Depths of the Smuggler's Moon

[Coren Starchaser]

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSeNSzJ2-Jw

Before Coren Starchaser did most anything, he always made sure to check his contacts usual haunts. The trick was, while this was an instinct to do for him, a trained instinct, but an instinct nonetheless, he was a man out of his time. His contacts would all be gone, scared, dead, moved on or hired on by another organization. Still, it felt right to come and walk Nar Shaddaa before he made his trip into the Unknown Regions, to work the hyperlane.

A gun on his right hip, and a lightsaber, viridian bladed, on the other, he walked the Smuggler’s Moon. The smell itself was jogging his memory and he knew of a few haunts to try to scare up some supplies. A few quick meetings, and the promise of an Imperial Star Destroyer to come and mess with someone helped him get the foodstuffs he’d need for at least three months.

The other supplies, well those were all programs. What he needed was to break into planetary communications, and see what the real dirt on the worlds he was going to encounter were. He wanted to break military and political code. And that was going to need some hunting. He had made his way into the depths of the moon, chasing a rumor of a name her heard. Yeah, it wasn’t much to go on, but… well, he’d see a part of Nar Shaddaa he’d not seen before.

@Kiera Ticon

 

[Keira Priest]

In contrast to Antecedent, Nar Shaddaa was similar in many ways and far different than others. Both planets were crime-ridden, which was unsurprising, given the inhabitants of both and the criminal syndicate that called both planets home: the infamous Red Ravens. Both harbored the casinos that were regarded as twin sisters, the Golden Nautolan and the Dragon Palace. Each planet was practically covered in neon lights, the sights and sounds neverending, always bustling and full of all types of sentient life, upscale or otherwise. And to top it all off, security was just as tight in both places, with regular patrols and investigations into those that simply didn't seem to belong.

It was funny, how some people seemed to think that it was an easy thing to surpass the power of what had become one of the largest groups of criminals in galaxy, known and otherwise. Had anyone else been currently wandering the depths of the Smuggler's Moon, the man might have gone unnoticed. He might have slipped under the radar, able to go about his business and eventually meander offworld without catching attention, of the wrong kind or otherwise. But this time it seemed his luck had run dry. Living among those denizens of the underworld every day, it didn't take much of anything out of place to catch Keira's eye, or rather, senses. And this other, darker presence did just that.

Strange that the individual hadn't even thought to attempt to conceal their presence, instead allowing themselves to be felt through the Force as easily as breathing. That told more about who they were than their countenance ever could. Brash, confident, perhaps even arrogant. All qualities that she could admire in anyone, even if they were likely enemy. It just meant the fight would be more worthwhile, for the both of them. But no matter how much she respected what little she already knew, this was still a likely adversary that had to be dealt with just like every other, which was to say with extreme prejudice until she knew otherwise. And she didn't expect to have a reason to trust this one anytime soon.

Closer... It would only be a matter of minutes before she spotted him through the crowd, and a shorter time before they were close enough for physical contact of the decidedly more deadly sort. It wasn't as if she wanted this to have to turn to violence, but, well...she had always been better at that sort of communication than any actual negotiating. Briefly she entertained the thought of talking things through, her amber gaze ever watchful of just where she was in relation to this stranger. There. Purposefully she nudged him to the side as she passed, glancing once over her shoulder just long enough to maintain steady eye contact for a few seconds, continuing to walk as if this was nothing out of the ordinary. Come on, now....

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

There wasn’t a part of Coren Starchaser that felt he completely belonged on the Smuggler’s Moon. Sure, years ago the Corellian would have, and did, have a flat here, outside the Red Light District, just above a bar, in the unsavory part of Nar Shaddaa, well, sort of unsavory… Maybe the adjective shouldn’t be used on the Moon. Regardless, he knew he was out of sorts, but still, blaster pistol, battered lightsaber and a spacer get-up? That was how the Starchaser man was walking through the lower levels of the city. Looking worldly enough, but not Nar Shaddaa enough for most of the natives, or people who spent enough time on the world.

One thing about Coren, he was brash. But he wasn’t stupid. His Force control was wild, he chose the Dark path, and that really strangled the Force from his family. But going to the light side? That just held zero interest in him. Restriction of self and putting others first, even if they did not deserve it. Just wasn’t how he worked. The power always sat with the strong, and grabbing the dark side, that allowed him to go toe-to-toe with Sith, and their religious exploits. The same with the Jedi, but there were other ways to skin a Jedi than using the Force.

His lightsaber was more a symbol of where his loyalties lay. A defunct Dark Jedi Order who worked in the shadows to combat the Sith, the Jedi and all other groups who sought to toss balance out of whack in the galaxy. He would just as soon shoot anyone with a scattergun than fight them in a duel. On top of that, his Force powers, the ones he was able to use actively meant he was going to slow anyone down, as opposed to cause damage. Talk was always a better way to handle any situation. Until he could get them on his turf.

Still, he was a Starchaser, he could sense when he was being watched. If he was actively thinking about it, but he wasn’t reading the Force, he was here, to get the supplies he needed, make some contacts, and cover himself. That was until he was nudged, and none-too-accidentally. He gave it a few steps before he turned around, reaching out in the Force, for the top layer of thoughts. What he could gleam simply. As he turned, his hand went to his jacket pocket, to ensure his datapad and wallet were still there. The other hand checking his blaster.

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Apparently her impromptu hello hadn't been quite blatant enough for the newest arrival. Keira hadn't pinned him as one to avoid a confrontation, but sometimes appearances weren't everything. What was transmitted via the ethereal, however, usually was. And she was plenty adept enough to know when someone else was poking around in her thoughts, even if it was just skimming the surface, and nothing too dangerous. It was a clever one she'd found, no doubt about that. But sometimes that wasn't enough. Two could play at this game, and she was intent in coming out on top. This was where she belonged, her territory, and she would exploit it every step of the way. No one would be getting off easy.

If the more physical means weren't going to do anything, then the psychic ones would have to settle. Not bothering to turn back and circle about him, she instead reached out through the Force and touched on his mind in return, transmitting nothing more than her own location and a certain cloying darkness that hopefully intrigue him enough that he would elect to approach, even if it was just to sate his own momentary curiosity. That was all she really needed. The rest would sort itself out through whatever means were best suited to the two volatile individuals. Once again she reminded herself that it didn't have to come to a fight. This could all be resolved without bloodshed. But where was the fun in that?

Without another word through the crudely forged mental link she stepped off into a nearby alleyway and leaned up against the wall, one hand straying to the lightsaber at her waist, the fingertips of her cybernetic left arm just brushing across the worn leather grip. Although the smooth softness of the material was nearly lost on her due to a simple lack of sensation that most organic limbs had, it was still a comforting gesture made in part to reassure herself. Whatever he was capable of, she would take it in stride and then match it tenfold. Sure, it would be nothing more than a warning that any trouble raised here would be met with much more severe retaliation, but it was a necessary one.

The fingers of her right hand, the flesh and blood one, twitched nearly imperceptibly, drawing on the Force just enough so that she would be able to throw him backwards with a well-placed telekinetic push should the need arise. In truth, she wasn't wary so much as intrigued by him. It wasn't typical for sensitives of any alignment to show up on any Raven controlled planets unless they were looking to join or had a score to settle with one of the members. She couldn't sense either of these discrepancies, which led her to believe that perhaps he was just here on business and had happened to wander just a bit too far underground. Or maybe that was the intention. Either way, she couldn't exactly complain. It kept her life interesting, at least.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Avoid confrontation? No, not quite. But walking past and bumping him? That was… well, that was a passerby error. Coren wasn’t the one to start issues because he was taught to do his best to blend in. Sure, if a Forcer wanted to find him, he’d never fething hide his ability, it was part of who he was, just as much as being full-blooded Corellian was part of who he was. But one thing was for certain, he was never going into a battle blind. Nope, he’d know what he was up against, before his fight or flight kicked in. Besides, there were only so many Corellians left, why try to muck that up? Couldn’t go straight after someone from the homeworld unless there was no other option.

When he felt the presence reach back, he couldn’t help but smirk. That was something, now wasn’t it? What was on his mind was what she found so damned intriguing about him. He wasn’t from here, no, but he did approach the world like it was an old friend. It was familiar, like an old pair of shoes, or the first ship you learned to pilot in, but Coren just wasn’t THAT Coren any longer. He could avoid fighting for as long as he needed, and his battered lightsaber wasn’t anything special, not like the one he’d construct soon.

He had the plans for a new blade, maybe using the orange crystal he had stashed away from an underwater cave on Brokellia Corellia.

Making his way the round-about way to where the other had said they were going to be, he felt comforted by the weight of his blaster on his hip. The lightsaber, this one wasn’t his. It was but not since his awakening, it felt… wrong. He would need to rebuild one. The blaster, this was one he pulled from the armory aboard the home-ship, between that and his sniper rifle, left aboard his freighter, those were what felt more comforting to him than his lightsaber.

Maybe if he built a new one.

Typically, Coren didn’t walk forward into a situation he wasn’t sure he could control. And with his powers only recently returning, he couldn’t guarantee anything. Someday, someday he’d earn his place back. An energy sink and finder of objects. It was reactionary, but he saw the list. Right now all he had on him was his ability to track, and pull the energy from a target, but not shunt off an attack. Following and feeling her getting close, he finally broke the silence. “That’s what goes for greetin’s here?”

Ever the fringer at heart.

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

The moment his voice carried through the air Keira instantly pinpointed his presence, considering the question that had been put forth as thoroughly as if the two were discussing philosophy rather than a very well-deserved inquiry. Amber eyes, those same ever-present thunderclouds roiling behind them, eventually found his face. There was no doubt that she was being arrogant about this, overestimating her own skill just a bit. But that came almost as naturally as breathing, these days. It was a consequence, in some respects, of surviving all that she'd been through in these past years since joining the Ravens. Her skill had developed considerably, but it didn't exactly warrant this attitude quite yet. Like everything else, that would come in time.

What couldn't wait, however, was her response to what he'd said and the continuation of whatever had been started by her. "I don't think you'd like the greetings quite so much. That was supposed to get your attention." Pointedly she looked at him. "I'd say it worked quite well." It took a Corellian to know a Corellian, and he most certainly was one. Maybe it was the way he carried himself, or how he didn't hesitate to speak exactly what was on his mind, but she could determine that even without her sixth sense. After what had happened to their homeworld it was rare to meet another, even on planets such as this that harbored those criminals, niches many of their descent found themselves filling easily. This was a rare occasion indeed, not to mention just a bit ironic.

Almost nonchalantly she moved her hand away from the saber at her waist, serving to both draw attention to the weapon and indicate that she didn't plan on attacking him anytime soon. That was one thing he'd be able to see coming. She had never been much of one to bother with subtlety or beating around the bush in any manner. If you wanted something, you went after it, simple as that. There wasn't a point in skirting around the ultimate endgame or trying to delay the inevitable. It was going to transpire anyhow, so letting it happen was always the easiest route. She could defend herself well enough, so she didn't really see the issue with it. The best example of this behavior and its effect on her day-to-day life? Their way of meeting.

Once again her right hand shifted slightly, this time releasing that pent up energy she had kept there in a slow and measured stream, so as not to visibly change the area about them. If he was aware enough he would sense the faint ripples caused by such an action, but nothing more. It seemed that this was one stranger she didn't have to concern herself with so readily. That was new. In fact, this whole situation was off, now that she thought about it. At least, off in the sense that no false moves had been made by either party. Common courtesy was a rare virtue to find, especially in a place like this, and an even rarer one to see put into practice.

"Keira Ticon. You got a name?" Maybe he'd heard of the family name, maybe he hadn't. It didn't really matter either way. None of it did.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

There were certain people that you met in the galaxy that just… upset the normal and altered the way people viewed others. Coren, well, he didn’t like to disappoint people. A Corellian through and through, it was obvious what planet he hailed from, and to most, on the outside, he was your general spacer, taking and doing what jobs he could. A gun kept the work, and the ship he had ensured it stayed. Never one to ask questions, Starchaser took things for face value, got his credits and left. Was that dark of him? So beat it. The dark side was the sexiest side. Darkness, intrigue, and power.

But the one thing he did know, was it mattered how you handled yourself with others. And women spraying dark side power around who were bumping into you while on the streets of some under layer on the Smugglers’ Moon? Yes, those were typically leads one should follow up. If not for the fight, something Coren wasn’t the biggest fan on, least of all on the group, space was another story, obviously, but for the information and the way their wellspring of power would affect his. And finding out that she was a Corellian, by her own admission, and just that… attitude, made a grin find the pilot’s face.

And yes, he figured she’d have a saber. He had his, previously mentioned as not being his forte. But she was standing down from attacking. Good. He gave her a quick once over, both obviously visual, and in the Force. His expressions and feelings would be visible, he wasn’t going to hide from the woman who had a lightsaber and had him at a disadvantage. Sure, he didn’t know her from anyone, but, well, he was liking what he’d seen so far. And this was a big galaxy, of which Coren had seen a lot of. What would be would be, and he’d approach everything full throttle. Didn’t know any different, or better.

“Yeah, well, curiosity kills, as they say in some parts.” But chaos and fortune favored the bold. He wasn’t going to back down from anything, or anyone. And from there, he could feel a flutter in the Force. But he paid it no mind, wasn’t directed at him, and he knew she was of the evolved side of the galaxy. Ticon… he didn’t know that one. “Starchaser, Coren Starchaser.” And no, he wasn’t trying to sound like a secret agent. Typically using his last name as a preferred moniker, but first name for a first name, right?

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

One shoulder raised in a shrug. Curiosity was the least of those imminent dangers they had to worry about. Thugs with blasters and more particularly Force sensitive spacers with lightsabers were of a more intriguing threat than anything more petty this planet had to offer. While he wasn't exactly of the most volatile hazard, there was something unspoken hanging in the air between them, almost as if something was pressuring them to act now and in the moment. While an impulsive individual, Keira knew better than that. Sometimes. This time, at least. "Curiosity doesn't, not really. Since when is wanting to know something dangerous? Ignorance is what'll do you in." That was why the phrase 'Know your enemy' existed in the first place, after all.

Here was quite the unknown enemy. He was Force sensitive, carried a lightsaber with a sort of guarded manner that spoke of some skill in using it, and a blaster in its holster at his side. The blade gave cause for one to assume fallen Jedi or a very unlikely Sith, but the firearm and his attitude told a different story. Spacers and smugglers alike weren't an uncommon occurrence or a particularly strange company, and he had that sort of attitude about him. But ones with an attunement to the ether and knowledge enough to wield it were an entirely different manner. What an interesting individual she'd happened upon purely by chance. Or, well, almost chance. Chance of a purposeful sort.

For the most part she ignored the feeling of his eyes on her, it not exactly being an uncommon experience given that most males she'd met in the past did the same. As long as he remained content with just looking, she couldn't really say much to dissuade him from doing so. Through the Force he read similarly, intrigued and entirely open about the whole of it. Either he had no qualms with how she may retaliate, or didn't see the point in trying to disguise himself from her. While she didn't share quite the same relaxed sentiments as he did, she could appreciate his seeming honesty to a point. Unfortunately, she'd learned the consequences of being so open. Not that she would inflict any of them on him with no real reason.

The surname given was familiar in a vague sense. More research would have to be done when it came to that facet, but she didn't concern herself with just what family he belonged to at this moment. "What brings you to Nar Shaddaa? Business or pleasure?" Or perhaps neither and both at once. She was genuinely curious in some way, but it didn't entirely matter whether she received the answer she was looking for in the long run. Living on or visiting a place like this didn't leave much room for one to assume or count on the honesty of others. And she was no exception, though she wasn't exactly dishonest without a reason to be either.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

That was always the danger in this galaxy, Force sensitive spacers who were aware that they were and trained for it. Coren knew he came across a few untapped potentials in the galaxy, but he hadn’t really dealt with them, letting them go on their own. Slavery and kidnapping were things that didn’t sit well with him. Taking someone’s freedom, or making decisions for them? Just didn’t flow with him. What he did was listen to the Living Force, or whatever it was called, the here and now. He acted when he felt it was going to best serve him, and how it would best serve him. He grinned at her, taking in the curiousity comment. Giving her a nod, he prevented himself from rolling her eyes. “True, gotta know what you’re after, else you open yourself to a whole world of difficulty. That’s why I tend to always do my research first.”

But right now? Nope, he knew nothing of the being in front of him. Dark side leaning, maybe, and Corellian. Similar to his story, probably not one for a home life, wanting to see the galaxy for all it had to offer, and maybe favoring the dark and unsavory places. The lightsaber confused him. Heirloom? She didn’t seem like she was out of her element, and touched it like an old friend. Two similar beings brought together by serendipity, or the Force? Only time would reveal that, and Coren was a patient man. Most of the time.

Standing and watching her, he ran a hand through his hair. What was this woman all about. On Nar Shaddaa, not attacking him, but with the power and skill to do some serious damage, that bit he knew. But instead she reached out to him. There was an openness to him because why try to beat around the bush. He didn’t know her from anyone, even if she had a figure that he found pleasing. This wasn’t the place, nor time to try to find a date. Hell, she might still try to kill him by the end of their meeting.

He had no doubt he’d be leaving Nar Shaddaa alive, it was only a matter of where his ego was, intact or broken. But as for the reason here? He looked around and mulled over his words. “Well, Nar Shaddaa ain’t exactly tourist central. The grittiness is nice to visit. But I’m shopping. Best place to find things that you want to stay off the radar.” He spoke, almost feeling like he was explaining something to her that he knew she’d know for a fact. It was more to cover his thoughts, he knew what he was here for. She just needed to know part of the why.

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

There was an uncertainty about him, not so much in regards to his surroundings but directed towards her, or so she felt. After his previous openness when it came to the ethereal Keira had pinned him as one to say all that was on his mind and pose any questions that came across without fear of repercussions on the part of any individual. Maybe he trying to work it out for himself first. And she'd let him, for as long as he liked. After all, it wasn't any concern of hers. His presence here really wasn't either, but nothing said he had to know that. It was Raven territory, after all, and they wouldn't stay secure as an organization without someone checking in on things every once in awhile, even if it wasn't exactly in her job description.

For the briefest of seconds she saw his eyes stray to the lightsaber at her waist, though she didn't bother with letting him know that his appraisal had been noticed. Maybe a bit of an offhanded comment was in order, but no more. "Once upon a time I used to run with the Jedi. Now I've picked a more dangerous crowd." He was smart enough to put two and two together in order to connect the dots. She didn't owe him any further explanation, and he hadn't directly asked for one. Nor would she in turn silently question the blade he himself carried. If she had to guess she would suppose a similar story, but she wasn't interested enough to poke and prod about it.

Just as he watched her she returned the favor, evaluating him as they both stood there in that mutual, observatory silence. His response to her question, summarizing his reason for visiting as shopping, was a bit intriguing. Of course, given their surroundings, she knew what he was looking for could likely only be found on the black market, and apparently the seediest of them all, seeing as how they stood on Nar Shaddaa. It didn't take much to determine that what he had in mind was outlawed in a number of systems. That led her to assume him a criminal as well, though he didn't quite have all the exact facets about him, she could certainly see it easily. But assuming was never a good thing.

"We could take this to a more comfortable venue, unless you're a fan of standing around in alleys." She wouldn't take him to the Raven-owned casino on planet, not until she knew for certain he could be trusted, which she likely ever wouldn't. There had been enough accidents caused by undue carelessness for her to learn her lesson when it came to trusting others. Well, that and other less savory experiences. Either way, he wouldn't be entering those doors anytime soon. The last thing anyone wanted was an enemy on their home turf, whether he really was that dangerous and volatile or not.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Well, yeah, anyone that was feeling completely certain about anyone near them was usually wrong. Coren erred on the side of caution. Especially when it came to newcomers in his own personal space. Sure, this [member="Keira Ticon"] looked attractive, rough around the edges and perhaps with a bit of RBF, but that was all good for Coren. Still, he was assuming she wasn’t the type who’d be using her looks to get what she wanted, or at least not her other… shall we say gifts? Men were weak when it came to a woman, and he used to fall prey to that, numerous times over. Not so much anymore. Not to say he turned women away, but… He had his other focus, he had jobs, even if his own description was a bit off. But he knew where the power structure on Nar Shaddaa lay, the person with the most credits. And he really had no idea how that was monitored anymore.

At least she was observant. Was showing she had the skill and the time spent on worlds like this to survive there. Made a lot of sense, really. “I dunno, the Jedi themselves are pretty dangerous, if you look at it.” Certain perspectives. But restricting a person from everything they were or could be? That was not the best way to go about things. Plus their blind devotion to their religious beliefs around the Force. Not having those chains, Coren was free. He enjoyed that. His weapon was made to keep either of the extremist groups at bay. And it did a pretty good job at keeping pirates from leaving his ship when he turned the blade on. He still had to rebuild his orange, Corellian crystal blade again. Then rebuild the Starchaser-green blade. He liked having options and the Dawn Treader had several unique ceremonies regarding their own unique brand of Force users.

Black market, such an unsavory term. He just preferred to think about it as a favor exchange. A certain program or weapon modification, and he’d fly someone just about anywhere they needed to go free of charge. Some places would require a little credit backing but he’d get them wherever they wanted. A criminal? Coren could be classified as such, in certain circles. He flew under the radar, retired Imperial pilot and a general ship-for-hire, he could work legitimately, but some things were just… easier to do with a bit of an underhand, and advantage.

“Depends what you’ve got in mind, for comfort.” His tone didn’t indicate any expectations that most men would have. But as much as Nar Shaddaa alleys were… well, gross, he would trade it for a dark bar any time. He wasn’t sure who she worked for, or what she was doing on Nar Shaddaa, but if she had a meeting place to get out of the dark alley. “Also, helps if you know any slicers.” He smirked, as he was looking for a hack for planetary communications, after all. As for an enemy? Part of him was seeing her as a compatible person to him, at least in the way the galaxy worked.

 

[Keira Priest]

This was someone Keira could get along with, at least in the sense of their opinions. But it would be unwise to allow him anywhere near the Raven-controlled casino that was a central feature of the moon. Not until she knew him better, or had a more viable reason to trust exactly who he was or what he did. And with no foreseeable future in which such an event would transpire, she deemed to hold him at a careful distance while doing her best to at least appear outwardly friendly. It wasn't like her to really put much stock into what another thought, and she still wasn't sure how much his opinion mattered to her, but appearances were everything when it came to the criminal underworld. Well, appearance and how well you could defend yourself. Not dying was always important.

The Jedi did have the capabilities of being dangerous enemies, that much she knew. But their skill was undermined with the relative passivity she'd witnessed in her time among them and fighting against them. Only one man had she developed something of a respect for, but even that had been fleeting. Still, she could show some kind of courtesy towards them, if just as an enemy to be honored as any other. "They can be. It's a bit hard to see past the peacekeeper act to find anything really dangerous." There were a few, yes, but the many outnumbered them. But their seeming unwillingness towards conflict was only a small facet. The black and white view many had on the Force and life itself certainly played its part, and it was something she had tired of quickly. It was safe to say she hardly missed her childhood spent at the Temple.

Once upon a time she had known a good slicer, or two, that was true. But things had changed since then, and where normally she would have recommended a certain Chiss there was no one. So she only shrugged. "I might be able to give you a name, but I'm not sure if I'm good for much else. What I'm saying is that you'd probably have to do the looking. But if that doesn't bother you, then yeah, I know of one." The only other one besides Cryax, that is. The Chiss' boyfriend (or was it ex-boyfriend, now?) was a man she had only had scant dealings, but from what little she'd seen of his work, he seemed to be just as proficient as anyone else she'd met, if not more. And it was the only definitive lead she had for Coren anyhow.

His nonchalant tone when it came to the comment about changing venues was both surprising and appreciated. "There's a cantina or two around here that isn't too bad. Guess that doesn't mean too much, depending on which ones you've been to." Cracking a smile she pushed off the wall and stepped out of the alley without another word, almost as if expecting him to follow with no real explanation as to where they were going. Either he trusted a near-complete stranger enough to follow them to an establishment largely unknown to him or he didn't, but it didn't matter to her whether he ultimately did or not. There was likely some kind of business to take care of there anyway, so regardless she would be busy with one thing or another. His choice depended on which.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

There were quite a few people in the galaxy that Coren could get along with, based on certain perspectives and aspects of himself. It was important that he knew everything he was doing or saying to another person, lest he’d give them the wrong impression. Sure, he could be the gambling type, but it was only billiards that he’d be hustling. And he knew enough of how to work people with what he said to get the things he wanted, but it wasn’t anywhere near that of a con artist. He knew he was a pilot, a kick-ass pilot, a dark side leaning Force user and someone who enjoyed the finer, and darker, aspects of the world around him. Those last bits were important, the rest? It was all something he could adjust for. The one thing you couldn’t adjust was your level of trust for another person.

Sure, the Jedi could be dangerous, if they let themselves. The group of Force mystics were so worried about one-ness and defending the weak that they didn’t even think about the power source they were wasting. Dark Jedi came from the same mind set, in a way, aside from looking at the Force and its powers as a burden of sorts, they saw it as a tool. And their path and actions were a lot more aggressive. That was how he saw things, aggressive to defend, aggressive to protect, and aggressive to attack. “They need to let go of the crazy talk about saving everyone. It keeps them closed off to possibilities.” At least, that was his thought. Sure, there were some, like Merrill whom he respected. “They just need to slide with their own impressions sometimes.” Enter the gray, and how there were many more than 50 shades.

“Point me in their direction? I can find them… later.” After all, there was talk of drinks, and this woman was someone that Coren was curious about. She had power, that was for sure, but why keep it on this moon? Maybe it was the service orientation in him, from being in the Imperial fleet, but he knew that there was more to the galaxy than this place. And it was worth it for his own curiosity, after all he did follow her over here after she bumped into him, to find out. Maybe she was an enforcer around here. That could make sense.

With the way she carried herself? Coren nodded as she began stepping into the alley, and like any warm blooded man his eyes traced her back as he followed her. He enjoyed knowing what he was up against. “Been to a few here.” Trust her? Not so much, only that if she wanted him dead, he’d have been fighting for his life by now. And he could maybe handle a few people. Cuttlefish style, fight to run away. So he was following her. “So, what is your story, being here?”

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Her story. That was an interesting request. It wasn't that no one had asked her about it before, but it was the issue of just what to say that had her stuck. The task was made marginally easier once it was specified with her ending up on Nar Shaddaa to begin with, but still, all she could do was raise one shoulder in some semblance of a shrug. There wasn't a one word explanation that would completely answer his question, but she could try. "It's two parts for a change of scenery and one part being my job. Sort of, anyway. I'm a member of the Red Ravens, wound up in the upper echelons somewhere along the line. When there isn't a job that needs doing or a situation that needs resolved, I walk around. Nar Shaddaa happens to be under our control, and here we are. Long story short, I got bored." Bored in a different sense of the word, perhaps, but bored nonetheless.

Crazy was one word to describe the Jedi. Well, one of the nicer ones she could think up, at least. "Trust me, there's no talking them out of it. Or reasoning with them at all." Keira had tried once, in a very vague way. All the discussion had reaped was her ultimate frustration in regards to the man's black and white viewpoint when it came to the greater galaxy and the morality of its inhabitants. It was a talk she had no desire of having again, at least with the more dogmatic Force users. Never had she been the patient sort, least of all when it came to lectures and acts similar, so her leaving the Jedi shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone. But he was different than most other sensitives she'd come across in her life, though she hadn't decided whether that was for the best or not just yet.

Then there was addressing his needs in terms of finding a slicer with sufficient enough skill to aid him. Never had she been prominent in that community, but her ties lay where they would. "I can't tell you who he's working for anymore, but his name's Jalek Sathora. He was a Raven awhile back, but to the best of my knowledge left a few months ago. He's a freelancer, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding him and persuading him to help you out." The man had left not long after Cryax himself abandoned the organization, from what she had remembered. But unlike his former lover, hadn't made a fuss or a mess out of their CryptNet. No, he'd gone quietly, and for that she was mostly thankful. It was never a nice thing to lose one of their own, but at least he'd done so with some kind of common sense.

While she talked she walked, and eventually they reached a rather modest out of the way cantina that didn't seem too run-down compared to its far seedier counterparts. A decent place for a place like the Smuggler's Moon, and likely one of the best they'd find without looking all that hard. Glancing to him with a raised eyebrow she stepped inside, scanning the room before she made a move to sit or shift position from the entryway. After deeming things more or less safe she crossed to the bar, choosing a stool next to the wall and leaning up against it after she sat. Nodding for him to do the same, she did another cursory look of their surroundings, finding everything neatly in its place. Or, well, as neat as things could be with your usual drunks stumbling around and what have you. But neat, yes. Vaguely.

"So, what do you need a slicer for? And why so against the Jedi?"

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

Spoiler

Jalek is an alt of mine, so that was a bit of self-advertising.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

He was an explorer. What else did he have than learning? He was a psychometrist at heart, and instinctive astrogator. Beyond that? He’d drain and stun things pretty well. But beyond sensing emotions and intention, there wasn’t much he could do for the learning about someone aside from asking. It was the most straight-forward way, anyhow. Red Ravens, he’d heard of them. Crime syndicate, criminals, vice, all the bright side of life, really. He could probably, in another life, have found himself in their service, but with the Fringe defending from the unknown in the Unknown Regions, it was about as noble as he could get. But it was also because he enjoyed the danger in the darkness. “So, stay on the Moon a lot, then?”

He just didn’t like people who followed any sort of dogma too closely. Sure, there were some groups who were better than others, but those were codes of general behavior and action. Not how to approach the Force. That, controlling how someone responded to something so personal? That was scary for him. It was control of a whole other level. He, like his company, was the type to act, and act fast, rashly but with intuition. “Yeah, discussion with them never ends well.” He didn’t like to listen to their speeches.

Jalek? Didn’t know the name, but the names always changed, the game was what was important. “Don’t keep tracking your former assets? Something I probably would do.” If someone was important to Coren, well, if they left, he’d make sure he knew how to turn over any rocks and get a lead on them. Once important they were either important again, or a disaster waiting to happen, either way… “But if you have any leads, I’ll see if they can help me.” Always ready to talent scout.

Lookng around the cantina he figured it was fine. Nothing really that dangerous or different from most. Nicer than some on this Moon. Watching her sit, he took the spot next to her. “Well, I’m on a trek in te next few weeks, can use some technical support, or at least a few programs made. As for the Jedi? Well, the history between my family and the Jedi… its… messy?” Was the best way to describe it. Looking for bartender, he was needing a drink to go into this bit of history.

[member="Keira Ticon"]