Private Recovering what was lost

[Audren Sykes]

Anobis was a dangerous place. That wasn't something commonly said about an agriworld, but the place had a history. A self-inflicted history mostly, started around the time of the First Galactic Civil War and continued on and off since then. Every so often a peacemaker would come by and a cease-fire would be agreed upon, then times would go bad again and old rivalries would flare up. Traps permeated the terrain: everything from motion-activated auto-turrets and land mines to monofilament wire nets and pit traps to branch and root pitfalls. If it would cause damage, it could be found here.

As with most fights, this one had originated over a difference of opinion. The planet wasn't exclusively an agriworld, there were a number of mines present as well. During the time of Palpatine's Empire, the miners had supported Imperials while the farming communities largely supported the Rebels. Neighboring world Ord Mantell had supplied weapons, and the rest was quite literally history. Whenever times got rough tempers seemed to flare and weapons became readily available again. Nobody knew how many of the traps were from the time of the Emperor and how many were more recent, and it honestly didn't matter. Each person that died on either side even now was an added spark of tension that threatened to surge into an inferno.

The reasons for being here were multifaceted. The old saying rang true: two birds with one stone. More, actually, if you were lucky. Firstly, the mines. Ceredir Industries subsidiary TransGalMeg Industries was not just a shipwright, it was vertically integrated to include mining. Anobis's mines, like the forests and plains, had become battlegrounds and dangerous examples of history remained. Many of the mines had been abandoned as a result and were ripe for reclaiming. Clear the traps and reap rewards. While that was the primary focus there was more that could be done as well. Expeditionary teams could be sent out to work on clearing the myriad traps throughout the region. Having a stable location where arbitrators could be brought in to ease tensions between native groups was also useful. It was also a potential marketplace; business-savvy locals who wanted to expand beyond their current holdings saw TGM vessels constantly. Analysts had begun tracking a surge of digital marketplace hits originating from Anobis and company leadership was moving to capitalize on that.

All of this could take place without Audren's personal involvement. He felt that it was his responsibility as sole owner to be aware of operations, and to be involved if he could help. In some cases - such as this one - he could actually be more effective at certain tasks than most specialists. He had the advantage of trained Force-sensitivity, which was not something a large percentage of the galaxy could claim. He'd spent the waking hours of the past two days going over the various facets of the property: delving into the tunnels, examining current and projected findings, meeting with local employees and contractors, and even combing through a section of neighboring land. At last count about two dozen traps had been marked or disarmed. Productive. Yet his time here was coming to an end; he had other appointments coming up in a few days and couldn't miss them.


Seo Linn

 

[Seo Linn]

As agreed by the smuggler in getting her son off of Lorrd and out of Sith territory, Seo Linn and her son were dropped off on Anobis. In a way, it was a world similar to their native one, and while it was considered and Agri world, there were signs of war all around.

After the three of them arrived, the smuggler had left as her job was finished and washed her hands of the project. Now the rest of it was in the hands of the Knight and her son. Just like their home, this world was full of turbulent history. Covering the lower part of their faces with the customary scarves they both wore, they walked carefully through the wilderness.

The area they were in wasn't as horrible as some other locations, but enough scarring had been done to make Aodhan grip his knives. Raising a hand, they crouched down to try and avoid detection as they laid their eyes on a town nearby. Looking up, Seo saw various ships coming and going, there were no sounds of hostility reaching their ears from the town and she motioned for her son to remove his hands of the hilts of his knives.

Taking the cue from his mother, the older teen did as she requested and the left the cover of the woods. They were silent as they walked side by side and approached the outskirts of the town. Having seen the signs left about the mines, the desert dwellers were able to avoid getting blown to pieces and safely made it through the field.

Two strangers walking in together caught the attention of some people and a few of them ran off to get more. It was something they should have expected since nobody knew them and this location was rather small. Large enough for a spaceport, but not much else.

Audren Sykes

 

[Audren Sykes]

Old habits died hard. When people left for the day and were expected back, it was still common for those who remained to have at least one person watching. Accidents happened - more often here than some other worlds - and it was very possible that returnees could be coming in wounded. With explosives and monofilament wiring very capable of taking off limbs with a moment's inattention, medical attention one minute sooner could literally save a life. Comm units were useful but living eyes were better.

Right now it was Audren and several others in the field. It was his last day here, and the first part of the morning had been spent in the tunnels. He'd wanted open air; it was very much preferable to the stale oxygen used in rebreather systems down the mine shafts. On this expedition they were examining a nearly copse that looked inviting enough. The locals insisted that it was dangerous still, but they couldn't say why. Apparently none of them had gone there in years, they just knew they needed to stay away. The Sephi had to leave in a few hours so this would be his last contribution for a time. His ship was already being prepped.

Airspeeders had brought the Jedi and team near the stand of trees. Had they walked it would have been well into the night when they arrived. As they began walking closer nothing seemed out of the ordinary on the surface. There was just enough of caution in the air that the lightsaber hilt was brought out but not activated. At a hundred meters out though, blaster bolts rang out. The entire team hit the dirt and the stream of fire petered out. Audren cautiously stood with citrine blade lit, and the bolts started back up again. The shots were deflected up into the sky; the rate of fire was decent but nothing he couldn't handle. Whoever - or whatever - was controlling the gun tracked him as he moved but when he settled back against the dirt it let off.

Much the same happened with the next person who tried, an ex-soldier who'd grabbed a riot shield from one of the speeders. When they tried together, the shots alternated between them. They added a third person with the last shield available, and he did not get fired on. He continued moving around however, and a second gun opened up on him. With a great amount of patience and some very careful movements the group determined that there were three guns in the copse that seemed to be triggered by movement. There were blind spots of course: tree trunks seemed to block line of sight and there was a wedge where the guns didn't fire at all. Air coverage couldn't really be tested as none of the airspeeders were armored, but they had an approach vector now.

Back in the mining town, the runners grabbed the attention of one of the TGM guards. She verified at a glance that it was not the scouting team who had returned and commed a mild alert out to the teams on duty. The town didn't see a lot of visitors; the small spaceport was industrial in nature rather than people transport. Those few who did utilize it as such usually arrived by speeder though, it was rare that newcomers arrived on foot. Nevertheless, the report coming in from the field was more concerning, and more interesting. Unless the visitors did something suspicious they could do what they wanted.

Seo Linn

 

[Seo Linn]

The two of them were certainly noticed, the body language of the guards indicated this to Seo. Pointing this out to her son, she silently wondered why nobody had approached them. Then it dawned on her. There was something else going on that they were more focused on. She wasn't one to flaunt what she was, but she did openly carry her lightsaber on her hip.

Speeders moved slowly and once they were clear of the town, they sped away. Few ships moved through the sky and the Jedi figured this was not a tourist planet. At least, not where the two of them were. Looking around, she noticed there was a cantina and gently pulled her son's attention that direction.

Speaking in their native language, it was mostly body language and unless one could understand it, then what they said was unknown by those around them. It wasn't anything poor or bad, just a way for her to communicate with him her intention to visit the bar. At 16, he might or might not be allowed in.

Any town worth its salt had a place like this and information could be gathered. Aodhan followed his mother silently and kept his hands close to his knives, but not close enough to be considered threatening. He watched as much as Seo did and kept his eyes moving. However, they walked openly and did not attempt to keep hidden. They were here for a favor and information not to kill anybody.

Unless they were stopped, she would walk to the bar and order a drink for the two of them. Turning to her son, she handed him the drink she got for him and leaned against the counter. Her lightsaber might be noticed and that was entirely fine with her. Perhaps it might even help their cause.

"Are there any ships leaving this port soon?"

Just a simple question and hopefully it had a simple answer.

Audren Sykes

 

[Audren Sykes]

After a short discussion, Audren and one of the others began moving up along the wedge of 'safe zone'. It didn't seem like anyone sentient or even a high-level program was controlling the guns, so everyone else essentially hunkered down. They'd come into play to attract attention if need be but for now preservation of life was the goal. The elfin Jedi was in the lead with unlit lightsaber in hand, and the lady followed just two steps behind. His focus was on the tree-line, so he was absolutely caught by surprise when she reached out and pulled back on his collar. Instead of stepping forward, he stepped back and had to catch his balance, then glanced at her with raised eyebrow.

"The leaves. It's similar to a couple other minefields."

As she spoke, Na'tala gestured at the ground before them. Audren shifted his attention and found that the pattern of leaves did indeed seem odd. Natural, but only up to a point. From there it was like they just ended, with only some minor drifting with the weather. On the other end, the one closest to the copse, it was better but still wrong somehow. He focused his Force senses there and found that there was indeed a danger, though he couldn't tell what it was. He let the Twi'lek take the lead and simply used a fine application of telekinesis to shift groups of leaves she pointed at. Try to anyways...only the top layer really moved. With a frown he tried to pull more, and found a section of netting coming up along the ground. The two of them glanced at each other, then she pulled a set of goggles down over her eyes and toggled them on.

"Small, loose field. Follow me and don't step on the markers."

He recognized those goggles, a prototype his other company was working on, but didn't know what settings she had. She moved slowly, periodically dropping a small piece of metal then shifting her concentration between the ground and a wrist-mounted datapad. With that datapad, she made holographic markers grow over what he assumed were the impact detectors of the mines. There didn't appear to be many, just enough ensure a dead trespasser. Just a meter or so before the end of the leaf pattern however, the Sephi abruptly reached out and stopped her forward step, a reversal of what she'd done to him.

"Wire."

A quick slash of his lightsaber tore through the mono-molecular wire in a single space, allowing the rest of it to fall to the ground. The danger was evidenced in how easily it sliced through the tree bark; nary a pause could be seen as gravity took it. Once it was on the ground a separate marker was placed over it. Stepping on it could tear through unarmored boots, and maybe a foot too. Once past the last of the mines, it was a simple matter of finding the guns - solar-powered repeaters of all things - and disconnecting them from power. Apparently someone had planned this as a secured retreat and never shown up as the small house within was unused. A quick scout of the inside and the copse found nothing else other than the mines, so Audren carefully stepped out and returned to his airspeeder to return to the mining town. Almost predictably, he was already behind schedule.

---

Back at the town, the barkeeper glanced at the woman. He'd just returned from serving her a drink - her boy, actually - and now she was asking questions. Fortunately he could clean glasses and answer questions, at least until the upcoming shift change. From his position he could see that there was some piece of metal equipment at her hip but didn't get details. Didn't much care either given how many people came in with various tools of their various trades. He thought he'd seen it all.

"Plenty of them, just not carrying passengers. Other than some honcho from the mine there aren't a whole lot of people coming or going. Passenger space cuts down on cargo space after all. Where are you trying to head to?"

Seo Linn

 

[Seo Linn]

Since the Knight had ordered two drinks, she took a sip of hers and set the glass back down on the counter. Nodding as the barkeeper spoke about the ships not carrying passengers. That this took away from valuable cargo space, probably from whatever was mined here.

"Where are we?"

The dangers of accepting a ride and getting dropped on a world just outside of the area one were escaping from. She had left most of her family behind on Lorrd but that had actually been a choice they had made. For years she had wanted to take her son from there and when the opportunity had presented itself, she took it. Her son seemed pleased and had been following her instructions exactly. In a way, this surprised her. Then again when she had been his age, she had been learning about the Force, discipline, and how to be a mother. Aodhan had grown up fast and turned into a nice young man.

Watching him for a moment, she listened to what the bartender said and nodded. So there might be a way off this rock if she somehow could meet and talk to this honcho that was mentioned.

If a planet or location was provided for her, she would thank the man and pay for their drinks.

"When do you think this honcho might be returning?"

Audren Sykes

 

[Audren Sykes]

As Audren pushed the airspeeder's throttle to the limit his stomach grumbled. The latest meal hadn't been enough. While his ship was stocked with travel rations, he much preferred fresh food. A quick comm call to the mine's office had food on order for him though.

---

The bartender noticed without comment that his question had been ignored. It didn't offend him; everyone had a secret to keep and his job wasn't to pry inside their minds.

"The town or the bar? Town used to be call Pitmerden, but the management change renamed it to Tadhabar. My bar is the Narrow Rock."

There had been the slightest pause between the question and continuing on, but he clearly hadn't anticipated an answer since his answer was offered without time to hear hers. In the back of the place there was a muffled ringing, which ended quickly enough as someone picked up the comm. No conversation could be heard but a voice floated out after what would have been a fairly quick discussion.

"Oret, mine office put in an order for him. To go."

A note of annoyance entered the barkeeper's voice as he called back an answer.

"We don't do to go orders, Liella. You know this."

"We do when they're paying triple. We deliver too. The order's on the datapad."

Oret's shoulders slumped slightly. Whether Liella was a wife, a business partner, or something else entirely, it was clear that she held enough sway to make decisions without consulting him. He set down the mostly-clean glass he'd been working on and shifted around to a small grill. In almost no time flat food was sizzling away.

Not many ate at the Narrow Rock. The few who did were usually ships' crews, eager to get what they called "real food" rather than the preserved foods carried for the journeys or those who didn't have a place to cook for themselves. The locals didn't want to spend the money. They were paid fairly and the company even subsidized housing and basic necessities, but the place was still ramping up production. There wasn't a lot of money to go around. Even mine administration rarely purchased food made elsewhere; when they did it was usually a celebration or meal-based meeting. That said, Oret's food quality was some of the better food for sale in the place.

As he worked with the various ingredients he answered the second question. Most of the time his attention was on what would become food, but he did spare a glance at Seo.

"It sounds like he's on his way back now, and in a hurry. Say, what do you use that for?"

As he said the word that, one of his cooking utensils moved to his hip in a near estimation of where Seo's lightsaber was visible. Though nothing changed in his outward demeanor he was suddenly paying very close attention. While no mentalist, barkeepers were often called upon to solve the problems of the world whether they wanted to or not. He'd developed a good ear for telling truth from lie and that skill was one he looked to use now.

Seo Linn

 

[Seo Linn]

It wasn't that the question had been missed, but Seo just was not ready to answer it. Once a location was provided, she opened up a little bit more. From the lack of air traffic, the fact no ships carried passengers, and this appearing to be some back hold, mud-water of a planet, the former slave relaxed a little.

"My son and I are looking for a transport of the planet. We are both willing to pay or work for it."

Aodhan gave her a slightly dirty look but kept quiet. For a teenager, he was very much a child of Lorrd. So far, he had yet to actually say anything to the bartender but quietly communicated with his mother. Placing a hand on his arm, it was a sign to just go along with what she said. If they had to work to get off this rock, they would. Something told her that wasn't going to be needed.

Lowering her hand to her hilt when she was asked what it was used for, she pulled it off her belt and held it out in front of her. Not igniting it, she looked at it for a moment. It was rather simple and not at all fancy. Much like the tools used here, that is what it was for her.

"It's a lightsaber. If it needs to be used, that means there is trouble. I'm a Jedi Knight and want to take myself and my son to their territory. We were dropped off here after taking him from a Sith world."

This information might not entirely interest the bartender but Seo felt it was needed to get the idea across. There was not one word of deception in her voice or in her body language. If he attempted to read that, he would see she was openly telling the truth to him.

Replacing the hilt at her belt, she took another sip of her drink. Setting the glass down again, she met his gaze.

"Do you think you can help us?"

Audren Sykes