Public Hyu-Ken Carka: The Listening Post

[Eldin Daine]

Eldin screwed up his nose, peered through the glare of the sun to look up at the approaching ship. Although he did not know the insignia on the ship, it did not signify anything that gave one hope, on the contrary it seemed to stiff and official for his taste. "Yeap, sooner the better on that listenin' post". A thought spoken out loud. It was weird the sensation he got from the approach of the ship, not so much the ship itself but what came in it's wake, his stomach sudden churned as if he was sick. Not the first time he had felt it mind you, there was plenty of seeds of darkness living on Nar. This was just more concentrated.

Jude didn't seem all that thrilled by it either, or maybe it was the cat-like woman that walked toward them that prompted him to give Eldin a glance that was laced with warning. That was enough for Eldin, the put down his box as well. As he looked up Captain Varanin returned which had his eyes soften a little, and a furred lady from the Temple joined them. No one seemed all that happy about his sudden arrival which put Eldin on guard instantly. As is this habit, his hands went to his hips only inches away from his pistols. Although a relaxed move and a practiced one at that, he was ready.

Metal goons turned up, and it was clear this was not a social visit.

He let Jude and Varanin call the shots, he was only a step behind Jude should something go south in this parley.

Sinestra | Shira Varanin | Zara Tate | Xzaien | Arro Peradun

 

[Mishel Kryze]

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CO-0195 cut through the dense jungle with her vibroblade, Mežsrožu hissed. "Do not disturb the world here, lest you leave a trail back to where we are." She cautioned which resulted in a scoff from 0195 who decided not to challenge the Ren. Mežsrožu used a rather insignificant portion of the Force to gently push the flora out of her way. She watched overhead as shuttles flew by and then went about her way. The cave wouldn't be too much farther from their location - she could feel it. Mežsrožu could feel the crystals and their call, like a sweet siren's song they lured her to their location. ​

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"Question, what if we run into opposition?"​

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"Then we talk our way out, surely there are enough crystals for everyone," Mežsrožu remarked, she stopped in her tracks and turned to 0195. "And if not, then we maim them just enough to get away." Her finger was placed beneath the agent's chin before gently gliding up toward the woman's lips. "I trust you're quite handy with that thing in your hand." Mežsrožu dislodged the blaster pistol from 0195's hand with a smile. "Perhaps your hand could find a much better use, no?"​

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0195 cleared her throat as Mežsrožu chuckled and toyed with the blaster. "Right, okay, you have a point." 0195 held her hand out for the blaster and for a moment the Ren looked her up and down. Gently she placed the weapon back into the agent's hand and turned in position to resume their trek toward the crystals. The two walked in silence for several moments afterward with Mežsrožu in the lead, and it would not be much longer before they were at the crystal cave. ​

 

[Xzaien]

Xzaien had patiently listened while the two smugglers, and interestingly, a Jedi made their presence known as she stepped forth from a cave entrance. She litened quietly as her followers took a few looks around the general vicinity. Of course, no one would have trusted Dark-Sider of her caliber even this far from Sith Space. But nevertheless, Xzaien took it upon herself to state her intentions.

"Allow me to introduce myself dear friends, I am Xzaien. I have felt a calling in the force, a sort of. Beacon so to speak. It appears that the cave you have just left, is the source of this deep calling to me. I have reasons to believe a artifact of some rather large significance is located somewhere inside of this cave. I would like to ask for assistance in recovering this artifact via any means possible. I have already brought Excavators from my home to help me. But I will appreciate the help of any locals if need be."

"I seek the Mask of the Prodigal Knight, the one who had scurried between the linear lines of light and dark. I do remember vividly, that the place where the Mask was lost, was on Yavin 4, just outside of the great temple there. But I am aware, that someone stole it away and I have been attempting to track it ever since. I am willing to offer each of you a bounty of three-hundred thousand credits to help me find this artifact. Then if best comes to best, we leave this rock as friends and perhaps allies."

Eldin Daine Sinestra Zara Tate Shira Varanin

 

[Shira Varanin]

There was a lot not to trust about Xzaien and her proposal, but the number took Shira aback. A six-figure sum just to walk into the cave and-

Well, no. The Cathar Darksider was actually paying for non-interference, a guarantee that none of them would stop her from finding and claiming that mask. The help was almost totally incidental.

Objection number one: being mercenary about this. Being a Jedi for money. But the 300,000, most or all of it, could go to the Order and similar charitable causes - cover the cost of this expedition and exceed it by at least an order of magnitude.

Objection number two: the cave was a sacred place, calm but rich with the Force. It didn't click with power-armored troopers and whatever an Excavator was.

"I don't know about you gentlemen, but I'm in on two conditions," said Shira. "Tell me what the mask does, and leave 'Excavators' out of it. It's a sacred site. Search in person or not at all."

 

[Zara Tate]

Zara remained content in the archway of the Temple.

Meanwhile. From behind, a familiar Zabrak woman approached and gave a quick gesture of her hand. A gesture to which all the children and Apprentices in the yard responded to immediately. In that moment, all of the children and initiates put down their crates and supplies. Then marched swiftly inside the Temple. Like good little scouts.

Then Maggie gave Zara a knowing nod and easily closed the doors behind her. Shut.

Willfully. The party now could reach the crystal cave nearby. Without bothering the monks.

 

[Sinestra]

Three karkin' thousand creds just like that. Jude scoffed, chuckled and choked. After a moment he restored his signature shit-eating smirk. Looking at this from a personal point of view, Jude would probably settle his retirement fund for good. Heck, if he ever had kids, they'd be studying in Coruscant's most prestigious universities.

Looking at it professionally, Shira Varanin had a point and Jude himself was having serious doubts that the offer was nothing more than an easy bait. It'd either end up with him six feet under or ripped off, or both. Whoever this head honcho was, ORION needed to know more about. No one ordinary traveled around with a fleet, heavy armed escort and offered 300k like candy just like that. If anything, an agent always had to be curious, always seek to learn more. Information was most valuable.

"Cap'n Varanin here's got a point, Cat-Lady. I ain't religious but y'all gotta respect people's beliefs. Even if they weird." Jude crossed his arms and then asked. "As matters of payment are concerned, how'd ya guarantee what you're offerin'? Sounds like a hefty price not a lotta people in this galaxy can just offer with such ease."

He completely forgot about the outpost.

Eldin Daine Shira Varanin Zara Tate Xzaien

 

[Xzaien]

"Catharian Excavator in Mining Armor"​

Xzaien smiled, an quite unsettling smile which revealed her cat-like fangs. Of course she listened patiently as to not offend her new friends but yet, She would stand there oddly stiffly as her Marines gazed around the vicinity, seemingly having caught someone in their localized scans that weren't the people directly in-front of Xzaien. At least one of them leant over, the Marine standing at least a full torso above Xzaien's head. He would speak through his Delta Grille, in a voice very similar to a Wardroid of old.

"Madam. There appears to be a local disturbance. Probably Fauna or some motley pirate crew."

Nevertheless, Each ten-foot plus tall Marine swept around their weapons in a semi-circular fashion around Xzaien. A living, heavily armored shield of what was presumably a absolute literal ton of Durasteel. There were three in this small band of Marines, The one that had previously spoke to Xzaien clearly having much more elaborate heraldry upon his armor. An outline of a head, With blond hair and white skin, with markings that accurately mimicked Xzaien's facial markings. In his hands, was a large blaster pistol. Easily the size of a conventional laser cannon seen on a armored vehicle in the more conventional military's.

Xzaien looked briefly to the side before calmly continuing her tirade.

"Yes of course. Allow me to humor you. The Mask belonged to Revan himself. I am sure you have read about him in your history books Jedi. How he fell to the Dark-side and eventually killed his Apprentice Malak in the Lehon System. I assure you, it was an event as great as they say. I was there. Now, the mask itself was said to have belonged to a Mandalorian Warrior on my homeworld of Cathar. You see, a few millennia ago a great genocide occurred there and the mask has quite literally been imbued with the force energy of millions of dead Cathar. As you can see, my physical features means that this object means a great deal to me. As I believe it holds the key to what I seek, the end of the War of the Blue Diamond."

"Now, My excavators are extremely Similar to the soldiers you see before you. They infact, use the same equipment. But they are civilian contractors who I had come with me to excavate the parts of your temple here, and to find this prized artifact. I assure you, at least five of them are fully qualified Archaeologists with doctorates in their respective fields. I call the equipment they wear, "Excavator Power Armor". A suit of similar design to my Marines, but made for civilian mortal hands you see."

"In regards to payment. Of course, I am willing to fund each of your adventures following today as part of my local outreach program to hire and train the next generation of skilled workers on the Catharian Throneworld, and beyond. As for you two smugglers, I may have a series of jobs for you in the future, if you so desire. But for you Jedi, I am afraid that as your Grand-Master has utterly rejected my attempts to contact and make diplomacy with him or her. I cannot offer you much more than a novel amount of credits."

Sinestra Shira Varanin

 

[Shira Varanin]

Xzaien Sinestra Eldin Daine

"The ethics of this whole thing are..." Shira trailed off, even though that wasn't a good point at which to trail off. She strongly doubted that the mask of Revan was anything more than a mask, let alone imbued with the souls of millions - it was just ahistorical. Plus an artifact of that scale would have been sensed by now, considering the small size of the cave and its proximity to the temple. But the Cathar was saying made sense at a purely symbolic level.

And after all, genocide was genocide and memory was memory, regardless of who was doing the remembrance.

"Yes, I'll help you reclaim the mask, for the sake of your people's history." She glossed over the remarks about the grandmaster - whoever Xzaien meant by that - and the whole age thing.

 

[Mishel Kryze]

Mežsrožu and CO-0195 approached the small cave and as it happened the flora proved somewhat deceptive as to the actual mouth of the cave. Luckily, crystals were something both Mežsrožu and the prime personality of Mishel were very well acquainted with. "Keep close," she told the agent as she slid into the cave. The agent followed and immediately grabbed for her flashlight. "Are you able to dim that?" Mežsrožu inquired with the agent, "the light might be damaging to the plants here."​

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Resisting the urge to roll her eyes the agent dimmed the light to a soft glow. "Magnificent." The Ren remarked with astonishment, "just magnificent look at this, pure crystal deposits unsullied by man or technology." Unlike Ilum or Dantooine who had been touched over and over again, left to little of its own time and time again. ​

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The dim light from the agent's device illuminated the main chamber and create a gorgeous show of lights. "Oh isn't this just wonderful?" Ren was still in sheer awe of the place. "Never in my dreams, and I've seen... I've seen many crystals and their sources but none quite so beautiful."​

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"It's something alright," the agent replied matter-of-factly, as a Non-Force Sensitive they just looked like pretty crystals. Still, hearing the Ren be so overjoyed at the sight of something so plain was amazing. The colors within the chamber were shades of blue, and an eclectic group of hues that seemed to dip toward violet and others turquoise and then green. "Wouldn't you... uh."​

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"What?"​

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"Isn't there a light side, dark side - dichotomy here?"​

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"Well yes, but I'm not here to bleed crystals or corrupt them." Mežsrožu countered somewhat defensively. "No, I'm here to observe and perhaps collect samples." She gestured to her artificer's toolbelt it had hung so quietly around her outfit. ​

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The agent nodded, "right."​

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Mežsrožu walked around the chamber, hands behind her back as she leaned in to examine clusters of crystals. On occasion, she would push the flora aside but at that moment she preferred to observe.​

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Eldin Daine | Shira Varanin | Sinestra | Xzaien ​

 

[Zara Tate]

Zara sipped from her thermos and shrugged.

Hyu-ken Carka hadn't had anything to offer the galaxy in thousands of y... Well. Since forever really. Yet now. Suddenly. A Revan fan girl shows up with her Omega Pyre bodyguards and starts declaring special trinkets are hidden just a hundred meters from an active Jedi Temple?

Pfft.

Now. Admittedly depressed. Zara sipped from her thermos in the careful shade of the archway. Wondering suddenly if she should have just stayed asleep for a few more days or something.

She sighed tastelessly and picked up a datapad from a nearby workbench. Then Zara started cataloguing the supplies and food stuffs delivered to the temple thus far. She didn't waste any time. At least she could get some work done while the others mingled.

 

[Eldin Daine]

While Jude and Captain Varanin spoke to the cat lady, Eldin caught the eye of one of the engineers, nodded his head toward the line of children hoping he would understand to get the hell out of there and into the temple. It was not lost on him, the offer the cat lady made to them, a hefty price for a mask regardless of the importance of it. Although Eldin did not know much about the force or how it worked, he did wonder why Captain Varanin did not sense it, considering she had just been there. However, if the thing was that valuable, enough to offer up such a price, the thought crossed his mind to kill her and her goons, and they could take the mask and her ship for themselves. He was not after riches per se, but these Jedi could benefit from the reward.

Who the hell was Darth Raven anyway?

Eldin was only in his mid twenties, grow up on Tatoonie as poor as they come, before necessity made him leave for Nar Shaddaa, and schooling of any description did not exist. He had heard of the Jedi before from passing trades and gunslingers, and even though it was tales of folk lore on Tatoonie, Skywalkers and Kenobi and other tales of legend but they were long dead and he did not believe in fairy tales anyway. A twisted gut from starvation had no time for them.

Jude had the right of it, where was their guarantee? A stranger of darkness appears out of nowhere offing vast sums of credit, and simply expects them to accept without question? Pretty words always veil the truth.

That thought lasted for about a second before Captain Varanin said she would help. Good intentions or not, this stank as about as high as a Sarlacc's breath, and Eldin was not about to let her go off by herself .. this time.

"I'm commin' with ya".

He turned and gave Jude a look, a meaningful look.


Zara Tate | Shira Varanin | Sinestra | Mishel Kryze | Xzaien

 

[Xzaien]

Xzaien quickly spoke up once everyone was finished speaking. She stepped forward and spoke.

"Of course. Let us get underway before nightfall."

She quickly turned and started walking toward the cave entrance, not before stopping. Seemingly sensing something. She'd quickly wipe away any sort of odd feeling within her and would continue walking. Followed closely by her Space Marines. She'd walk over the brush quickly and silently as a means to escape the biting flies, and other less sanitary flying insects. As she neared the cave entrance, she'd peer inside before pushing a button on her wrist. Igniting a helmet mounted flashlight. Xzaien's Marines would follow suit, with them activating a FLIR package visor kit inside of their large bulky helmets. Igniting the way for themselves alone.

After a few minutes of walking, Xzaien would come across a massive chamber filled from ground to ceiling with Kyber Crystals of varying types. However, this prize had little to no interest in the Cathar and she quickly marched over to the Northern rock wall. She'd glance up and down at it before sticking her hand out and pushing it against the rock wall. After a few moments she would turn to those who followed her and would be speak again.

"I believe it is just beyond this rock wall. As you can see, the disturbed rubble there, there and there. Is a result of a rockfall that happened a long time ago. Perhaps you all are ready to go spelunking in some dowdy dank cave. Now, I suggest you step back. Lest you receive a large delivery of sharp kyber crystal fragments in the eyes."

 

[Shira Varanin]

Xzaien Sinestra Eldin Daine
"No mess," Shira warned. "No aggression. This is a sacred place."

She stretched out to the Force and the old rockfall rumbled. After a good thirty seconds of work, a stretch of crumbling cave wall slid down and off to the side, where Jedi could pick through it for crystals in the future. Her work left an old tunnel branch open, but without the kind of aggressive excavation that Xzaien seemed to favor.

Someone else (Mishel Kryze) was in an adjacent chamber, she realized. They'd be able to hear all of this.

 

[Mishel Kryze]

If Mežsrožu hadn't heard it then CO-0195 certainly would have. Their quiet meditations and studies were interrupted, the sounds of crumbling cave walls, rocks, and Xzaien 's rather aggressive marines. The cave wall that slid down revealed a small connection between the chamber where Mežsrožu and the agent resided and the other. The bright lights were damning and rather obtrusive to the cave itself Mežsrožu gritted her teeth and took a step forward hand on her lightsaber before CO-0195 stopped her.​

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She looked to see the agent's forearm across her chest. "Leave them." The agent whispered, "we're not here to pick fights, remember?"​

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"Fights? I'd like to know who just barges into this place." Mežsrožu seethed with rage as she spoke quietly. The aura of the dark side would grow.​

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"Look, clearly whoever is here doesn't care for the sanctity of the place, but we're not in a position to start a fight, alright?" CO-0195 drew in a deep breath and exhaled, she relaxed only when Mežsrožu's stance relaxed. "Take what you can gather and let's go."​

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The agent was right, and Mežsrožu knew it. She pushed out with the Force to get a feel for who else was here in the cave and then she sneered. "Jedi."​

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How quaint, the Jedi come barging in and ruin a crystal cave, and here history always spoke of the Dark Side doing such things. The sound of a wall rumbling meant more pieces of history would be disturbed and with the aggression already displayed. Mežsrožu became disheartened, there were so few places like this left and it seemed that the Jedi did not care to save them and if that were so - she would preserve this site.​

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"Come, we'll need to head back to the ship."​

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"But-"​

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Mežsrožu put a hand to CO-0195's chest as she turned her back to the adjacent chamber. "I need to fetch my book." She turned to look over her shoulder and applied the Force to close her side of the chamber up once more. A quick spell was muttered, one she had memorized from Taeli Raaf herself. A protection spell from light siders, albeit temporary. ​

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CO-0195 muttered curses beneath her breath, something told her there'd be no talking the Ren out of whatever plan she cooked up. She only hoped that the Jedi would get what they came for and leave before they turned. ​

Shira Varanin | Eldin Daine | Sinestra​

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[Zara Tate]

Meanwhile, outside.

Zara was taking notes of supplies when a mental tap tap tapping came upon her senses. So she closed her eyes to concentrate,

"Maggie?"

~ "Nah. It's Torki. Sup." ~

"Torki? Why are you..."

~ "Are those goons still out there? Maggie's fussing." ~

"Um. No. They've all gone to the caves to search for treasure. Or something. Why. Are you safe?"

~ "Kay. Just checking. Bye." ~

"Wait! Torki? Did you just? ..."

He broke the connection.

"Ugh."

Zara sighed and shook her head. That kid. Such a pain sometimes. Hrmph.

She turned back to taking inventory with a shrug of her shoulders. Mmm. Zara would probably be up there for hours.

 

[Sinestra]

"I am staying here. Guard the rear and all that." Jude stated at the entry to the cave looking at deputy Sideburn. "Make sure you bring back my share of 300k."

In reality, Jude had a completely different intent than just 'guarding the rear'. See, the entry was a choke point. If Cap'n Varanin wasn't coming out of this cave alive, then the agent tasked himself with making sure cat-lady and co. wouldn't make it out either.

He had learned that 'strategy' from an old boss of a crime family on Shaddaa.

Shira Varanin Zara Tate Eldin Daine Xzaien Mishel Kryze

 

[Eldin Daine]

He gave Jude a nod, although Eldin still held doubts about the reality of these so called 300k credits. Still seemed to good to be true, but his mind could not help but think over all he could do with his share. He pushed that thought from his mind however, once they walked past the entrance and into the darkness of the cave. Although light bled into it, there comes a point in which that vanishes too. The goons had torches, so their presence even though still suspicious, was at least helpful in that regard.

“Whoa there, no one said anything about blowing the cave up”, his eyes flicked to the ceiling wondering if an explosion was a wise move in an untested cave. “Don’t fancy rocks fallin’ on me head”.

He was starting to like Varanin more and more with each passing moment, the woman probably had the same thought and since this was sacred ground, she pressed the point across although even what she did next could make the cave unstable, if it had the mind to it.

“Captain Varanin ya sure we should be doin’ this?”, Eldin held a strong respect for sacred ground no matter who owned it. “I mean all this for a mask of some darth birdguy?”. Even the cat lady’s goon shifted in their places as rock started tumblin’ around their feet. Shifting rocks had to be placed somewhere, they just don’t vanish.

Eldin did notice the sparkle of crystal in the wake of it, Kybers to be sure and he knew how valuable they were on the market, after his visit to Isis. He waited a moment, letting the others move on ahead before pocketing a couple of more sizable pieces. One for himself, and one for Mister Wave Rider waiting outside.


Sinestra | Shira Varanin | Zara Tate | Xzaien | Mishel Kryze