Weekend Treasure Hunt 1: Derelict -- Winner Take All (contest finished)

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Chloe Blake"]

"...in this 'verse ever again."

"I've told'em the same thing in the same words. They fail here, I walk away, and the bulk of it goes with me, split up across all manner of Selab contacts an' hidden vaults. They know my first priority's keepin' this clart safe, an' they know my opinion of how well they've done the job 'til now.

"Tell ya what, an' here's a thought." He peered at the necklace, not quite seeing how a Codex shard could fit inside. "I'm splittin' up all the 'crons there are, puttin'em in vaults across the verse, safe spots, safe as I can find. I go back, I tell the Order that the Sar Agorn holocron's safely stashed if it ever needs to get accessed. Way it works is, if anyone needs to take a looksee, they need to go through the Grandmaster and me. I say it's in a safe place, I never tell none but the Grandmaster that that safe place is with you. Selab keeps it safe, Jedi only come knockin' if I clear it with you, nobody knows you're involved. Should probably bring the Jeth 'cron back for a visit, but after that I could send it back to you, or that Selab facility as just got built in the edges of Sanctum space. If you're amenable, I could bring back a couple of the Crystals too, say we were lucky to get even that many, an' leave it at that.

"Don't take this as me tryin' to impose. Just tryin' to find a way forward for everyone. What you say?"

 

[Chloe Blake]

"Sounds like a fair deal," she'd comment back softly, setting delicate holocron back upon the table as well as her cup of tea. Her hand would then extend towards the necklace.

"Here, let me see." she asked, by the look of his confusion as he'd peer at the necklace, she could tell what exactly he was thinking. Meanwhile, she'd continue, "You looking at sending them my way to a specific place? Or just gonna blindfold them and dump them on Rogue Moon for me to pick up?" there would be mild humor in her tone, a bit more relieved at his game plan. That was something that they could work on, could both handle.

Ain't no other place as safe as that with a Selab member, and if one should fall, like that ship that she'd picked up a few other items, then another would try to pick up in their place.

Thinking of that ship where she got infected had her thinking, and she would rise from her perch, if a bit unsteadily. Her blanket would slip down. "Reminds me..."

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Chloe Blake"]

"Oy, easy." He caught her elbow, pinned the blanket in place, faster than he probably should have. "Careful there." After a moment, he withdrew half a step, eyes elsewhere. "As for, ah, as for the 'crons -- I mean, I've got carte blanche to make vaults for these things, set up security, but things could get messy if I just...." He grimaced. "Suppose what I'm saying is there needs to be a location attached to the process, something I can report to Kiskla Grayson if nobody else. Somewhere I can take people who want to visit, without implicatin' you. Somewhere that you could keep an eye on every now and again. Force knows I been wracking my brain figurin' out where to stash these things. The crystals will have to be split up too. This is wartime and all. You got anywhere in mind?"

 

[Chloe Blake]

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

"Lemme think on that." She'd give him a faint smile, although she caught his downcast gaze. One hand would hold the blanket round her shoulders, but she was grateful for his assistance anyways.

"Ain't bedridden yet Jorus," she'd tease him, bare feet padding slowly and quietly towards another section of the lounge area not too far from where they sat. The Aurora Hawk was a mass of smuggling compartments, well over one hundred metric tons of space here and there, excellent for hiding items.

"Can you get my satchel?" she'd ask him, as that was the last place she left what she'd found on that other ship. It had been in the cockpit, if'in she remembered correctly. Everything was a blur. She'd bent down beside one panel, and after pressing a few areas, managed to pop it free. Inside were a couple of pill boxes made of graphite.

"Got some things to show you... "

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Chloe Blake"]

He took a couple minutes to poke around, find the bag, bring it down. By the time he got back, she'd pulled out what looked like sample cases made of the same woven graphite as speeder bike seats. Or maybe it was something different -- less glossy, more substantial.

"Here ya go," he said, setting the bag down beside the open smuggling compartment. He took a seat on the step. "What you got here?"

 

[Chloe Blake]

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

She'd give a nod for him to open up the satchel, "Told you about that ship... not sure how much cause the things 'fore you sister kinda were blurry...." she admitted as she began to open up the pill boxes, sitting crosslegged in front of him as she sat on the floor.

"But that was a Selab ship." she told him, "And that's all that I'd been able to save." she admitted, "'Fore the warnings of the countdown." What he'd find would ironically be the writings of Odan-Urr and a Jedi datacron on the Aing-Tii Codex and the safe routes through the Kathol Rift.

"But these here..." she lifted the lid, revealing two holocrons, one odd double sided pyramid beside another square shaped one. There was also the Je'daii codex, all items she managed to save from Aurum. She would pluck the double pyramid one in her hand, "Lemme introduce you to A'nang... "

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Chloe Blake"]

He cradled the blue octahedron. "I get the feeling I should be sayin' something like 'holy feth' right about now. My gut says this is old, but-"

A blue-lined Kwa silhouette rippled to life above his hands, and though he'd held his share of holocrons he nearly dropped this one.

The next few hours pretty much boiled down as follows. Storytime with a pre-Je'daii Master. Examination of Rekali's locket. More storytime. Monitoring Chloe's recovery. Even more storytime. Examination of Odan-Urr's writings, and getting Chloe's permission to make a copy; these weren't things the Sith could abuse, far as he knew, and the Jedi could use them for teaching something like moral responsibility to their people. More storytime with the Kwa. Some quality time with those Kathol Rift routes; he filed them away with the tens of thousands in his head.

When at last he sat back, drained and stunned, he gave Chloe a clap. "I'm not one to go all out for knowledge for its own sake, but this...feth, Chloe, you've got as much good stuff as the Order had last month. Now that's how a Selab keeper rolls. Well done."

 

[Chloe Blake]

A soft smile would shine upon [member="Jorus Merrill"], as she would pour him a drink. The situation would remind her of years past, when they would talk just like so, here either on the Aurora or the Gypsy. How they'd trade stories, chart the black, and simply enjoyed their time in the 'verse picking up what bit of knowledge they could.

They'd come a long way since then.

She'd take another sip, weary beyond what she'd been earlier, but it was a good kind. Both managed to glean more information, and ultimately, do what Je'gan had set off to do long ago with the Order of Selab.

"Just doing what needs to get done," she'd say, taking a deep breath, adjusting the blanket around her after setting down the bottle of the night between them. She'd taken to sitting on the floor, leaning against the bulkhead. "What Je'gan started a long while ago..."

But speaking of the Selab made her think of Je'gan, and again, that wash of concern went over her face. "I'm worried about him." she told him, glancing down at the necklace she'd been playing with. It was a rather peculiar piece, but with the combined knowledge of them both plus a few choice words of advice from the several masters around them, the key to opening it was upon them.

Likely a good jeweler would be able to aid in it too. She'd mention earlier that the smiths on Velmor were known for their artistry in such intricate jewelry, and would serve to perhaps find the mechanism to open it if they didn't manage between themselves 'fore Jorus left.

"Something happened.... don't know what... but it ain't good. "

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Chloe Blake"]

"That ba-" He bit his tongue with a grimace, knowing how Chloe had trained under Olra'en. Jorus had never had much use for the man himself. "He's gone through about three, four faces since I first met him. He's an old snake, Chloe, there's none that can pin him down for long. Now granted, with Wraith executed on live holo, I'll concede there's more goin' on than I know or that I'd like. Might explain a thing I heard from my old Silk crew. See...Aleidis Ijet came to me a while back. Long story short, Ijet an' Je'gan are Aldiel D'Lessio and Selka Ventus, the Silk bosses. Are, or maybe were. Seems Ventus took a minor spot on the board, stepped down as CEO. Figured it was another move in the game, but if it's the real Selka Ventus -- old friend of mine, took some skull trauma when Matsu sank Ahto City -- if Olra'en figured out how to wake her from a coma 'stead of just taking her face an' memories -- feth, Chloe, I feel like I'm tugging on the edge of a yarnball, tryin' to figure out the fringes of those people's plans. If Je'gan's safe, he's Selka Ventus. If he ain't, Selka Ventus is either herself, or someone else entirely. Think that's somethin' we'd better check out, an' I mean soon, soon as we get things locked down an' dished out."

 

[Chloe Blake]

There was bad blood between Je'gan and Jorus; Chloe knew that all too well after a series of unfortunate events that led to the death of Jorus's parents and then the subsequent loss of his eyes. That wasn't even including that things that came in from then to here and in between.

The whole bit about Selka and Ijet did come to a surprise, enough to get her to straighten a bit on the floor. Blonde brows would draw together.

"You got that right." her eyes would lock on his, "Seeing your connection to Silk, reckon that knocking on the door would be easier." That was putting it lightly, he was after all, the former owner and founder of Silk Holdings.

"I just want to make sure -- don't have to take long." he was right though, first things first about locking these things down. She'd pan her gaze across the holocrons and datacrons.

"You were talking 'bout a place right?" she'd begin, her mind wandering to places in the past they'd traveled together. One place in particular stuck out.

"How bout Millinar?" Millinar was an elusive planet believed to be only a myth by the galaxy at large. The myth of Millinar was often compared to those of the Lost City of the Jedi and the Valley of the Jedi. Millinar was located in a giant dust cloud, obscuring it from the rest of the galaxy. Its low axial tilt and good water/land surface ratio meant the planet's weather was always pleasant, and its low-lying land masses, beautiful springs, and underground streams added to an unspoiled natural beauty.

The native trees possessed extensive root systems reaching down to the underground streams, and produced succulent fruits with unusual natural healing properties. The planet's focal point was a large, triangular monument built by an ancient Jedi Knight. Its surface was decorated with elaborate paintings that seemed to move in sunlight.

The natives of the planet were a race of hermaphroditic, Force-sensitive aliens, rumored to be keepers of Force techniques long lost to the galaxy due to the Emperor's purges -- what other place to lay priceless relics to rest than that?

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Chloe Blake"]

"Millinar's the place, aye. Let's hit Millinar, stash the Sar Agorn 'cron with a couple taozin amulets to hide it from the wrong sort of eyes. Millinar's Hapes Cluster, not too far from here; from there, we could hit up the Jedi Temple at Ruusan to drop off a couple crystals and the necklace. From there, we could hit the Silk headquarters at Drogheda, find Selka Ventus, see what's going on with Olra'en. Now, if you and I can't sort out that necklance and the shard before we get to Ruusan, we may have to look for outside help."

 

[Chloe Blake]

"Velmor ain't too far from the Consortium, if'in it comes to that," she told him. "They are known skilled artisans of these kind of things... couldn't hurt to stop and gather a bit of information if we can't figure it out ourselves."

She'd take a deep breath, holding it before letting it got in a soft whoosh.

"Then that's what we'll do," she held up the necklace up closer to her face, studying a bit further. After a couple of seconds, she'd slip it over her head, holding it in place there for the moment. She'd start securing the rest of the 'crons in their respective pill boxes for safety. "Think you can handle the Aurora?" she'd ask, well aware and honest about the fact she wasn't too good to do any kind of piloting right now.

If he'd accepted, then they would be sure to be on their way. Maybe along that whole bit, he'd answer a few of her questions regarding just how he managed to find her.

And what ever happened to the astromech DOT had mentioned had zapped her. Among this would be more studying of the pendant between them, a mix of trying to understand the delicate mechanisms through normal means as well as that through the Force.

It reminded her of a puzzle ring, actually. It was just a matter of time before they'd get the treasure within.

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Chloe Blake"]

"I've taken us this far, I guess. Gimme a minute with the hypercomm -- gotta phone home."

By the time she finished packing and made her way back to the cockpit, he'd be just wrapping up a holocall with Alna and Mara, and keying in a course to the Hapes Cluster. He spun the chair to face her as the comm went silent. "Mara was just goin' to bed or she'd have said hello herself." His eyes tightened fractionally. "Misses you fierce some days, that kid."

The navicomputer beeped -- course calculated. The Aurora Hawk jumped to lightspeed.

"Been a while since I hit up Millinar. You visited more recently? Any idea how they're takin' the war?"

 

[Chloe Blake]

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

"I miss her somethin' terrible," Chloe would admit, sliding into the co-pilot seat beside him, thinking of the half Zeltron daughter Jorus had named the Mara Corridor after. Memories of Mara would surface and grace the Warden's face with affection.

"Reckon she's done some growin since I saw her last." she'd say, draping her body into a more comfortable position as they went into warp.

"Maybe once this is all done and taken care of, how keen are you on having Mara travel with me for a bit?" she'd ask a bit tentatively, aware of what she was asking. "Wouldn't be for long... figure run down and show her a few things. " her newest ward came to mind.

"Alex might also enjoy some company." her head would swivel towards him, " As for Millinar, things been pretty quiet. That which folk believe to be a ghostling tale seem to always pass by the wayside. That dust cloud does wonders for keeping it hidden."

A faint quirk at the corner of her mouth would show, "Y'know how the Hapans are about their territory and all. Quick to make sure folk who don't belong stay out."

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Chloe Blake"]

"Now there's a thought worth thinkin'. This ship's as safe a place as any, safer than the 'Moth for one, an' I'd rather she spent more time in tramp freighters than on her planet or the Daragon. I'll talk with Alna, an' we'll see -- maybe not now, but at some point, yeah, it could be a thing. Now Alex -- that's Alex Rekali I take it? Ember' granddaughter, Aaralyn's niece?" He smiled faintly. "I knew a girl who knew that kid's father. Let's just say I'm glad it's you takin' care of her.

"As for the Hapans an' the cloud, yeah, there'll be some talkin' to be done. Cloak won't do much against the Transitory Mists; we'd leave a wake."

 

[Chloe Blake]

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

There was a measure of relief that would go bathing Chloe’s face. Perhaps there had been the worry that Jorus would say no. Granted, she’d yet to meet Alna Merrill in her mocha flesh, and likely it would come to play soon what with the mighty fierce need to see Mara again. She wasn’t one to cause any trouble, but she also had no inkling just how to go about things.

Maybe she just needed to be herself.

With that thought in place a sense of peace would wash over her, so much that the faint smile would turn into a toothy smile.

“Yeah… I’d like that.” She took off the necklace and started fiddling with it a bit, half of her concentration on it and half on Jorus. The longer she studied it the more she realized just how much like a puzzle ring it was. Delicate areas interlocked together.

“As for the Hapans… don’t you got some manner of connections with the Senate?” Vaudin came to mind. “Vau can probably link us to the Senator of Hapes. Maybe grant us passage?”

Dealing with the Hapans well.. let’s just say there were few women in the ‘verse who one really didn’t want to ruffle their feathers much. Powerful women who were quick to show just how things went and are. And weren’t much for outsiders messing with their territory.

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Chloe Blake"]

"Vaud's a little unreconstructed. Can't imagine the Hapans have much use for him." He squinted in thought. "That an' I don't much like having to involve him more than he's already involved in holocron protection. Compartmentalization is a thing. There's another Senate connection I know of, but that one's not one that appreciates the light of day from whatever direction. Hell with it. I'm Jedi Council now -- I've got the means to get a Senator's comm number, at least for an assistant or somethin'. I'm thinkin' the direct approach. Call up the Senator myself, maybe. Never sure how high or low anti-Jedi sentiment is in Hapes, but I don't have to bill myself as Council, though she'll know it -- I'm the hyperlane guy. Your experience with Hapans is better than mine. What you think?"

 

[Chloe Blake]

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

The corner of her mouth would perk in a wry manner, “Go head on with the Senator of Hapes?” she didn’t know much about the woman, just the general bit of information.

“The Ducha of Charubah?” both blonde brows would rise in a bit of humorous irony at what she would say next, “... and Selab?”

Yes, the Senator of Hapes by all intents and purposes, came from a long line of nobility that reigned over the planet of Selab and more specifically, the massive grove where the Trees of Wisdom only grew.

“I think I can handle that.” her head would teasingly bob a bit from side to side, “Maybe even get a Gun of Command to boot.” unlikely, but it was an amusing thought none the less.

A thought would come to her. “And maybe we won’t have to go to Velmor at all for this,” she would continue, motioning to the pendant. “If the Hapan Royal Jewelers can make a crown of Rainbow Gems as intricate as that, reckon they could potentially aid in unlocking this as well.”

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Chloe Blake"]

"See, right there, you already know a darn sight more about this stuff than I do."

The Aurora Hawk hit realspace in due course, just outside the Transitory Mists and some distance from the nearest Hapan checkpoint patrols. He'd made a couple of calls to Ossus, and sent a message to Coruscant, something along these lines-

Senator [member="Persephone Callas"]-

My name's Jorus Merrill. I'm sure you know more about me than I'd like, so I won't pretend to modesty nor prideful introductions. I'm in serious need of a quiet visit to Millinar, for reasons important to the war effort. I won't appeal to your dignity nor your image. This is one of those things that'll stay quiet, an' the only thanks you'd get would be knowing that you've been part of something necessary -- and my promise that this won't bring trouble to your shores. I'm in a civilian, unaligned, near unarmed ship just outside the Transitory Mists, and time's a factor.

If you've concerns or conditions, let me know.

 

[Lana Carde]

The name was indeed, well known to the Senator of Hapes.

Aquamarine eyes would narrow slightly upon the message hovering upon the holographic screen in front of her desk, long slender fingers lightly tapping a quiet beat as she would mull over the request.

Oh she was curious as to why he would like such a discret favor, but the woman wasn’t a fool. She came to her position based on her ambition and the tit for a tat favors she’d gleaned from various sources in the Galaxy.

To have a favor owed by the creator of the Hyperlane was no different. So much that even she was willing to discuss directly to the man himself. He couldn’t be blamed for the gender he was born with, after all.

And all men were simply a tool to be used. He would be no different.



Mr. Jorus Merrill,

I will acquiesce to your request on the grounds that you remember this favor in the future, whenever I’ve a need of your services --- provided that this access to Millinar will not provoke harm to any Hapan Citizen or bring an echo of slander to my name.

If the terms are agreeable, I will send you an applicable transponder code for your vessel to use to travel safely within the Consortium space.

Ducha Persephone Callas
Senator of Hapes



If accepted, Persephone would follow up and relay that information for [member="Jorus Merrill"] to use.