A New Leaf

[Vosrik]

Ruusan​

Oberon pulled his suit coat a little tighter around him as the wind whistled down the streets of the city. It was late afternoon, but this deep into the city the sun didn't quite touch the roads. You'd think after living his whole life here, he'd gotten used to the windy climate of the blasted planet, but he hadn't. Oberon grumbled silently, pulling out his datapad to review the data his client sent. The entire job seemed fishy from the start — the name sounded fake, the money too good, the target too important. No matter how he looked at it, this "individual" he was hired to investigate appeared to be a crime boss. The investigator sighed long and hard.

"Oh Oberon, what have you got yourself into this time?" he murmured to himself. Tapping the electric blue screen of the datapad a few more times, he replaced it back underneath his jacket. He continued his steady pace, still a few blocks away from where he was going to begin surveillance.

"Oi! You off on another job there, Oberon?"

The dark-haired man turned, hearing his name called out from across the street. An old friend of him and his mom, Reiner approached with a smile and clapped Oberon on his shoulder. He chuckled and replied, "Well, something like that. Good to see you around, how's the old man doing?"

Reiner shrugged and laughed in return. "Same as always, dear chap. Listen, you be careful out there, eh? Wouldn't want you getting hurt out there. It'd be a shame if I didn't see ya at the pub regularly!"

Oberon grimaced as his friend reminded him of his drinking habits. The last week was pretty rough for him, he'd been there almost every day drinking his last job's earnings away. Blasted Ruusan, even Reiner knew how much Oberon wanted to leave. The investigator blinked and took another quick breath, offering a small, reassuring smile. This life...it was just too repetitive. Far too boring. There was so much more to life than sitting around in once place, going nowhere fast. Oberon cleared his throat.

"Well...if I don't show up one day, just know I've moved on to something better. Have a good afternoon, my friend."

With that, the investigator continued towards his destination. Even as he approached it, the street began to look more and more like it was in gang territory. Graffiti lined the walls — strange symbols in various languages and even something with a burning rose. "Kes the Mandos!!1!!1" was also emblazoned comically across the back end a broken down speeder. Clearly, someone held a grudge. Oberon turned down a dark alleyway, knowing that if he went any further he'd be confronted by some large people with guns. Along one side of the alley was a trash dumpster, and on the other was a fire escape stairway that crawled up to the roof of the building. Climbing up the dumpster as gracefully as he could (not very), Oberon leaped into the air and barely caught the lowest step. He huffed, pulling himself up and making his way up to the third or fourth floor where a large window was placed. Here the investigator stopped, pulling out his datapad to begin taking notes and pictures. All he had to do was wait for the target to enter the room.

 

[Caramon]

The Jedi Knights were dispatched to all parts of the galaxy. Always on a mission or settling a dispute. This trip was no different as Caramon talked with the two party leaders. Always wanting to find the most non violent way to end the bickering with the least amount of bloodshed was a win in his book. The two house leaders mildly argued as the disagreement finally came to an end, both parties walking away with gaining and loosing something. Caramon bowed to both men, shaking their hands the three walked towards the exit. The transparasteel door that led outside opened upwards with a slight hiss, smoke filled air entered the room as they were once again amidst the bustling nightlife of Ruusan. Caramon walked down the steps of the establishment, pulling his sandy brown robes over his head as he turned on his heels to the right and started towards the starport.

Pulling his holo com out of his robes he proceeded to contact the Jedi Master that had sent him on this mission. A flash of light and a small image of the Jedi Master appeard.

“Everything is taken care of Master. Everyone went home satisfied with the deal.”

“Very good. You can tell me everything when you get back to the temple.”

“Yes Master”

With a push of a button the image of the Jedi Master faded away and Caramon placed the holo pad back into the folds of his robes. Caramon looked up at the stars, but they were not visible through the smoke. ‘I don’t like this place at all’ the Jedi thought to himself. He continued to walk along the permacrete path, looking from side to side, keeping his wits about him. Most of the alleyways were dark and filled with the homeless digging through dumpsters for any scraps of food.

As he passed by an alley he saw a man jump up onto the roof access. Sinking back into the shadows, the only way you would have known that the Jedi was there was by his slow rhythmic breathing noise his mask made. Caramon watched as he finally made it to the roof. Rounding the corner, the Jedi went to the next alley which looked the same. Focusing on the lightside of the force, Caramon soared into the air about halfway up the building. He started running up the stairs not wanting to loose his target.

Quietly stepping onto the roof Caramon walked over to a chimney stack sticking out of the building to provide darkness. Caramon stood next to the brick man made construct as he wached this strange man take pictures. Of what he did not know. ‘Why would a man do this, what is he after’ the young Jedi thought to himself. He leaned against the chimney, taking his time, waiting to see what would progress.

 

[Stryker]

An extremely muscular Annoo-dat Prime walked with soft steps. He had been spending some time with the wretched waste that humanity had forgotten about in the dark recesses of the place. But he choose to spend his free time with them, and since the mission was completed and was a success, he decided to do just that. He walked along the homeless and felt the presence of the Jedi he was working with.

Rounding the corner with his tail in pursuit, he saw his partner shoot up -landing halfway up a building, then take off into a sprint up a set of stairs...

Something caught his attention.....

Ra'taak called on the Force and with a powerful thrust of his legs rocketed off the ground, landing in the same spot his partner had. Then turning up the stairwell he followed until he could hear the mechanical breathing issuing from a dark recess behind a chimney. He approached and laid a heavy claw on the strong shoulder.

He didn't need to say a word. He saw the man taking pictures in a window.

 

[Vosrik]

Oberon waited with bated breath for his target to enter the room dimly lit with blue screens. He was well hidden from the view of the window, not like it was likely a crime boss would think he was being observed as it was. He caught his breath, thinking he heard the clanking of footsteps on the opposite side of the building, but brushed it aside as he didn't see or hear anything more. His perch on the black steel steps suddenly tinkled as the skies opened up and it began to drizzle steadily. Oberon cursed under his breath, not enjoying the rain but having worked in worse conditions before.

Then there was movement inside the room. Oberon caught his breath again and checked his datapad to look for familiar faces. Ah, yes that one... he thought as a man with a cybernetic eye strode into the room, flanked by two large bodyguards and a smaller, but heavily tattooed aide. The investigator peered at the smaller man, not recognizing him on the list of contacts his client sent.

While the bodyguards stood at the door, the crime boss and tattooed man sat at across each other at a desk and began speaking in low tones. Oberon raised his datapad, snapping a couple silent pictures and continuing to observe the discussion. Listening intently, he began to start picking up some of their conversation as the two voices drifted through the partially open window. Minutes went by, and Oberon caught something about "supplies" and "delivery delays" — that made the cybernetic-eyed man very agitated. Their voices rose as the argument became heated.

"I've waited two months for those arms! You promised you'd get me those chemical launchers by last week!" The last sentence was accented by the boss smashing his fist into the desk, causing the tattooed man to jump out of his seat and point threateningly in response.

"I told you, we had complications. Maybe if you dealt with your rivals and stopped the petty shootouts, the last shipment wouldn't have been damaged and stolen!"

The larger man stood up, swiping the contents of the desk off and smashing them to the floor. "Those chemicals were MEANT to stop them! We were going to poison their food and water supply, you kriffing ingrate!" he shouted back. "I paid you in advance, and I want those weapons now. It was your damned scientists who tried transporting them openly through the city."

"And it was your job to protect them! Maybe if you sent more guards there wouldn't have been a delay."

Oberon had heard quite enough to know what was going on. The two of them had drawn blasters and were getting closer to the balcony, and he needed to get out of there as discreetly as possible. Sliding his datapad back under his suit, the investigator crouched and silently began making his way down the steps — when his boot got caught in a piece of metal jutting out of the staircase. Tripping, he landed hard on the staircase that immediately silenced the two bickering in the private room. "What was that?" he heard the crime boss demand, causing him to yank his boot in an attempt to free himself. Oberon managed to get his boot loose, but tumbled down more stairs to a landing just as the four stepped into the rain on the adjacent balcony.

"Well? Blast him!"

Oberon fumbled with his jacket, gripping his trusty Thunderbuster while trying to avoid the hail of red plasma that streaked through the air towards him. "If I get outta this one, he better give me a bonus..." the investigator grumbled, still trying to take cover or find a way out.

 

[Caramon]

Caramon leaned against the brick and mortar as he watched from the shadows. He felt a familiar presence within the force and knew exactly who it was. As Ra’taak placed his hand upon his shoulder Caramon looked towards his comrade and gave a slight nod. Then both men turned to watch the scene play out before them.

As the two Jedi sat in silence, the events that unfolded before them showed no signs of ill intent from the man perched atop the roof. As the rain started to fall, the man with the camera decided he had received enough. Caramon looked at his companion and spoke in hushed tones.

“Everything seems copasetic here.”

A loud bang was heard followed by loud grunting coming from the side of the building where the man had just descended. Caramon watched as the two thugs stepped out onto the balcony of their room. ‘This isn’t good’ he thought. Jedi knew what to do in battle, how to aide each other, so when Caramon started for the two men he knew that Ra’taak would know what needed to be done.

This needed to be dealt with quickly. Caramon, calling upon the force to aid him, he sprinted forward at lightning speed. He could see the bigger of the two men turn towards him and aim his weapon. Being quick on his feet, he sprang into the air. As he descended, grabbing his ornate lightsaber from its resting place upon his belt, he flipped the switch. The green plasma blade protruded from the hilt as he landed. Bringing the blade down in an arc, slicing the gun in half, rendering it useless. Thrusting his hand forward, Caramon used the force to push back his opponent. The large man growled as he was slammed into the adjacent wall with a sickening thud. The Jedi Knight stood a few feet away from the thug. Blade in hand, feeling the force surround him, like a blanket on a cold day.

 

[Stryker]

“Everything seems copasetic here.”

Ra'taak did not share the same sentiment. The notion that a man was peering into windows with a camera typically denoted underhanded dealings. But he decided not to share his opinion on the matter. Instead he nodded his head once as rain started splattering off his blunt and angular features. His attention was grabbed when he heard the clatter of the mysterious man hit the deck. He darted over to the edge just to see him struggled for a moment with a stuck boot, then free himself and clambered down the stairs before landing hard on the landing. Then at the same time four heavily armed men stepped onto the balcony.

"Well? Blast him!"

In a flash, Caramon had bounded upward, he saw the lightsaber explode into being.

Ra'taak vaulted over the edge grabbing his lightsaber from its clip. As he flew through the air, the robes billowed around him before landing heavily next to the downed man. He slowly straightened his back as his thumb flipped the switch. The yellow blade sprung into life with a hiss, highlighting his bestial features in a dull glow. Drops of rain struck the hot blade transforming them into wisps of twisting vapor. He turned, looked up and roared a low throaty growl as he took up the Soresu form. The blade whizzing and whipping about in a blur of light deflecting the on coming assault of blaster bolts with sparks and pops. He saw his opportunity, a small hole in the incomming blaster fire. Quickly he reached a claw out connecting with the Force, flinging one of the men roughly into the wall crippling him before returning to his defensive posture.

In a quick glance, Ra'taak noticed that the man he was defending had a blaster. He quickly nodded his head. "Rendering assistance would be helpful."

 

[Vosrik]

As the blaster shots began streaming towards Oberon and hitting the metal staircase, he knew that it wouldn't be long until one of them found its mark. Steeling himself and closing his eyes, he prepared for the inevitable sear of plasma — but it never came. Instead, he heard two other loud clangs as the two newcomers intervened and then a strange ignition with subsequent humming. Something the investigator had never heard before in his 25 years.

Cracking open his eyes, Oberon witnessed two strangely armoured and robed figures with glowing sword-weapons. To further astound the man, both outstretched an arm and knocked both the crime boss and one of the large bodyguards into the wall behind them without laying a finger on them. Oberon had heard rumours of Jedi and Sith, strange warriors of Light and Darkness that could control the very fibres of the Galaxy. Of course, having never actually seen anything to prove it until now, he doubted their existence.

Today was a strange day indeed.

"Rendering assistance would be helpful," the Annoo-dat Prime stated, snapping Oberon out of his state of shock. He scrambled to his feet, gripping his blaster tightly and peering at the crime boss and his goons. Both the bodyguard and the boss himself had been knocked out, and the other guard hastily retreated inside behind the tattooed scientist.

"I uh, I'm not here for this," Oberon stammered quickly, wiping his brow and motioning to the unconscious bodies. "I'm just a private investigator, I wasn't supposed to interfere...I need to get out of here."

With that, the investigator continued down the steps, glancing back to make sure he wasn't being shot at anymore. The boss had begun to recover, groaning and gripping his head from the hit he'd taken to the wall. Oberon motioned for the Jedi to follow, secretly hoping to learn more about them but mostly not wanting his job to get compromised more than it already had. Reaching the bottom of the fire escape stairs, he dropped heavily to the ground and took off at a light jog down the alley. The populated streets weren't far, where he'd be able to blend in with the crowd in case they were followed. Oberon desperately hoped that none of the criminals had gotten a good look at his face — that'd be the end of his career for sure.

 

[Caramon]

Caramon could see Oberon, a little shaken up, as he started down the stairs. The guard that lay against the wall was starting to come to, and the Jedi knew it was time to leave. The other guard, fleeing for his life as he ran inside of the building from which he came with the tattooed man. Caramon looked at his comrade in arms and gave a slight nod. With a flick of a switch on the hilt of his lightsaber, the blade retracted into the hilt.

Caramon summoned upon the force for aide. In one fluid movement, he place the lightsaber back onto the clip attached to his utility belt with his right arm. With his left arm he braced himself on the railing as he swung himself over the railing. Caramon was falling throught the air, his robes fluttering about him. He could feel the presence of the force surrounding him as he descended down to the street. Finally landing with ease, The Jedi knight quickly looked around for the man they had just saved.

All he could see was the tail end of his coat as he rounded a nearby corner. ‘There you are’ he thought to himself, felling the panic within the man as he felt for his presence. Caramon darted off in his direction, trying not to loose him, hoping that Ra’taak was not far behind.

 

[Stryker]

The beast deflects one last bolt with a flick of his wrist. He looks over at Oberon,

"I uh, I'm not here for this, i'm just a private investigator, I wasn't supposed to interfere...I need to get out of here." Ra'taak watched as the man take off down the rest of the stairs then drop to the ground with a splash.

A private investigator? That answers some questions.....

The yellow glowing blade of the lightsaber retracts with a hiss, and Ra'taak vaults over the railing. He lands in a three point stance, which cracks the concrete due to his weight. Without hesitation he darts off after the man in a sprint from a different direction. He briefly catches a glimpse of Caramon before at they pass by a building. The rain pelted his face and slightly hindering his vision, but Ra'taak kept up the pace. He the splashes of Oberon's boots hit the road and tails of the coat billowing behind him. He called upon the Force. An invisible wave of calm and peace issued outward from the brutal looking Jedi washing over the fleeing man.

Be calm, be still....

Ra'taak wanted to investigate this further. There was more to this then meets the eye.

 

[Vosrik]

By now, night had truly descended upon the city. Instead of the dull grey-yellow of the sun bleeding through clouds of smog, the streets emanated a brilliant blue from bars, clubs, and other establishments above the crowds. The rain had tapered to a cool mist, leaving the roads damp and further reflecting the colourful nightlife of Ruusan. Oberon pulled the collar of his jacket tighter around his neck as the Anoo-dat Prime followed him closely. Being far enough from the gang's territory, the investigator felt it was safe enough to slow down to talk.

A strange wave of peace and calm hit Oberon, and while it worked, he waved his hand around like trying to blow away smoke. It wasn't as though the large creature frightened him — he'd seen plenty of alien species in the trading port. Oberon had just had a massive revelation and needed to process it. Stopping on the side of the street as the crowds passed them by, the investigator scratched his chin before speaking.

"Okay, I'm not sure why you saved me back there...I've got my papers, license, whatever you need to see."

He looked the Jedi up and down before continuing. "So you're a Jedi? The Force is real and all that? Are there more of you out there?" Oberon pointed upward in the general direction of the sky. That was his dream — to go "out there" and away from this hellhole of a planet. There was so much more to see, so many opportunities, and Oberon was stuck down here. Perhaps he could even learn from these two strangers how to leave.

 

[Caramon]

The air was very humid as the rain subsided, giving Caramon a better view of his target. The pursuit of this “camera man” had gone on for a couple of blocks. Dodging the patrons that roamed the sidewalk as he followed, trying to to just bulldoze his way through. The strange man stepped out of the way of foot traffic as he finally came to a stop. It wasn’t long until Caramon and Ra’taak finally caught up with him.

“So you’re a Jedi? The force is real and all that? Are there more of you out there?”

Caramon listened as this man was astounded, apparently at the fact that he had come in contact with a Jedi. Caramon raised his hand, motioning to the man to slow down, to take a breath.

“Yes we are Jedi. Yes we are real and yes there are more of us. I am Caramon Brightblade, Jedi knight.”

With his last words he bowed to the man out of respect. Even though they were not in the Jedi temple or anywhere near it, Caramon insisted on showing honor and respect to any being in the galaxy. He was a Jedi, a symbol of hope and peace to some.

 

[Stryker]

"Okay, I'm not sure why you saved me back there...I've got my papers, license, whatever you need to see."

Mist was rising from the street, Ra'taak felt wet, and damp. The colorful signs intrigued the beast, but he put his curiosity aside and looked the man in the eye. "I do not think we will need those." he said simply. "But yes, we are Jedi." His large clawed hands folded into to the sleeves of his cloak. Large drops of water plopped with heavy splashes from their collected pools on overhead railings and signs.

"The questions I would like to have an answer to are, are you safe, and why where you spying on those men?" A couple intertwined with each other burst out from a door, laughing and talking. The woman tripped over his tail as a speeder hovered past past. "Excuse us!" She said in a burst of laughter as they stumbled onward

Ra'taak nodded, then turned his attention back to Oberon. "Why did they want to kill you?"

 

[Lighthouse]

The rain felt pleasant and pocked against his CZ-34's with the same sound as the roof on a speeder having a borderline meditative feeling from it. Elias had secured a couple of thermal detonators for this particular job. He even knew how he was going to get there. He climbed up the fire escape he'd examined some time before. It's remarkably easy access made his mind swim considering there wasn't any form of marksman or security unit on the roof... at least here wasn't before.

The hunter thumped patiently up the steps and realized something was wrong as he neared the roof he needed to be at. There were char marks along the railing and wall of the building he was climbing, it was still sizzling too, something was recent. With a great effort, Elias threw himself onto the roof next to the lesser crime boss's pad. He already had his blaster drawn and saddled against the brick column.

He peeked around already worried about what the cause was and saw bodies. Shit someone had already hit the place. With the anxious curiosity of a cat, he crept forward until he was among the bodies. They didn't have blaster marks on them but the walls had slashing burns like they were cut... lightsabers? Nah this idiot wouldn't have registered on their radar.

His thoughts were interrupted as the bounty hunter noticed the body groaning while shuffling about and by the sound of it, he was the only one still here still alive, or at least the one conscious. Elias engaged the picdevice mounted on the helmet to make sure that his employer knew that the halfwit didn't finish the job. Elias smirked as the boss muttered at him which escalated to yelling curses and pleas as the Hunter left the scene plopping a detonator behind him to make sure the job was done. Once the explosive went off he turned around again and took another picture of the now complete scene.

"Some of the easiest credits I've ever made. Now about that drink."

With a satisfied feeling, he went about climbing down the fire escape to rejoin the street life.

 

[Vosrik]

Oberon nodded and reached out a hand to Caramon after the man bowed. "A pleasure to meet a Jedi, truly," he stated. In response to the other, he simply lifted up his datapad. The investigator had sent the information he'd gathered on his target to his client a few minutes before, and now the screen displayed his license and qualifications.

"I like to think I'm a professional investigator, though "spy" is another way of putting it. I was hired to find out what my client's rival was up to, which I have successfully done." Replacing his datapad back beneath his coat, he thought for a moment while the couple passed them by without much incident. "Clearly, I was eavesdropping on an important conversation. They didn't want any witnesses," he replied flatly. It certainly wasn't the first scare Oberon had, but it had been quite some time since he needed to make a grab for his pistol. That was never a good sign, and frankly it worried the man. It was never his intention to begin dealings with crime lords in the less reputable end of the city, but money was tight these days. Speaking of money, Oberon's datapad dinged as the funds for the job were deposited into his account.

A loud explosion cut through the relatively calm street. Screams and shouts rose into the air as passerby rushed in the opposite direction of the blast. Oberon whipped around, noting that the detonation occurred right where the trio just were. Confused, the investigator read the memo attached to the credit deposit from his client:

Excellent work. The target's location has been noted and he will be taken care of. A bonus for your timely work was added.​

Oberon ran a hand through his hair. Clearly his client had also hired a bounty hunter to wipe out the opposition. "Oh that's not good...that's not good at all," he murmured. Now he knew for sure his client was a rival crime boss. What was he doing with his life. Was this all he was good for now? Aiding crime and furthering the goals in the Ruusan underworld?

He took another look back at the two Jedi in front of him. This was his chance, his opportunity to get out of this lifestyle. "Look, I can tell you're not from here. I've been living in this damn hellhole my whole life, and I've never been able to leave. Is there any way you could get me out of here? I'll pay for a ride, even to the next closest system, anything at all."

 

[Caramon]

"Look, I can tell you're not from here. I've been living in this damn hellhole my whole life, and I've never been able to leave. Is there any way you could get me out of here? Ill pay for a ride, even to the next closest system, anything at all."

Caramon's reflexes reacted automatically when the explosion was heard. As the people swarmed out of the building onto the street, some carrying children while others were alone, they were screaming and had a look of terror in their eyes. The Jedi did what he could, calling upon the Force to exude calmness to try ad help out with the maddness that was all around them. The few inhabitants of the building that were somewhat close to Caramon suddenly seemed to slow their as their pace went from a sprint to a light jog.

"Payment will not be necessary, and I am sure you could accompany either one of us. If it is your wish to leave this place then it is our job to help in any way we can."

 

[Stryker]

Ra'taaks attention was diverted towards the direction of the explosion. A plum of fiery smoke mushroomed up casting a dull red haze over the panicking population. Emergency sirens started blaring.

Oberon had made a hasty proposition to Caramon, and his fellow Jedi was quick to respond. Ra'taak wasn't so sure that this individual wasn't the one responsible for the explosion. For all he knew, he planted a bomb and took some pictures in some sort of plot to frame. But Ra'taak wasn't about to argue with his partner. This was not the place nor the time.

Either way, they were all in danger.

"You may accompany us if that is your desire."

 

[Lighthouse]

The building must have had some form of trigger that Petros had not considered because the entire top floor erupted and sent tremors down along with panic and fleeing individuals. The hunter shook his head in frustration worried over what the contact was going to say and if he'd get some of that deducted from his pay but now it was time to slip away.

Other souls, law enforcement, good samaritans, interested consumers all moving towards the chaos to get a good look while the others moved away which made it all the more curious when Elias rounded a corner and noted three individuals standing still and talking. One looked nondescript, maybe a bit scared, but the other two. No one else in the galaxy save for the Sith dressed like that. They had to be the cause of damage to the mark's place earlier. Petros remembered the Jedi being inclined to avoid confrontation but still felt his right-hand drift toward his gun belt a little more as he passed them. If they looked his way he'd simply nod.

 

[Vosrik]

A wave of relief and excitement washed over Oberon as both Jedi agreed for him to accompany them when they left. "Oh, thank you, you really have no idea how much this means to me. Give me..." he looked up at the sky briefly, calculating how much time he'd need. "...fifteen or twenty minutes. I'll need to pack up my things, get ready to leave. What hangar bay is your ship located?"

At least now he wasn't running on broke after the job he finished today. The investigator wanted no part in the gang power grab and fallout that'd send the city into chaos in the next several weeks. When given the location of their ship, Oberon would nod his thanks and take off into the street once more. He noticed another man eyeing the three, but simply ignored him as he headed in the direction of his run-down apartment and office. There wasn't much to it — the man couldn't really afford much aside from a desk, upon which there was a small stack of folders and a couple pens. Gathering these up and bounding up the stairs to his private quarters, Oberon snatched up a bag and filled it with as much of his clothing and personal belongings as he could. The rest...well, the rest wasn't important enough to him to keep. His landlord would sell it or throw it out once the investigator was gone.

He exited the building without even looking back, more than eager to leave his past on Ruusan behind. His next stop was going to be much more difficult — he had to say goodbye to his mother. Even as he stood on her doorstep, Oberon was stumped. He was never stumped. Even in the worst situations, he never panicked and always knew what to do. Grabbing the strap of the bag over his shoulder, Oberon steeled his resolve and knocked firmly. Moments later, his mom answered the door with a look of pleasant surprise.

"Oh, my dear boy! To what do I owe the visit today?" She held a beige tea towel in her hands and wore an apron, clearly in the middle of doing some dishes. Opening the door wide, she beckoned Oberon inside while giving him and his bag a quizzical look.

"Mom, I've finished another job today, but something happened and I think this is my lucky break. You know how I've wanted to travel ever since I was young," he began. To this, his mother pursed her lips and continued drying a bowl near the sink. Oberon knew well of her opinion, that he should stay where he was and that the Galaxy was too dangerous to be exploring. "Well, I've just met two Jedi, Mom. Jedi! I could hardly believe it, but I saw it with my own eyes. They used the Force. Not only that, but they're going to take me out of here."

At his last statement, Oberon's mother paused her drying and gazed apprehensively at her son. Sighing long and hard, she knew that look in his eye and didn't even bother trying to dissuade him from leaving. "Well...will you ever come back? Visit your old Ma now and then?" She put her hands on her hips as threateningly as her lovable figure could manage. Oberon laughed, drawing her into a close hug.

"Of course I'll come back, mom. Don't you worry about me." With their goodbyes said, the investigator left and made his way quickly towards the hangar bays, barely a few minutes to spare.

 

[Caramon]

Caramon watched as Oberon ran off. An uneasy tremor in the Force passed over him as he stood in the moonlight with his friend Ra'taak. He looked over towards the scaly Jedi with a look of confusion upon his face. Caramon tilted his head to look around, searching windows and doorways but nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. Caramon returned his gaze upon Ra'taak.

"Did you feel that? I don't know who or what that was but keep your wits about you. I have a funny feeling whoever caused that explosion might still be around."

Caramon turned on his heels and started off towards the spaceport where his ship was located. Hoping that Oberon was not far behind.
@Vosrik

 

[Stryker]

"Mmmm I do. Arsonist typically like to see their handy work..." They pushed their way through a crowd of people and his four eyes fell upon a man standing near a corner. He saw the hand move slightly down, perhaps to a concealed blaster.

He himself made no motion and continued past, looking to his fellow Jedi he nodded once.

"We should not linger."

They made their way through the streets brightly lit with signage, establishments selling drinks and entertainment. Their feet splashing in puddles of still rain water left over from the storm as they continued to the Star Port. Ra'taak was hoping that Oberon made it to the rendezvous unhindered. There, their ships were waiting.