she was slightly offended that he assumed her to be so old. “Well then…” She took another sip and finished her drink. Allyson wiped her mouth and smirked. “Guess you’re Sith out of luck. I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m not suffering from amnesia, and I have no idea what the SIS is. I’m just a free-lance cargo pilot, who happens to frequent Alliance establishments.” She left a few credits on the table under the empty class and worked her way out of her chair. Looking at Koedi, she shrugged.

“Also, how old do you really think I am?! Jeez I’ve barely gotten through my 20th year alive. There’s no way in this galaxy would I have known your father. You’ve wasted my time and yours” Putting her hands on the table she looked back at the Zabrak. “If anyone needs to try and remember its you. Not me. Whatever information you think you have on me isn’t true, shouldn’t you know not to trust a Sith?” Leaning back up she shook her head then made her way towards the door. She dug into her pocket and pulled out her comm device and quickly sent her coordinates and a quick message to [member="Kaili Talith"].

‘Need a ride. You close by? Also, I’m hungry.’​

​

[member="Koedi_Se'Roc"] @Gavin Coral [member="Leo Vandermolen"]​

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Allyson Locke"] [member="Koedi_Se'Roc"] @Gavin Coral [member="Leo Vandermolen"]

Well, Kaili wouldn’t be doing her job as a girlfriend if she hadn’t been keeping a creepy-close eye on her soulmate’s every move, would she? Obviously she wasn’t monitoring Allyson’s every move, but Kaili was often made aware of where Allyson went one way or the other. Of course, most of that time it was by Allyson herself, and in this case it was actually Allyson who had asked her to be around. Today hadn’t started as a workday, but after Allyson had gotten a call from her ‘employers’ there was no doubt that it had become one. At least for a short amount of time, a ‘diversion’ as Allyson had referred to it.

With a bitterly mutter Kaili had agreed to let her do it. The love of her life had then of course proceeded to walk around for a few blocks, taken a right and then a left into an unused alleyway to meet whoever or whatever it was that she had been sent to meet. Eyeing Allyson’s movements on the maps from her holopad, Kaili had started to move on their location the second she noticed Allyson leaving the alley without actually returning. They went to a bar instead. Curious.

The holdout slugthrower within the confines of Kaili’s leather jacket had found its holster unbuttoned by the time she stepped up to the bar. She didn’t like the idea of having to use it, but in establishments like these there really was no telling, right?

Right.

Yet as Kaili approached the door Allyson had already stepped out and was waiting for her. The hand that had reached for her gun would slowly ease up as she pulled it out from underneath her jacket. A visible sigh of relief parting her lips as she approached the Corellian with a peck on the cheek.

“I was worried for a second.” She chuckled. “I got your message, and I was already kind of on my way.”

“Aaaand if you’re hungry, I hear they have a decent Borleian delicacy store around here… Somewhere.”

“Oooo, or maybe Atrisian?” Kaili laughed. “Pick your poison, and I will cover it for you. Anything you want.”

It didn't matter much in the end. The two women would begin their departure from the bar with Kaili keeping an extra eye out for any potential threats in their midst. Hand patting against her jacket to ensure her gun was still there.

 

[Leo Vandermolen]

Leo listened contently, enjoying his freshly served Serf meat with various sides to compliment the flavor. Something had happened, he didn't know what, but it happened nonetheless. The woman finished her drink before Leo had even sunk the halfway mark, he smirked, genuinely impressed by this woman's ability to hold her liquor, but much like everyone at the now crowded table, he sensed an inclination of the force, however small.

The events unfolded before him as he ate, piquing his interest until the antithesis of the girl upping and walking out of the bar, leaving Leo with the unexpected company of the Sith. Fun. He continued enjoying his meal, attempting to pay little attention to the men surrounding him, spare and occasional glance at them as he sipped his whiskey.

The evening was coming to a close, but the night was still young. Finishing his meal, Leo skilled the rest of his drink, throwing a wad of credits on the table and standing. "Well, gentlemen. This has been fun." He announced, turning to also leave the bar, "Make sure not to kill any civilians now. Ta-ta." He finished with a cheeky smile, his mocking plain to see. Continuing out the door, he felt a sense of invigoration. Like he was back in his hay-day, maybe he could take this opportunity to hone the skills, as it were.

Continuing outwards, Leo boosted himself through the air, focusing on the tight grip of an alley-way rooftop edge as he pulled himself further upwards. That fine lady would still be around here somewhere. And who knows, maybe she was in need of saving...

| [member="Kaili Talith"] | [member="Allyson Locke"] | [member="Koedi_Se'Roc"] | [member="Gavin Coral"] |