No Man's Land

[Cortana Jade]

Coruscant,
Coruscant Underworld - Slum District F10

Spoiler

[youtube]https://youtu.be/dt_a8BWrWRY[/youtube]

"Rebel..." A voice, with a robotic undertone called out. The boy' head snapped and his attention was taken as he realized he'd drifted off into the depths of his minds when he became focused on distant thoughts. "Did you hear what I said?" The voice followed.

"Huh? Oh yeah...no could you repeat that?" He said taking a breath. Really he'd grown disillusioned with the whole Jedi thing...especially after his latest encounter on Nar Shaddaa months back. He wasn't quite sure he was fit for this type of business. Really...no one knew that he had began to relapse. If Jed found out he likely pommel the boy into a pulp, but other than him he had no one...and he wouldn't confide in Jed about everything.

"I won't be on this assignment with you.." The voice came from his holo-projector, in fact this whole time he'd been talking to Jed; his master. "Wait wha...hold on your sending me to Coruscant? By myself?" He retored. "This assignment is yours...I want to see how you handle things, it's apart of your training. But you won't be completely alone, you'll be partnered up with another Padawan. His name is [member="Trextan Voidstalker"] a promising prospect."

"Yeah...I know him. Worked with him briefly a while back. But fine, whatever old man." He said shaking his head, he wasn't as energetic as usual. "Rebel...are you alright? Don't lie to me boy."

"Uh, yeah. I just...yeah no I'm good. I'll brief you later on the progress." Well they both knew what he was referring to when he asked if the boy was alright. Rebel ended the transmission before anything else could be said.

---------------------------------

The coordinates he received from Jed led him to a rundown apartment complex. Apparently the Jedi were asked to investigate a kidnapping of a woman' daughter. It seemed like it'd be a a straightforward mission, but...

This was definitely the slums, but he'd spent a lot of time on Nar Shaddaa dealing with similar situations, so the current environment was abnormal to him. However, because he couldn't go back home at any given time kind of crept in the back of his head. He wasn't sure if Trextan had beat him here or not, but when he approached the building to go inside he noticed two other persons in the vicinity.

They both had covered figures, and he wasn't quite sure if they were male or female. He didn't care to much to get a closer look either, he thought nothing of it as they seemed to be within their comfort zones.

Sigh.

"Alright, let's get this over with."

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Rebel Sunka"]

Trextan's grandparents had come from tatooine - hence the surname - but like his father he was coruscanti born and bred. This was the first time he'd been back since the invasion. Since Jacen and a small team of Jedi had infiltrated the dark valley built by the One Sith, closed the dark side nexus and taken Trextan away.

He'd woken up in an Alliance transport, bound with Jacen sitting opposite him. In some ways it was easy to return to familiar ground. In other ways it was not. This place stirred up the conflict that lived deep within him.

Trextan caught sight of Rebel as he stepped out of the airspeeder taxi. He'd never been down to a district quite this low before. Precious little sunlight made it down this far, and what did come seemed have been reduced to lazy tendrils by a humid haze in the air. The artificial lighting made his eyes tired.

Trextan didn't call out, but he increased his pace such that he caught the door before it closed after rebel. His lightsaber was well hidden within his jacket, but there was a blaster slung from his hip.

"Sorry, got caught in the traffic between levels," he remarked quietly.

OOC/ wrote this last night but site went down!

 

[Cortana Jade]

He turned when he felt the presence of someone behind him, well it was Trextan. His eyebrow rose, and nodded to him in a form of a greeting. "Oh hey, I figured you were inside already." He said turning to him, "I guess it's good to know I wasn't late for once." He started scratching the back of his head. He started to walk, but he halted after his first step.

"Uhh be social dude.." he thought to himself. This was something Jed felt he should be doing seeing as connection was something he iterated as important.

He turned back around, "Oh, I meant to tell ya...good work back on Aleen. You seem to have this whole Jedi thing figured out." He said before taking a breath. "I guess I have to get to your level." He nodded before turning back around. He scratched the back of his head again, "But, lets get this mission squared out first huh?" He took his second step which led into him walking completely through the entrance.

----------------------

Rebel stood in the room with his hands on his hips as he listened to this woman. His face had a blank expression but he was still listening nevertheless. He turned to look a Trextan briefly before continuing on. "So...they kidnapped your daughter and you say you have no ties to them what so ever?" He quirked his eyebrow.

"The Black Nebula have claimed this district as their own." She sounded spooked, her voice trembled as she spoke about it. "They...can get very rough with women." She mentioned before she looked down, as if she was ashamed. "I refused to...to give them...my body and this is what they've done in return." Her eyes teared up. "Please you have to get my daughter back...she's all I have."

He took a deep breath, "Just try to calm down, we'll get your daughter back." He said before licking his lips and trying to convince himself mentally that he could do this. "Is there any place they frequent?" he asked.

"I know a few of them hang around that cantina a few blocks from here. I walk past there most nights for a quicker route home, I usually see a few of them around those parts."

He nodded. "Alright, I guess we start there."

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

(No worries. Also feel free to spin the story however you want, add any twist etc.)

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

Rebel hasn't been there at Trextan's first few missions for the Alliance. On Mechis he'd been shot in the chest within thirty seconds of the violence starting. Trextan had opened his mouth to reply to the complement and found himself unable to put together a reply. Instead he had just smiled. He didn't think he had the whole Jedi thing figured out at all, but complements didn't come too frequently.

---

Trextan couldn't help but feel the Jedi didn't always realise they made matters worse. They could come swanning in to this situation, but if the overstretched Coruscant authorities couldn't help once they had left then another gang would come in.

He told himself not to think about it. To just do what he could. Starting with one girl.

He pulled his comm-link out and called the station. "I need some images and names of Black Nebula members please? Understood."

He took a small device from his pocket and opened the message. "Do you recognise any of these?"

The woman wiped her eyes and took the device and swiped through the list. "Him and him...There's also a gran with only two eyes, but he's not in the list."

"Thank you," Trextan said, trying to sound as reassuring as he could.

---

The Blue Nerf Cantina

Jickle Qen, the two eyes gran had a booth all to himself. The others new he liked a quiet drink alone before joining the others. So his eye stalks turned quickly towards the one who approached.

"What?"

"Couple more talking to Risha about her girl."

Jickle waved it away.

"They're heading here. They look young, very young."

"Wet behind the ears detectives thrown to the dogs," the gran grunted. "Get some boys together. If they aren't polite I might decide to send a message about who owns this ground."

 

[Cortana Jade]

About a block away from Risha'

Rebel threw his shoulders up and forward as to get his jacket to fit better. He walked down the dank street as scattered paper crumbled under his boots, next to him was [member="Trextan Voidstalker"] "It'll probably be like pulling teeth once we get in here..." He said looking over and then back in front of him while he bit own on his lip. "If they frequent this place...and the folks around here are scared of em...they're gonna try and hold back on the info..." He said just talking, making convo about their current situation.

He took a deep breath, before slightly crossing over in front of Trextan to maneuver himself out of the way of a old rusted garbage can which seemed to have been previously lit on fire; he could still smell it...

He went back to his position on the side before his ear started twitching, then he stopped and turned his head to catch of glimpse of what was behind him. For a minute he thought he heard something but...he shook it off.

Sigh.

"I just have a feeling we're gonna end up dong some running once we get to this place..." He rolled his eyes, and proceeded.

--------------------------------

Blue Nerf Cantina

Before entering he stopped and allowed Trextan to enter first, he turned and looked behind them before he followed. Once he crossed the entrance to get inside, background noise became full of the voices that filled the room. Immediately, there were people all over and quite frankly Rebel could smell all manner of things...

He walked over to the bar and leaned on the table while he looked around. He tried to seem like the average customer, though it was likely if they were spotted beforehand their targets would know.

"Saw a few swoop bikes outside..." He said shrugging his shoulder when the bartender came over and began pouring his drink, "Got some races planned or what?"

"Yup, all planned for the end of the night. We're placing bets now..." A Balosar male, with white stringy hair spoke in response.

"Who's at the top?" Rebel responded while quirking his eyebrow.

"Crowd favorite is Pog Worma of Black Nebula. Probably one of the best riders around these parts, always come through with the win."

Rebel nodded, before sucking on his teeth and grabbing his drink, "Alright, I'll get back to you on that." He took a sip while making his way over to Trextan.

"When you got those names, was Pog Worma one of em?" He took another sip, "Gotta few swoop races planned for the night, apparently their entered. Their best rider goes by that name."

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Rebel Sunka"]

"And where is mine?" Trextan asked, looking down at the drink in Rebel's hand. He grinned and gave a shake of his head. "I don't know, can't recall. Don't look but there are a few men looking very interested in us over there. I'm not entirely sure why."

They both looked a touch on the young side for the bar, the crowd was generally towards the middle aged end. But Trextan didn't feel either of them stood out. Yet his eyes and the Force both told him that they were the centre of attention for the group around a two-eyed gran. Trex leaned forwards on his right arm. On the inside of his right forearm was a screen. As casually as he could he flicked it on with his left hand and swiped through the line up he'd been sent.

"Yeah he's there, but not one the girl knew." Trextan was starting to suspect that his partner was right on the matter. If the gang was expecting them both the chance of them ending up running off with their tails between their legs went up a few notches.

 

[Cortana Jade]

When he approached, he caught himself before he could finish taking a sip. His eyes quickly bounced between the cup and Trextan, and then he cleared his voice, "I uhh..." He lowered the drink and just stood there for a moment, "Well...look I don't even have an explanation. I owe ya one, unless..." He said making puppy eyes before offering up his own drink, "You want some of mine?" he began laughing to himself.

Before he could readjust himself and scope the crowd, his eyebrow quirked up at what his partner mentioned.

Hmm?

He didn't make any sudden movement, but he slowly twisted his body while taking a gulp of his drink as if he was just looking around the room. From the corner of his eye he caught the silhouette of whom Trextan mentioned. He turned back around, taking a breath he started, "I guess it's not because we're both on the good-looking side huh?" he said sighing.

He started looking off, but still spoke through the side of his mouth. "Alright well..we've got our current target. When the races start...we should act. They should be just about done taking bets..."

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Rebel Sunka"]

Trextan chuckled and waved away the notion with his artificial hand. Every time her saw himself make a familiar gesture with the unfamiliar limb it was jarring. Like being faintly tugged from his reality as some part of him still refused to acknowledge he'd lost his arm.

"No I would imagine not," Trextan replied. He tried to keep his expression neutral but there was a flare of defiance. They were kidnapping children to strengthen their hold on the district and they had the stones to stare at him like that.

"And there is Pog," Trextan murmured. There was a lot of back slapping as the racer emerged from a private booth and headed out of the cantina. A large full-colour holographic display emerged above the bar, showing a street where racers were assembling. Another showed a map of the race route and a coloured dot for each rider.

"Gentlemen."

Trextan turned to see a twi'lek who had approached them. He had his hands tucked into his belt, right hand close to a heavy blaster pistol.

"Qen wonders if you'd like to join him for a drink during the race?"

It seemed their target had a similar plan to their own.

 

[Cortana Jade]

Hmph.

"So that's their best racer huh?" He said taking another sip and releasing a breath as his throat slightly burned when it went down. "Hell, I'd say..." Just before he was about to spit a bunch of poodoo he caught a subtle scent of perfume; the cheap kind. It was the kind you'd find on the women who worked their way around these parts. When he caught on he likely turned his head before Trextan to look upon a Twi'lek chick.

Well...he'd learned the hard way that Twi'lek chicks were never any good. Rebel sucked his teeth, and then tilted his head over towards the woman. "Why not?" he said sighing before raising his own cup, "But I'll bring my own drink to this private party thank you..." He said forming a fake smirk and then looking over to his partner.

He turned and proceeded to walk towards Qen' private booth. It was weird because he stared them down the entire time, which made Rebel uncomfortable seeing as he only had two eyes. Hell it was weird, and so he tried not to stare. When they got closer Qen waved for them and followed that with a motion for them to sit.

Rebel slid in first.

The Gran parted his lips to speak, "Now what would two fine young men like yaself be doing around these parts?" He spoke as he clasped his hands on the table in front of them.

"Thought we'd check out the swoop races...heard a lot about em. I'm kind of interested in racing myself..."

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Rebel Sunka"]

"Like the races huh? You boys the kind to have a flutter?" Qen asked.

"From time to time," Trextan replied. He could sense the danger, but couldn't see any sensible options except to keep talking.

"Exc'lent. Well I've got a good one for you both. This district belongs to us now and I don't need any junior detectives trying to cut their teeth. But I'm not one for bein' rash you see. So[/]... My boy Pog doesn't win and I'll see what I can do to help. Might even be Risha's girl gets dropped off safe and sound. I can be pursuasive.

"Pog wins and you boys get dropped off back at the precinct."

There was something about his smile that drew Trextan's attention to the fact that he hadn't described what state they would be dropped off in. Nor did the offer seem like one they could turn down. The Force connected all things and right now it was connecting the gran to at least six other men in the bar who were listening in on the conversion.

 

[Cortana Jade]

He cleared his throat, and leaned forward on his forearms while gripping his cup, "Pog seems to be one of the best...doesn't seem like the bet favors us much huh?" He said. Though why would it, adversity was one of those things...and this situation seriously called for it.

"But I'm guessing we don't have much of a choice...huh?" He asked with a stiff face. "I guess you are pretty persuasive..."

Rebel looked around, and they were outnumbered for sure...if this got physical he'd catch a punch or two it was just inevitable. He rolled his eyes at the thought, went to take another sip but his cup was empty. He slid it towards the center of the table. "What the hell, it's a bet..." He said. By this time the riders would be queuing up anyway.

The screens shot on around the bar, everyone's attention was stolen and just then the ambience grew quieter than before but still remained at a simmer. Folks didn't want to lose their money and so it was tense. Rebel took a deep breath before looking over at Qen who had a slick smile already set. The boy rolled his eyes.

Rebel clenched his lightsaber...because he just knew something was about to go down. He learned to put nothing pass these type of folk.

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Rebel Sunka"]

Trextan eyed the men around them. He didn't have the subtlety to do so without making it obvious. One of the men raised his chin an inch and grinned. He had a very large blaster on his thigh. Trextan wasn't used to being in such a tense situation. He'd been in four battles so far, but there wasn't that same flow of adrenaline here. The battle lines had yet to be drawn.

"Do the swoops come past here?" he asked. Pog was the favourite, but perhaps they could alter the odds.

"They do in fact," the Gran looked as if Life Day had come early. "I have a private lounge on the next floor. Why don't you lads join me?" In his view it would make whatever he decided to do after Pog won all the easier. "Great view when they come down this street."

"Fine," Trextan replied with a nod. To do what he had planned would need line of sight.

 

[Cortana Jade]

He released his hand from his hilt just as Trextan spoke, he took a breath. Private lounge eh? Well this could either be good or bad for them. But he knew Trextan was smart, and so he wouldn't agree to such a thing if he didn't already see a way it could work out in their favor. Rebel wish he saw it first but...

Hmph

"Alright, let's take this party to the next floor huh?" He said winking at the Gran, and playfully nudging Trextan. They'd all get up at some point, and the group would make their way up to the separate lounge. Though it seemed almost as if the two Jedi were being escorted. There were men on all sides of them and Qen took the lead.

A trip up the repulsorlift, a walk down a dimly lit hall and then a private lounge revealed to the group as the doors slid open upon sensing their presence. A large glass window situated just ahead of them, and a few booths just in front. He turned to look as the guard remained in place while the three of them made their way to the booths.

"Fancy..." Rebel said.

"The race should be starting any minute now, how bout' we make ourselves comfortable and prepare for the entertainment huh?" The Gran turned to the young men with a wicked smile, rubbing his moist hands together.

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Rebel Sunka"]

Trextan took his seat and offered a smile. Qen hadn't come this far without being able to read people. He could see that Trextan thought he had a plan. That was only slightly concerning. The wily gran had met people with plans before who had failed to bring any to fruition. He doubted what he thought were fresh recruits into the detective arm of the Coruscant law enforcement would have anything up their sleeves.

"Would you care for another drink?" Qen asked. He was half in contemplative thought. They had to kill these two quickly, leave no traces of Their visit and then transport them to the precinct as a message.


"Is this the home straight?" Trextan asked.

"Nearly, one sharp turn, under a low bridge and it's called as they cross the holorail line."

Trextan tried to give Rebel a look to convey his thought. They'd come through hard and fast, but a good shove could put Pog out of contention. Trextan naively though that would be that.