Damn Dirty Thieves!

[Riz Carter]

[member="Einhardt Al'Kuhn"]

"Yeah. Your guards did a bang up job the last few hours," the detective deadpanned to Ein. Palm of her hand pushed at her mocha-skinned face. She'd be needing some strong caf soon.

"Weapons?" Hand fell away and brows rose. "For kriff's sake. We've got all of Coruscant looking for this guy. Might not be enough."

She went up to Ein and pushed her hands on his shoulders so he'd remain seated. "No, you should sit for a bit." Just as quickly her touch was gone and she was pacing in front of the CGO. "Balls in your court. We've gotta find him. Ideas?"

She repeated the question.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Riz Carter"]

He looked around for a moment, then finally motioned to his data terminal.

"Look at Vanir warehouses." Everything was segmented, held apart. This was a measure that had been put in place by Alric for security reasons. No branch was supposed to know what another branch was looking at. The measure had been put into place to prevent scenarios exactly like this.

He frowned.

"There should be some weapon depots." He said after a moment more. "Some run by Gates."

Ein let out a pained grunt.

 

[Riz Carter]

[member="Einhardt Al'Kuhn"]

"Right. Warehouses. Well," amber orbs gave Ein a critical. "I can start there. I'll call in some backup too. Sounds like we may need it."

Dark brows on mocha skinned raised slightly.

"And where do you think you're going in that state of yours?"

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Riz Carter"]

'With you." He said plainly.

Ein was of course in absolutely no shape to go anywhere at all, but that didn't stop him from trying. Riz was the expert in police matters, but Ein was the one whose business was on the line, not to mention they needed someone to know what to do with the crystal.

"You're going to need me." He explained. "Can't get in without me."

Of course one of the other Vanir employees could do it, but he wasn't about to point that out. "And I need to defuse the crystal if he's...armed it."

One way of putting it.

 

[Riz Carter]

[member="Einhardt Al'Kuhn"]

The detective looked at the half-hunched over CEO for a long, quiet moment.

"Absolutely not. You are staying here. I'm sure one of your other employees could do it. Or one of your guards. You'd only slow the retrieval and investigation down."

Hands rested on her hips.

"You've just had a concussion. You can barely walk. If I need you to diffuse something then I can get you on comms."

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Riz Carter"]

"That won't work." He waved a hand at her.

It would work if he called ahead, but Ein wasn't about to stop things now. It was personal. Not only because the man had tried to sink him directly, but because there was something else about it. He frowned for a moment, glancing up at Riz before he slowly pushed himself up.

"I'll be fine." He told her. "Just a small bump."

With effort he pulled himself from the floor. "Just gimme a sec."

Ein hadn't really ever been in a fight, but he'd played plenty of smashball back in college. He wasn't the toughest guy, would never claim to be, but he could take a hit about as well as anyone.

 

[Riz Carter]

[member="Einhardt Al'Kuhn"]

"You're not fine," she stated flatly, keen-gaze drilling into him. Dragging a chair over - the nice, fancy one that was behind his desk, she motioned for the CEO to sit. Walking around his desk with the comfort of a police officer that was used to going where she wasn't supposed to, she picked up his comm.

"Yeah. Detective Carter here. I need your head of security sent here right away. And any security feeds for Einhardt Al"kuhn's office within the last twenty-four standard hours."

They'd need to build a case and all the evidence to match what Ein was telling her anyway. Might as well get that stuff now.

"Whattyah mean clearance? I've got my clearance right here in the form of a Coruscant badge. Not to mention the CFO RIGHT HERE. Injured. Yah. While we're at it I'd like to see your security measures." Back turned to Ein as she argued over the comm system.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Riz Carter"]

"I'm not going to die any time soon." He told her with a wave of his hand.

It was of course not too surprising that the Security Officer wouldn't give Riz what she wanted. Vanir was a government of its own in some ways, powerful militarily and economically. He frowned for a few seconds before glancing out towards the edge of the office.

"I wouldn't do that." Ein told her. "Saeva can get obstinate."

They weren't exactly the type to take things lightly. The CFO shifted for a few seconds, catching his breath before slowly wandering around the edge of the table and gently taking the comm from Riz. A small frown formed on his lips, his breathing somewhat labored. "Do as she says."

Was all Ein said into the comm.

 

[Riz Carter]

[member="Einhardt Al'Kuhn"]

"I think that's what everyone says before they take a surprise slug to the kidneys." The Riz Carter glare was settled on the CFO. It was a long and quiet look that made veteran soldiers sweat beneath their armor.

"Alright," arms crossed and her hip leaned against the side of his Kashyyk-wooded desk. "You hired me. Remember? The red-tape of your company and protocols is slowing us down. Are you going to cooperate with me for this investigation or not?"

For kriff's sake. If he insisted on coming along she was going to have him sign a waiver so their arses wouldn't be sued at the station for his death.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Riz Carter"]

"Despite what you may think I do not run this company." Ein said flatly.

That was the simple truth. Though Ein had a lot of weight within Vanir Technologies, his word really only went so far. It was the unfortunate truth of the situation. Ein was not his cousin, he couldn't just wave his hand and make everyone in the company do exactly what he wanted.

"I can't get you everywhere." He shrugged. "I don't even run this office."

He was just a guest here, staying until his project was done. "I don't have the authority."

 

[Riz Carter]

[member="Einhardt Al'Kuhn"]

He didn't run this company?

Honey-brown orbs flocked from the comm in his hand and back up. He'd certainly taken care of getting her the security footage she needed. Cut time over getting a warrant. "I'm attempted to arrest you," she said smoothly, a smirk drawing on her full lips. Hard to tell how much she was joking. "It would at least keep you out of trouble for the next twenty four hours."

Pushing off the desk, she brushed past him toward the door.

"Of you're coming you'll need to sign a waiver and ask the security of yours if you can borrow a Kevlar vest. Better if one or two of them can come along with you."

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Riz Carter"]

"I don't think we have Kevlar." Ein stated flatly. "We have a few personal shields though."

Vanir produced plenty of defensive technologies, most of it advanced and half experimental. That would likely be enough to Sooth Riz for a little while, though why she thought it was necessary Ein had no idea. They weren't up against a military here.

Just one guy.

"I'll see what I can do." Ein said as he rubbed the back of his head. A frown pulled at his lips for a brief moment, a thought floating through his mind. The crystal was gone, it had been stolen by a rival in his company...but why? There were easier ways to hurt him, easier ways to make him fail in the company. This was all a bit roundabout.

Ein didn't like it. "You can put me in handcuffs later."

The man said with a wink.

 

[Riz Carter]

[member="Einhardt Al'Kuhn"]

The detective smirked. "If only I had a credchit for every time I heard THAT line." She proffered her own wink. "Then I'd be a very rich woman and I could probably buy this company."

As if.

She wasn't a business woman. She was a law enforcer. Leave that work for the muckity mucks like Ein.

"C'mon hot shot. Let's get those shields. You driving or am I?" She pushed off the doorframe. All the security footage would be sent to the station for evidence.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Riz Carter"]

"I don't need to be original." He told her as they began to walk. "Just charming enough to make it work."

A small smirk touched his lips.

He wasn't too sure that they would need shields, but it was easy enough to go to one of the arms lockers and go get them. Coruscant was a dangerous place, he understood that, but he wasn't entirely sure they would be going anywhere dangerous. The weapons warehouses that Vanir kept on Coruscant were incredibly secure, automated defenses and guards were stationed at all of them. A thought crossed his mind for a few seconds, his lips thinning.

"This way." The guards at the warehouses weren't Saeva, they were locals.

Would they be working for him?

 

[Riz Carter]

[member="Einhardt Al'Kuhn"]

"Law enforcement isn't so easily charmed, though." She winked. Following him, she got on the lift and went down a few floors. His badge and face got them through to where they needed to go. Wasn't long before he swiped his badge and a door swooshed open to an armory.

Eyes lit up.

"Nice stash yah got here," a low-impressed whistle left her lips. Finger pointed to the wrist shields. "Take two."

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Riz Carter"]

Vanir's storage lockers were filled to the brim with tech that could fight off an invasion.

This was mostly for security purposes. If there was ever an attack or an assault on any of Vanir's headquarters things would quickly become difficult for the people doing the attacking. Some might have called it paranoia, but Ein had seen first hand what certain types of people could get up to.

"Sure." He said as he plucked two of the devices from the shelf.

Vanir made millions of them, they wouldn't miss two. "Lets go."

He pointed down the hall as the door closed behind him.

 

[Riz Carter]

[member="Einhardt Al'Kuhn"]

It felt like Life Day for Riz. All those weapons and gadgets. When Ein said they should go, it took her a moment to wipe that glazed look outta her honey-brown eyes. "What?"

Head shook and she grabbed a personal shield for herself. Sure, she had a slug-proof vest on but could never be too careful. 'Sides, she'd return it after. The cop certainly was no thief.

"Yeah, yeah. Lead the way." The detective exited close behind the CFO.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Riz Carter"]

He smiled for a moment, but said nothing.

It wasn't like Vanir would miss any of the equipment in the room. It was unlikely that anyone would ever actually attack Coruscant, at least not with how well defended it was from the rest of the Galaxy. The Alliance really did put safety first, and with the losses it ahd taken on hoth and Mustafar it was no surprise that they wanted to be careful. "This way."

Ein said with a wave of his hand.

The parking garage was just around the corner, his speeder waiting there. The vehicle would already have the programmed location of the secret warehouse put into it, though he figured that Riz would likely want to call in some backup from her department.

"Here." He motioned to a sleek, almost new age speeder. "This one."

 

[Riz Carter]

[member="Einhardt Al'Kuhn"]

She eyed the speeder. "This your idea of undercover?" Chances were the mastermind already knew they were coming. Why spare Ein? Didn't make sense to the detective.

This all seemed like a trap.

But there wasn't time for another path. The crystal sounded too dangerous. Without dilly dallying, she hopped into the passenger seat. Comm was already out. "Calling in back up. Let's go. When we get there, just. Let me go in first. After you put in the clearance, yah?"

She was the one to protect.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Riz Carter"]

"Should be fine." He told her.

There wasn't really much to this, at least not in his head. He doubted that there would be much of a fight, tough then again his estimation skills weren't exactly on the level when it came to battlefield tactics. His lips thinned and his grip tightened on the controls as the speeder jumped into life.

There was a slight surge, and then they flew off.

"I wouldn't worry." He told her. "He's power hungry, but He's not suicidal."

Ein glanced at her. "I think he'll probably surrender."