Private It Will Help You on Your Way

[Taeli Raaf]

Coruscant Undercity - Level 1313
Two weeks after the Invasions of Korriban and Felucia

Anger and pain coursed through her in a rush that she hadn't felt since those days when her sisters vanished and the Jedi Council didn't even give Corvus her own service. The letter had arrived while she had been enroute to Genesia, and true to her word, Nerralyn had been there with Rose. No one else had been at the house. To say she had been livid, heartbroken, and then cold beyond imagining would have been an understatement. It would have been ten years together as a couple, and because she had refused to retire, refused to stop working, Fiolette had left her. Had taken Aerys and her newborn son Iaacen. Nerralyn, while old enough to have it explained to her, had quickly come around to the idea that Fiolette had abandoned them because why didn't she take her along to if she was going on a trip? A trip that she wouldn't come back from to her.

No, Taeli most certainly would not be dealing with a lawyer about this. She was a Sith, and her now ex-wife... she let a long slow breath out to keep herself from lashing out with the dark side on a passerby. Nerra and Rose had come with Taeli to Coruscant, but they were exploring and shopping through the upper levels, those deemed safe by the Galactic Alliance. A little girl and her family servant/bodyguard wouldn't attract attention from the security forces while she went about her real task on the planet.

Dressed in a simple pair of pants in the Corellian fashion and a purple blouse, glasses resting on the edge of her nose, and a leather coat folded on the seat beside her, she sat on a bench that overlooked the wharf on this level. An artifical lake made in some bygone era, but it was a nice place for this section and offered a great view of the comings and goings. She had seen the reports of the GA getting serious about flushing out the Sithspawn left over from the One Sith era and the other criminals hiding on the world, a task that would take years and years and never quite be accomplished. Regardless, it wasn't just monsters and criminals in the Undercity. Not all of her operatives from Operation Eclipse had activated that day.

But it wasn't any of them she was intent on meeting.

The blood trail had led her here, no doubt because Allyson Locke was either assisting the GA effort in breaking up the syndicates down here or she was on a private affair. Either way, she was here and all Taeli had to do was wait right here and the Force told her she would come. They had so much to talk about.

 

[Allyson Locke]

//: Taeli Raaf //:

​

The sound of leather boots echoed against the makeshift bridge's durasteel flooring connecting two apartment floors together. Level 1313 was a mess and held the secrets of the One Sith. As a Jedi Shadow, the Corellian that sprinted carefully over the bridge took it upon herself to find out as much as possible. She had already found a small cult-like group of Sith worshiped some of the dead Sith Lords that perished during the wars. It wasn't an easy task digging her way into their group, but she had done it. ​

​

Spending a few weeks learning their secrets and their plans, Allyson masked as a Sith Acolyte wanting to praise the dead Sith Lords. Foolish as they were, they were easy to glean information from. A black cloak was tossed aside as Allyson jumped from the bridge as it collapsed. Her legs moved back and forth in a foolish attempt to try and gain more air as she flew. A hand reached out for the ledge of the apartment building. "OOFPM" The air was knocked out of the Corellian's lungs as her body slammed into the concrete wall. Allyson hung there for a moment as her feet scampered against the smooth wall. Her arms stretched, trying to bring herself up and over. ​

​

Screams echoed and faded as the bridge fell with her pursuers. Allyson looked over her shoulder and chuckled slightly. Luck be on her side today, seeing that the bridge had managed to lure her pursuers and then dropped them to their deaths. Allyson felt her body relax slightly as she could take her time scrambling up the smooth wall. Fingers dug into the roofing, Allyson curved her back as her legs ran up and carried her over the edge. Dirt clouded as the woman's body collapsed out of breath; Allyson laid there for a few moments trying to let her heart calm down. She rolled onto her back and stared up at the dark ceiling of Coruscant. ​

​

Laughter echoed as she sighed happily. Blood collected over her brow from where one of the cultists had hit her with their staff. It was a minor wound but would remind her to duck next time. Her breathing calmed, and Allyson sat up and grabbed the small satchel at her side. She had completed the mission, and it was time to return to the Temple and deposit the information into the archives and write long reports. As she stood, she rubbed her chin with her hand; it wouldn't hurt if she wandered into a cantina - had a drink for victory. There was a particular bar that she knew someone she enjoyed running into would possibly be. Allyson patted her brow and hoped that the bleeding would soon stop; at least at the bar, she would be able to wash her face and do some sort of bandaging. ​

​

Making up her mind, Allyson slung the satchel onto her back and wandered the streets heading towards the bar. She passed a woman dressed far too lovely for Level 1313 sitting on a bench as she continued down the walkway. Allyson stopped and smiled at the woman; it would be the kind of smile that meant only a few things, and Taeli could quickly figure out what that smile meant. ​

​

"Hello, there~." Allyson drew closer as she felt some weird familiar feeling. Her first instinct was that the woman was someone she had met. Possibly on a mission or during an evening in her past. Still, the sly Corellian sauntered over towards the park bench. Her voice playful as she found a place on the other side of the bench; Allyson propped her elbow on the back of the bench and looked at the woman. "Have we met before? Because I'm pretty sure I couldn't forget a pretty face like yours." ​

​

Not recognizing Taeli Raaf was an odd thing for the Spy - but maybe that bonk to the head was a bit more serious?​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Allyson Locke

And as the Force promised, Allyson came into view. She looked rather beaten up, but she seemed to be in good spirits. Likely whatever mission that had brought her this low into Coruscant had been successful. She causally flipped the page of the book in her lap, eyes appearing to be focused on her page as Allyson walked by... and then turned back, a suggestive smile in place and compliment immediately leaping from her lips. Well, she would take the compliment all circumstances in regard, but...

"It is always astounding to me how a few little things can make someone completely unrecognizable," she responded, keeping her voice light and just ever so slightly different, not really answering Allyson's question. "Different style of dress, either up or down, and some glasses can be such an effective guise that no one around you, even someone who knows you, would be able to tell."

She took off her glasses, polishing them with the hem of her blouse. Still not looking up or giving Allyson any eye contact.

"Or it could be the head injury you sustained, judging by the gash on your forehead. Concussions are common from such injuries, and they can tend to scramble your memory for a bit. Either way, to answer you, yes we've met before."

She slipped the glasses back onto her face, closing the book in her lap. She turned her head so Allyson could quite clearly see her purple eyes, amusement twinkling in them. "Hello Allyson, it's been awhile. We have so much to talk about."

 

[Allyson Locke]

//: Taeli Raaf //:

​

The voice and the amethyst eyes were a clear sign as to who she was dealing with. Allyson straightened her back and pulled away slightly from the Lady of Secrets. Instinct commanded a swift arrest, but as the Corellian assessed the situation - too many innocent people could get hurt. Also secured in a bag on her back was a sith artifact - one that she had just stolen from the remnant cult of the One Sith. Clearing her throat, Allyson shifted in her seat, doing her best to safeguard the artifact she had beside her. It was fortunate that the bag had been created specifically for this mission; its dark-sided influence was suppressed with the Force's light side. ​

"Didn't realize you made house calls." Allyson quipped as she avoided eye contact and crossed one leg over the other. The Corellian didn't like this. It was far too convenient that Taeli had been able to find her - did more happen within the Empire than Allyson had been aware of? Her mind continued to work over the damaged memories; there had to have been something lingering somewhere. Exhaling, Allyson fluttered her eyes, which activated the recording function of the contact lenses. ​

She eyed the Sith Lord taking in the entirety of the image. Taeli was a master of disguise, having fooled the Alliance and the Jedi's first iteration at the time. Files quickly loaded into her personal dossier of the woman, and then she continued to speak. "It happens." She responded as she now felt the throbbing pain in her head from the attack. ​

"So what do I owe the pleasure of you coming so deep into enemy territory? Highly doubt it's just to see how I'm doing or something like that," Allyson remembered their conversation, the claws she felt digging into her back from the Sith Lady. Her mind, fragmented at the time, and the woman taking full advantage of it. Instantly the mind of the Corellian closed up, the thought shield bearing most of her focus. She wasn't going to leave herself vulnerable, especially to someone like Taeli.​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Allyson Locke

Taeli smiled, not looking at the other woman and just focusing her gaze out over the artificial lake. A few cargo platforms were moving in the distance, going up or down the central shaft that led into the Undercity. She knew why Allyson would be so uncomfortable, and it had everything to do with how Taeli had found her and the unease from when Allyson had been embedded in the Sith.

"As I said, we have so much to talk about, Allyson," she answered after a moment. "And if you're wondering how I found you, it is sort of my job you know... as I'm sure you reported to SIA when you returned." She wouldn't reveal how of course. The Sith tracking ink was a recent creation, something she was still experimenting with. Not even the Saaraishash had access to it yet, just her Order of Shadows.

"And is this really enemy territory?" she asked. A cursory glance would reveal crime, even from beings pretending to be innocent. Graft, greed, fear, anger, all of these things ruled the Undercity. Even in the Force, this place would ring with the dark side, even with the Jedi and their temple towering high above in the upper levels. "I digress however. I will freely admit part of my coming was actually to check up on you and see how you were doing."

During her time in Sith controlled space, Taeli had presented a motherly persona for the younger woman. That had not changed. In a way, she had almost pitied Allyson as it had been clear before she hadn't really known familial affection, not in the way she really desired. Perhaps that was why she was able to flit from lover to lover, role to role.

"Did you like the book I gave you? I imagine it was quite informative for you."

 

[Allyson Locke]

//: Taeli Raaf //:

​

Allyson looked out and pondered the comments from the Sith Lady. Coruscant wasn't the most perfect of places, but the Jedi were doing their best to clean up the streets. Leaning back in her seat, she kept her eyes on the woman. Allyson had been venturing deep into the city's levels to find the hidden One Sith temple erected here during the occupation. ​

Every lead was a dead end, but on queue, she typically found something else to follow. Her resources were running out, but she continued. The artifact she kept with her, the one that she kept locked to her side, would hopefully reveal more leads and ones that would lead to something fruitful. Shrugging, the Corellian waved her hand and chuckled. "The book was interesting. Filled more with knowledge of the dark side of my innate ability - more so than I liked." ​

The book remained under her bed, hidden away in her apartment. It was the worst thing for her to have on her person, especially with the already suspicious aura she had around her. "You know, being in cover didn't help me out much. The Jedi don't trust me - but I am an agent of the SIA, so I guess I'm good at my job or something like that." She didn't want to talk anymore about her time in the Empire - it was a failed mission, one that she won't ever live down. ​

"How's the wife? I heard you, and her aren't a thing anymore." A cocky little grin spread across the Jedi Master's face as her attention now focused on the Sith beside her. "Got her number, by the way? Always had a thing for older women." Allyson shrugged once more; despite her comment, her attention was already taken by someone else. ​

"So why are you here, Taeli? Get to the point - I'm busy."​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Allyson Locke

"Sometimes the innate nature of a power and its origins can't be helped," Taeli said, shrugging. She had never expected Allyson to suddenly go out and start creating technobeasts or an army of twisted machines loyal to her will. That wasn't what she had ever gathered from the girl's personality. Her eyes flashed in anger at the mention of her ex-wife, her fists clenching.

"Yes, it is so lovely to get sent a letter when one is on the way home from the front that your Alliance's allies have so wonderfully pressed for so long. Remind me that I need to send some particular thank yous for that, especially when she absconds with your newborn son." The bitterness, heartache and anger would be obvious of course, and Taeli made no move to hide any of that. Was it something that Allyson or her allies might try to exploit to get her off balance? Certainly, but in a way it would just solidify that Taeli wasn't going to hide her true feelings and thoughts from the younger woman. Little drops of honesty could go a long way.

But after a moment, the expression of emotions would pass and she resumed her calm demeanor.

"I came because I heard about your... search," she said, reaching into a bag on the ground and bringing out a datapad. "I'm sure it's no surprise to you that I have my eyes and ears within the hidden market for Sith artifacts and my organization keeps tabs on Sith cultists that are still active in the Core. Imagine my surprise when a certain Corellian shows up in several reports from my agents."

It almost touched back on the girl's earlier point about how cover never seemed to work for her.

"You've been looking for remnants and artifacts of the One Sith, including the ruins of the temple that we had here during our occupation of Coruscant. I asked myself, why would Allyson Locke be scouring these leads and searching for the temple? And then I remembered something fascinating I learned while you were in Sith space and your biometrics were taken. Very fascinating indeed."

Taeli leaned back on the bench, fingers tapping in a rhythm on the datapad. She wasn't going to outright reveal what was on the datapad of course, but she would be teasing the girl's curiosity she was sure. Taeli was curious herself.

"A question for a question, an answer for an answer sounds fair hmm?"

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson shifted in her seat, pulling the satchel she had tighter to her body. It would make sense that a Sith would sense something else swimming in the dark side. Taeli's inquiry made her uncomfortable. She had already been aware that Sith agents were lurking on the lower levels, but knowing that they answered Taeli only made the Spy nervous. The Sith were everywhere, and despite the Alliance and the Imperials pushing them back into their corner of the galaxy - they still held a grip.

Her shoulders relaxed, and she shrugged, "Doubt you found anything interesting in my biometrics, I'm just a simple Corellian who liked starships." Allyson cut herself off, not wanting to indulge the Sith lady with more of her backstory. If Taeli wanted to know that information, she'd have to pry it out of her.

This was the point where Allyson should have stood up or pulled her weapon to try and arrest the known Sith who had ventured into Alliance territory. It was her duty to uphold the laws of the Alliance, but her curiosity got the best of her.

"It's my job. You, of all people, should know why I would be hunting for artifacts. The Jedi Shadows are typically tasked to. Since out of all the Jedi, we're supposed to be the ones harder to turn." Allyson smirked smugly, knowing how desperately the former Emperor had wanted her to fall. Allyson, despite it all, held on, knowing that she was to be the one to walk the line.​

//: Taeli Raaf //: ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Allyson Locke

Taeli smiled sweetly back in return as Allyson made her comment that Jedi Shadows were supposed to be the hardest to turn. In a way, she had a point. Out of any branch of the Jedi Orders, Shadows came into contact with the dark side more often in their hidden work, giving them an up close and personal experience with it on many occasions. On the other side of that though, they had more opportunities to be tempted, to find one little thing that would spark their curiosity and send them down the proverbial rabbit hole.

Allyson would never be tempted by anything Kaine or a more stereotypical Sith had to offer; he was very ham-fisted in his techniques and tortures, and after watching and interacting with the younger woman in her mission, Taeli had a good idea of what might work and what certainly wouldn't. Case in point...

"I do have to say I enjoy how much you embody the Corellian and Jedi spirit, Allyson," she said. "But you aren't a pureblooded Corellian." She shook the datapad in her hand. "Biometrics showed K'paur DNA which makes for a very interesting combination I have to say and a few cross-references in the old records... it finally explained a few things to me such as your proclivity for mechu-deru."

She offered the datapad with its stored records from the One Sith era, records she had been trying to give Allyson for some time.

"Trying to find out who you are in this galaxy and who you came from is such a powerful motivation. I know that one all too well."