Ask Coruscant Breakthrough

[Izel Thral]

​

Izel had run through the brief vision in her head over and over again, trying to recall any minute detail that might have been able to help her pinpoint her friend's location. As expected there wasn't much to go off of. Visions were usually vague, and this one was more of a feeling than anything else. The incredible pain of another, transmitted through the close bond that the three women shared. But if nothing else could be gleaned from the murky depths of her subconscious mind, Izel was now certain of one thing. Nykoria Tallis was still alive, and she needed their help. The Jedi master hadn't been there when she was needed most and it had weighed heavily on her. For weeks after returning she had lamented Kori's disappearance, and privately chastised herself for withdrawing from the Order. She had done her best to maintain the image of the calm and collected master she was now meant to be, but she had still suffered many sleepless nights. Wondering if one day she'd see a Sith Lord displaying her friend's head as a trophy, just as it had been done to others. As all these dark thoughts crashed down on her the Vratix let out a ragged sigh and scratched worriedly at her head. Outside the window of the taxi she could see the bright lights of Coruscant's nighttime skyline, but she couldn't appreciate the beauty. Briefly she looked down at her satchel, which had thankfully stopped moving. It seemed their captive slicer had finally tired himself out. Looking across the interior of the car her eyes would fall briefly on Nara Allam, wondering if she was having the same thoughts. The Vratix looked out the window again, antennae twitching idly. After a few long moments passed she finally spoke.

"We have to find her." She said quietly, more making a demand of herself than a plea to Nara. "Alive or dead we have to. We never should have let this much time pass to begin with." She shook her head. "We never should have let this happen at all..." She fell back into a mournful silence after that, and not much later the taxi stopped, the door opening out onto the street in front of the local Sector Ranger branch. Izel would step out of the vehicle and pay the driver before looking over the building. "I hope this Ranger of yours can help us..." The Jedi muttered as she started walking towards the entrance. They couldn't afford to waste any more time...

@Charndley @TerranSteel

 

[Juniper]

Nara sat at the other side of Pieslice, rubbing her head a little. The bacta bandage glowed gently, getting to work on the nasty cut she'd taken. Honestly, she was still a little woozy and headache-y from the head injury, but she knew she'd make it. The pain wasn't doing anything for her mood though and Nara definitely didn't need anything to add to the sourness.

"Yes, yes I get it, we all should've done more," Nara snapped, wincing a little more as she rubbed her head, "Is this self-flagellating display helping us get to Kori now?" It was definitely a little too much bite, which Nara realised. Her face softened as the taxi stopped and she climbed out, dragging their captive with them.

"Oh, he's my ranger now, is he?" she asked as she dragged him towards the entrance. Guy was lucky that the bounty was for him being alive, otherwise Nara could've quite happily smacked his head against the stone, see how he liked it. "He'll know something. He was looking for her too."

Finally dragging their bounty through the doors, Nara handed him over to Izel with a little difficulty. Dusting her hands free, she walked right up to the front desk, where a concerned Ranger stared at her.

"Hi. I have an appointment with Lieutenant Velt. He's expecting me. Could you tell him Miss Allam's arrived with a bounty and some news?"

@TerranSteel @Reyn

 

[Corran Velt]

Getting a call from Nara Allam had been surprising enough already. In a good way. Add in a claimed bounty and additional news about the case and surprise felt like too muted of word. At first Corran had guessed mischief followed her around. It seemed more likely she sought after it. The lieutenant had arrived punctual and early this morning to this particular Sector Ranger station. He was more likely to be out in the field than bound to a desk, but he had some documents to work through and this was the appointed place they'd chosen to meet.

His typing on a console was interrupted by a summons to the front desk. The man rose to his feet a bit faster than even he anticipated but stopped himself just enough to save his work files and power down the computer. Leaving things unlocked and open for any passerby was against policy after all. Heavy bootfalls announced Corran's arrival before he appeared in front lounge of the station. His eyes were still dulled grey, like a wall cloud covering the skies after a harsh rain, but flicks of sky-blue had begun to reveal themselves. Nara was the first person to draw his immediate attention. Then the Vratix behind her that seemed familiar somehow. In her appendages was a tiny figure held securely. Their bounty claim, most likely.

Lieutenant Velt turned his head and nodded to the Ranger manning the greeting desk, "I'll take it from here." A look of relief dawned on the desk attendant’s features before they turned back to typing on their console. The bearded man took a few steps to round the corner of the desk to stand among the two visitors and their captive. Some introductions were in order. "Miss Allam, I didn't know you pursued bounty work," he said with only the slightest hint of jest in an otherwise placid tone. Corran turned to the Vratix and squinted at her for the barest moment. "Forgive me, have we met before? My name is Lieutenant Corran Velt." Some species were hard to discern from one another. Human minds held preference in memory for humanoids like them, so insect-like beings were a challenge. Still, something in his gut instinctively told him this wasn't someone brand new.

@Reyn @Charndley

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel glanced in Nara's direction as the human snapped at her but didn't respond, just looking down a bit dejectedly. A lot of people liked to tell her not to beat herself up. Isen certainly did. But for her it was often hard to look at things from any other angle. When something bad happened somewhere she wasn't, all she could ever do was wonder if she could have made a difference. Thankfully now she'd have the chance to. Hopefully... At least it sounded promising that this Ranger Nara was working with had already been searching for Kori.

As Nara handed her the captive slicer and went to the front desk Izel held him beneath one arm like one might a rowdy toddler. Velt. Velt... Why did that name sound familiar to her? Had she heard it on the news? As the man revealed himself to them Izel only became more certain she had. Corran Velt was it? "Have we?" The Vratix replied curiously to his question as she stepped forward, leaning in to inspect the man more closely. Her antennae twitched as she analyzed his features. The beard was new, but the face was known to her. Where had she seen it before?

"Oh!" The Jedi suddenly blurted out in realization as she pulled her head back again. "I remember you! You were one of the Rangers from Dxun." Despite the circumstances of their visit, she couldn't stop some amusement from creeping into her tone. "That was ages ago... It sounds like we've both moved up in the world." She would extend her free hand. "Master Izel Thral. I believe we can help each other." She was already feeling less anxious about this whole thing. While she had only worked with Corran once, and years ago, he had struck her as a good man. At the very least, a good man in comparison to his immensely unpleasant comrade.

@Charndley @TerranSteel

 

[Juniper]

Nara couldn't hold back the smile as she saw Corran again. She even snickered a little as he joked with her.

"Miss Allam? You don't have to call me that, it was just for the desk slave there," she said, waving in the general direction of the desk officer. "Yeah. Bounty for you. Pieslice, hacker with the KnowOnes? Took out Coruscant transport for a good day and half a few months back?" With that, she shoved the little guy forwards, watching as he fell flat on his knees. "Here he is."

Nara shouldn't have been surprised to find out that Corran and Izel had met. Small galaxy, huh? She was getting used to the Force bringing everything together like this, in some sort of twisted, fated way. Enough that she managed not to let it bother her... at least, not too much.

"So yes, Corran, this is Izel. She's a better Jedi than I ever could be and one of my best friends. Izel, this is Corran, I've been uh... working with him on Kori's disappearance." The words left her mouth before she realised that she hadn't actually told Izel she'd been investigating. She turned to look at her, giving an apologetic look.

"Sorry I didn't mention it earlier. We just... didn't have any good news really. I didn't want to get your hopes up before we had some sort of sign. And it turns out we do." She looked back at Corran. "This is going to sound insane. Sorry about that. But we saw her. We saw Kori, in pain."

 

[Corran Velt]

A smile and a snicker from the young woman elicited a small pinch within Corran's chest. Luckily, the raising of an eyebrow at this internal uncertainty was masked by the introduction of the supposed hacker, Pieslice. The lieutenant leaned over and examined the smaller alien with a tilt of the head from one side then to the other. "Huh. Really. Are you sure? If anyone else were claiming that, I'd think they were joking." He rose back to full height and looked at Nara, pointing a finger at the bacta patch on her head, "Or did a Zilkin really give you one of those?" On his knees, Pieslice huffed. Smaller species were sometimes sensitive about their stature. Lieutent Velt pivoted at the waist and gestured with two fingers at the 'desk slave' to summon up escorts for the new detainee. He turned to face pair of Force Users once again to explain, "We'll check out what evidence you have and run his prints and records. I've had a few run-ins with the KnowOnes myself in the past. If this one is off the streets, it'll be money well-spent."

Memories of a jungle planet named Death rushed back. A hijacked shuttle slamming into the earth. Blood dripping from his head in torrents. As if on instinct, Corran's hand raised to his head and pressed his fingers where a wound should be. Brienna and... Izel! She was there too. The voice in his head said her name simultaneously as the Vratix did the same aloud. An insectoid hand extended in greeting. The bearded man hesitated for a moment, but only because he was pulling himself back to the present from the horrors of that Demon Moon. "Oh, right. Dxun. Master Thral, of course. It's good to see you again." The hand against Corran's head lower to shake her's in kind. The old shock on his face subdued back to blank professionalism.

Nara aided in the introductions, though he wasn't sure if to address the other Jedi, sorry, the only Jedi by first name or rank. He'd defer to rank until otherwise stated. Nara was more casual about those short of things than him anyway. Lieutenant Velt folded his arms and listened the other important delivery besides the bounty. Perhaps a clue or a hint to nudge the struggling investigation along. What the former Jedi said next was just as she promised. Insane.

Corran's mouth dropped open and his face went blank. He blinked twice before finally coming to. "You what?" Without even waiting for a response, his arms unfolded and he raced up to Nara in less than a second. The blond man's hand gripped her arm. "Are you sure? Where?" Questions were coming faster than logic as he raised a hand to silence himself and the others. "We should discuss this elsewhere. Please, follow me." Two Sector Rangers arrived in lockstep. Their stoic gaze looked down to the captive Pieslice and then back to the officer in their view. Corran was already walking past them when he supplied their orders, "Take the detainee to a cell. Run his records and ID."

The two women would be guided by the rigidly walking Lieutenant deeper into the station and away from any prying ears. Cubicles and desks covered an otherwise blank central room with only support pillars to break up the pattern. Along the walls were a series of doors. Corran abruptly stopped at one of them, typed in a quick code and it opened with a swish. He silently gestured for the others to enter first. Inside was a normal meeting room, with a table in the middle and four chairs; two on each side. A water cooler sat in the corner and only a single light shown from the ceiling.

Once the door was safely shut on the trio, Lieutenant Velt wheeled around to give them an incredulous look. "What did you see?"

@Reyn @Charndley

 

[Izel Thral]

As Nara explained her relationship to Corran and how they had already been searching for Kori Izel was taken back a bit in surprise. Her friend's explanation made sense and it wasn't a matter worth getting angry over, although she of course would have helped even were the vision not a factor. "It's alright." She said honestly, to assure Nara she wasn't mad at her for her omission.

She followed the two humans, thinking back on how Nara introduced her to Corran, saying she was a 'better Jedi than I ever could be', and again she felt a pang of discomfort. "You weren't a bad Jedi you know." she insisted to her friend in a quiet voice so as not to draw any unwanted ears. "Just a bit too... spirited." She added with a lighthearted chitter. From what Izel remembered she was certainly a better fighter. She stuck up for people without hesitation. Even if her emotions got out of hand from time to time, she always seemed to want what was right. But again, now wasn't the right time for that discussion. Once they were in the meeting room and Corran had shut the door securely the Vratix started to explain the situation to him further.

"While we were apprehending Pieslice, Nara and I shared a vision through the Force." She explained bluntly, not treating it as though there was any oddness to what she was saying. "We saw Nykoria, alive and in terrible pain. There wasn't much to it, but I don't believe this was a vision of the past or future. I believe it happened just recently, suggesting she's still alive... And being tortured." She crossed her arms and inclined her head slightly as she watched for the Ranger's reaction. "I know that must sound patently absurd to you, but you've seen the powers we wield firsthand. I hope you'll keep an open mind about it. I assure you we wouldn't be bringing it up if it wasn't worth investigating." Receiving visions through the Force was a fairly mundane thing to Force users, common enough that there were texts studying the phenomena and doctrines discussing how best to respond to them. But for the average person, well, no doubt it would be a bit more difficult to believe their legitimacy.

@Charndley @TerranSteel

 

[Juniper]

Nara wasn't sure if she qualified as a better fighter, but the compliment was welcome. Izel was always a better thinker too, willing to wait and consider things before charging in ahead. Something Nara could never bring herself to do in most situations.

The thought of explaining Force visions to Corran did make her wince, though. How do you explain something like that? Well we were climbing down a building and saw one of our best friends in a whole hell of pain. Just randomly. No, I have no proof, what are you, a cop? The way he'd reached for her arm though.. it'd shocked her a little. If it hadn't been so sudden, and he hadn't been Corran, she might've punched him.

That and the fact she was in the middle of a Sector Ranger building and she'd be in cuffs before she knew it.

Inside that room, Nara further elaborated. "It's probably something to do with our friendship. People who are close to each other, Force users in particular, can develop bonds. It's weird, yeah. Through those bonds, we can sometimes feel heightened moments, or vast and sudden rushes of feeling." It was a rougher, more casual description than was necessary. Just enough to prove that Nara had listened to some instruction at the Jedi Temple, once upon a time.

"And because we saw that, I ended up with this," Nara said, pointing to the bandage. "I kinda fell onto a skycar. Don't ask, please." Nara leaned forwards, hands on the table, facing Corran. "Like Izel said, the intensity of the vision means it was probably happening at the same time. Right as we were feeling it. She's alive... as far as we know. And in a great deal of danger."

@TerranSteel @Reyn

 

[Corran Velt]

Both Force-users attempted to explain as thoroughly, yet simply, as possible the nature of what they had witnessed. The lieutenant rested his hands on his hips, glancing between Master Thral and Nara equally as they spoke. Izel spoke of a vision, a glimpse into what was happening to Nykoria Tallis somewhere in the galaxy. She was right about one thing: it sounded totally absurd. Corran didn't easily reveal his thoughts, but an eyebrow imperceptibly rose at the very idea that a day dream could be relied upon. On the other hand, he'd seen the Force do some pretty impossible things before.

Then Nara mentioned something he knew all too well. And hated. Dark clouds began to overshadow the Sector Ranger. His risen eyebrow slowly lowered until his entire countenance grew icy stone. Force Bond. He didn't know it was called that but it sounded like the thing that tore a rift in his life. Sly smiles and golden eyes in his memories gave way to wintery stares and distance more vast than the Unknown Regions. A connection he couldn't possibly understand being a non-sensitive. Nara spoke of 'heightened moments' and 'rushes of feeling.' Corran's hands gripped his hips tightly, knuckles turning white. His stomach felt upside down. The flickers of sky-blue in his eyes hid behind grey.

For a long while there was quiet. An overcast stare wordlessly glanced between the current and former Jedi. Lieutenant Velt's face was as unreadable as a granite edifice. His gaze settled on Nara, unflinching and blank. Observing her without any sign of the thoughts behind them. This lingered until Corran's eyes gently closed shut and he pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh. "So, you both saw a vision of Nykoria in pain, in real time, while you were both awake." Skepticism laced his every word.

This case couldn't have anything conventional, could it? The hand dropped from his nose and returned to resting on the belt. Coldness had left his features, but the bearded man remained more rigid that he had been moments before. "Did you see anything else in this communal experience? Any clues for location? Where she might be held?"

@Charndley @Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel was a bit surprised by Corran's reaction. She had expected something like that quirked eyebrow, a deep feeling of skepticism. But something Nara said seemed to greatly offend him. For a few silent moments his entire demeanor transformed, as though he was looking at the face of a mortal enemy. The Jedi master found it extremely odd, not having the full context to understand his response. She glanced awkwardly between the two humans, wondering if she should say something. Thankfully the Ranger seemed to recover from his haze and returned to asking questions about their vision. The Vratix clicked her mandibles a few times like someone might clear their throat before replying.

"Unfortunately not." She said with a bit of a sigh. "We felt only the sensation of pain, as though the Force itself was being torn from her body." She paused to tilt her head thoughtfully as she tried to come up with an analogy Corran would better be able to relate to. "I suppose that would be like... Someone peeling off your skin or fingernails. Most unpleasant." She hesitated again and looked down at the floor. She didn't like thinking about these things. She could only imagine what her friend must be going through. She looked back up at the Ranger and continued.

"Although it lends credence to the prospect that she's being interrogated, most likely by the Sith." She said. "Only a Force sensitive would have knowledge of such... techniques. She's a Master, and was once a prominent member of the Order. If they're aware of this, they'll want to extract whatever information they can from her. Which gives us time, but not much." She clicked again, trying to think of anything else useful to offer the Ranger. There had to be something. "Given the powerful nature of the techniques being used to torture her, I would guess whoever was doing this was doing so from a dark side nexus, that is a planet where the dark side of the Force is very strong, and enhances the abilities of those attuned to it when they stand on the world's surface." Again she hesitated, thinking of other possibilities. "Either that... Or she's being held in the personal care of the Eternal itself. But it's probably better for all of us if we operate on the assumption that she's not." Mainly because if she was they had no hope of rescuing her at all.

@Charndley @TerranSteel

 

[Juniper]

As Nara finished speaking, she noticed the change in his demeanour too. Clenched fists and hard stares. As Izel spoke, Nara did what she naturally did when someone was just staring.

She made trouble.

A frown, followed by a harsher stare. Being outdone in the glaring stakes, Nara leaned in a little closer, staring right back. She reached out, quickly clicking her fingers in front of his face. "Lieutenant? Are we boring you?" Maybe he was bored. The panicked deliberations of Izel certainly seemed to go round in circles, again and again.

"But... you just said it lends credence. We don't actually don't know shit, we're just guessing. And it is better for us if we assume it's not the Eternal that's got her. If it did, he would've either killed her or paraded her around by now. The Eternal doesn't seem to be in the business of holding Jedi for months upon months for no reason." Well, the Eternal might be, given all she knew about that thing. It just didn't make sense in Nara's mind.

"It's either a specific person trying to torture her or she's endured great pain. Maybe she's being tested by something, I don't know. Maybe she's discovered some long lost battlefield or tomb or whatever. A nexus, like you said. But that doesn't really give us much help." She folded her arms around herself, staring just past Corran's shoulder as she thought, trying to narrow it down. Listing off breathless declarations about what it could be was the slow track to nowhere.

"What are we certain of? Well, we know she's alive. Or at least, she was alive as of a few hours ago. She's experienced some sort of extreme pain, though we have no way to tell that it's still occurring or something continually happening... other than the fact we haven't felt it before or since." She waved her hand between Izel and herself as she spoke. "She disappeared on that ship near Fondor, mentioned on the Holonet. Doesn't seem like much, but it's more than we were certain about a couple of days ago."

I need one of those big computer screens I can throw up pictures on and draw lines between them.

@Reyn @TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Sass did little to budge the stolid lieutenant. Boredom would have been a welcome feeling compared to what really broiled inside. How could she glare at him like that without really knowing? How could anyone really know? Only he - Corran stopped his internal diatribe. Discipline bound the immature tirade and jailed it far away. Nara and Izel weren't trying to force painful memories back to the surface. Better to focus on the case at hand.

Master Thral had arrived at similar conclusions Nara and Corran had in their first exchange. Sith were likely involved. The Sector Ranger and the former Jedi had only deduced based on circumstantial evidence that the Sith were likely culprits. Not that a 'vision' was hard evidence. Expert opinion was admissible in court however. Two trained Force-users, one a Jedi Master, were probably the best experts available on this sort of thing. As Nara cross-examined many of Izel's statements, Lieutenant Velt gazed downward at an empty spot near the legs of the table. His eyes moved about as if following a tiny, flying bug in that small area. Some pieces were coming together.

"The Eternal doesn't have her," he suddenly blurted out with certainty. Shards of blue had returned to the blond ranger's overclouded eyes when they rose to look at the two women. "Nykoria Tallis has been gone since the Fondor incident Nara just mentioned. When Lieutenant Trys Aran was captured, she was held on Sullust - the Eternal's prized throne world. If a Sector Ranger got taken there, then a Jedi certainly would have been. That same world has recently thrown off the shackles of Sith rule. If Kori was in the hands of the Eternal, she would've been found there." All the dots connected. The Eternal simply did not 'operate' beyond Sullust - even defending it personally. Some other Sith had whisked the Jedi away, either by the Eternal's command or for their own ends. At least it was near guaranteed the Sith had her. A 'culprit' had been found. Sort of.

There was that other thing Izel had said. Corran lifted a hand and pointed at the Vratix with a belt elbow. "What makes a planet a... nexus?" He asked genuinely with dented eyebrows. The finger then pivoted to Nara. "Is Fondor one of these places? What's stopping us from going there?"

@Reyn @Charndley

 

[Izel Thral]

Again Izel had to look between the two humans with increasing confusion as Nara spoke up. What was with all this sudden hostility? Was she missing something? Whatever it was, she didn't consider it helpful to their goals at all, and looked at Nara with growing discomfort as she went off. She made a lot of guesswork, and then mentioned Fondor. That was something else worth investigating, although Izel still didn't want to rule out the nexuses just yet.

Then Corran spoke up again. He seemed more certain the Eternal wasn't involved, at least not directly. And given the arguments he voiced Izel was inclined to agree with him. Each Sith was highly independent, and it was perfectly plausible for one to be operating of their own initiative with their own resources. As the lieutenant brought up the nexuses again Izel was happy to elaborate.

"As I said, it is any place where the currents of the Force converge and pool a great deal of power." She explained. "This can happen either naturally or unnaturally. In the latter case it is typically caused by dark siders. Either the long term efforts of a powerful Dark Lord to corrupt the location, or by being the site of a tremendous tragedy." Izel thought back to her visit to Ambria, a dark side nexus created by a Sith ritual that got out of control and wiped out nearly all life on the planet. She glanced briefly towards Nara as she continued. "As far as I'm aware Fondor is not one of them." She paused again to think, looking at the ceiling and twitching her antennae as she briefly combed over her knowledge on the subject. Then she turned her eyes back on Corran. "Off the top of my head I can think of eighteen worlds where nexuses exist that might be worth looking into, although several of them are shrouded in myth." It certainly wasn't the best lead they had, but it narrowed down their search significantly from the entire galaxy. She glanced between the Ranger and Nara again. "Although we might be able to find more clues within Fondorian space. Did Phyllis Vasser provide any useful information about the initial attack Lieutenant?" She asked Corran curiously.

@Charndley @TerranSteel

 

[Juniper]

The conversation had turned towards the topic of Force Nexuses... Force Nexi... whatever. Completely not her area of expertise at all. Nara was starting to feel very much like the idiot in the conversation and it was bringing back some painful memories of being a padawan on Ajan Kloss.

"Great. So we're looking for a world that's powerful in the Dark Side where our friend is being tortured by Sith. And chances are, if it's strong, we're going to be no damn use for anything," she said, waving between herself and Izel, "because it'll dampen everything we do, at best." She huffed with frustration, starting to wish she'd run off to become a droid technician for some corp. "Least you've got it narrowed down, Izel. That helps." She did genuinely mean that, though.

The mention of that name clicked something in Nara's memory. "Her? That's the suit who Kori helped, right? The one that was outfitting the corvette?" That felt like a lifetime ago. "Did the Jedi not grill her after it happened? Y'know, when they went to collect the corvette?" She just, quite naturally, assumed that the Jedi Order would've taken the opportunity to acquire a repaired, well-outfitted ship when it presented itself and perhaps followed up on the disappearance of a senior member.

"Please tell me they went and collected the corvette." Nara's eyes went wide as she recalled how many weeks they'd spent on Bracca, scrubbing the mynock crap out of everything.

@TerranSteel @Reyn

 

[Corran Velt]

Corran started to regret asking what a Force nexus was almost immediately. The Master Jedi lectured on 'currents' of the Force and 'pools' of power. As if some invisible river of space magic could settle into a lake, or a planet, and just be abundant. The lieutenant knew that he didn't know much about the Force, but this just sounded preposterous. What he could believe was that Sith could corrupt places. Their very auras had made those who were strong turn frail. Something the scale of a planet though, eighteen of them no less, seemed the most far-fetched. Myth, as Izel aptly put it.

Vasser was a name Lieutenant Velt knew well. That was the name of the family that helmed Transport Automated Unlimited. He had worked so many cases on their behalf he felt like stock options should have been offered by now. Corran clicked once behind his teeth, "Vasser... I think I saved their son once from a kidnapping. Thyrs Vasser." It was clear his memories were being drawn up in piecemeal. "I think it's Phyllys Vasser too." For the first time, the blond ranger reached up and stroked his bearded chin. A humanizing gesture to a man who appeared almost entirely of durasteel today. Eye-witness reports, especially by civilians, were often suspect. Sometimes people couldn't even point out the species of the individual that robbed them. The lieutenant lowered his hand and looked at the insectoid Jedi. "I haven't looked into the report myself. It's been considered a cold-case. I don't even know what records of the event the Sector Rangers even have. Fondor Security might have a more full picture than us..."

True to her usual persona, Nara lashed her opinions about the topic at hand. Not a very high opinion of the Vassers and the organization she used to call home. As trouble-bound as they seemed, the Vasser family were polite enough for wealthy corporates. At least, that's how Corran felt. Opinions of the Rich and Famous aside, the former Jedi mentioned something they both shared an interest in: starships.

"Wait. You own a corvette?" He asked with a serious tone, though his eyebrows raised in an obvious gesture of interest, "What type? Is it on Fondor?" With possibly more thorough records on Fondor and an entire ship, it was beginning to sound like all roads lead there.

@Reyn @Charndley

 

[Izel Thral]

Nara seemed disheartened by the prospects of Kori being on a dark side nexus world, and not for bad reason. Of those Izel had thought of, several were in Sith occupied space, several more were in the furthest reaches of the Outer Rim, or even the Unknown Regions. But she knew that they wouldn't be useless there. Her personal training on Ambria had borne some fruit in that regard. Dark side corruption was much less of a threat to Izel then it would have been before, having taught herself how to be immersed in it and not be effected. With Nara's level of skill, the Vratix was certain she could acquire the same talent with a little training.

Fondor seemed to be a point everyone was agreeing on, although Nara brought up something the Vratix hadn't even thought of for months. The corvette... Had the Order picked it up? She didn't know. She had left for her journey before the refits were finished, and been too busy upon her return to follow up on it. She figured someone must have taken the vessel back to Yavin... Right? The Jedi master just stared dumbly at Nara for a few moments, unable to answer her question. "I... uh..."

Then Corran cut in, interested in this ship of theirs. He asked a few questions in quick succession, seeming to think it was theirs personally. "The Order owns it." Izel corrected the Ranger as she turned to him. "It was Nykoria's project, part of our Guardian initiative. A mobile base from which the Jedi could proactively fight the Sith. It's an old CR-90, Nara found the wreck on Bracca and we secured it's transport to Fondor to be repaired and refitted." She paused to look back at her friend, growing a bit embarrassed. "I... Have no idea if it was ever taken back to Yavin actually. I became too busy with other matters to keep track of it myself." Well... That was a rather humiliating thing to admit. But there was nothing for it now. They had their lead, it was time to pursue it.

@Charndley @TerranSteel

 

[Juniper]

A hot, familiar anger rose up inside Nara as she rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "They better have taken it or I'm gonna pilot it straight into the Temple." Just a hint of frustration, but it ran deep. She shouldn't have been surprised. The Jedi leadership weren't known for their decisive action or attention to detail.

"If that corvette is still on Fondor, then it's not the Order's property," Nara snapped, looking ready to punch something. "Freakin' months on that crapshoot planet, cleaning dirt and mynock eggs outta the compressor and hyperdrive..." she muttered, setting off at a pace around the room now.

It was just every frustration she'd had with the Jedi in a beautiful microcosm. A pure, perfect nugget of ignorance, despondency and incompetence. "I thought the Council would've had it transferred immediately but... it would've finished up the repairs shortly after Kori's disappearance. Round about the time you and Isen went off and I... well, I left." Confusing times. Not ones she was keen to revisit. "We were the ones most involved with the project, so... if we weren't there, maybe it slipped their minds," Nara suggested through gritted teeth, trying her hardest to be even-handed. It felt physically painful to do so.

"So... Fondor?"

@Reyn @TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

CR-90 Corvette. A good class of ship. Heavily outdated by modern warship standards but they had a reputation for durability, ruggedness, and ease of use. Corran had seen them aplenty during his space trading years. Despite his usual placid face, a noticeable hint of being impressed colored his features. Getting a ship from scrap to working order was a rare feat. He should know. Keeping the Crimson Venture functioning and zipping all over the galaxy was tough enough. For such a ship under the Jedi Order's command, and all the effort into it, to sit idle all this time was tragic.

Well, who exactly owned the corvette was up for debate. Lieutenant Velt's eyes followed Nara around the room as she paced. Her spoken thoughts ranged between logical deduction and venting session. Balancing scales in his imagination were trying to weigh which made her more openly mad - Padawan Drahr or the Jedi Council. Right now, the Order was certainly winning. Mid-rant, Corran offered some helpful legal advice to Izel and Nara with an open hand, "Possession is nine-tenths of the law." A polite way of saying, if the trio got there first, it was basically theirs. Nara and whoever else helped her salvage the vessel had a pretty strong case anyway.

As if in agreement, the former Jedi Knight offered a trip in a single word. Fondor. It beat standing around here debating possible worlds and destinations. "I'm in agreement. Fondor might have evidence and this ship of yours," Corran said with a nod. He glanced between the two Force-users silently for a moment. "I take it neither of you have a ship?" Jedi weren't exactly known for their riches and equipment. "We can... take mine. I'll fly." Inviting others into his home spiked a minor, imaginary stomach ulcer. Especially after all that had happened to him recently. But it really was the fastest way and gave them the most flexibility.

If no protests arose, Lieutenant Velt would open the door and escort them out towards the speeder bay. "We'll get your bounty credits transferred once Pieslice has been processed and identification confirmed," he promised. A two-finger wave towards the Ranger at the front desk signaled a swift departure. "I'm heading to Fondor. Comm me if something urgent comes up." The Sector Ranger at the desk knew what that meant.

After a short ride, all three would find themselves on a nearby launch pad. Corran stood before the two women, hands on his hips, and shoulders broad. This was probably the proudest Nara would have ever seen him. Before them was a YT-1300 that was a truly ad-hoc mix of brand new and ancient. Some panels had been entirely replaced with polished white durasteel. Others were likely original make. The nose-pod looked factory fresh between greyed and carbon-scored prongs. Bright, red paint ran along the edges, outlining the ship in a sporty display. A hobbyist's ship now turned police hauler. "This is the Crimson Venture," Corran introduced, "the name came with the ship."

The bearded man strode up to his rugged ship and entered a quick code, causing the entryway ramp to descend. "Just don't go beyond the cockpit or the common area until we lift off." He needed some time to make sure he had tidied up elsewhere first.

@Reyn @Charndley

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel could understand Nara's frustration. They had all put a lot of time and work into the corvette and to find it still wasn't being used must have felt like a slight. But she wasn't about to just sit back and listen to this talk of appropriating it. They could use the vessel without spitting in the face of the Order. Hearing Corran's comment about possession the Vratix let out a low, irritated hiss. She didn't care for where their line of thought was going.

"There have been a few matters that have taken priority Nara." Izel argued as she looked at her old friend. While she tried her best to remain diplomatic, she couldn't help but allow some edge into her tone. "Holding a few funerals for one." To say as much stung. The Jedi had suffered some heavy losses frequently, Master Tionson and Knight Rand being among them. She hoped at least Nara could sympathize with that. "We're doing the best that we can."

After that she would turn back to Corran and nod to him. "Fondor." She agreed with the two of them nonetheless. "As a master I can direct such resources as I see fit. I doubt the Council would take issue with us using it for our investigation." As the lieutenant offered them a ride in his own ship the Vratix would give a slight bow of her head to show respect. "I appreciate it Lieutenant." she thanked him, sensing that for whatever reason it wasn't an easy offer for the Ranger to make.

She was quiet for the most part during the ride to the hangar. The Jedi continued to stare off into the distance, meditating, reflecting on her vision and trying to glean any more information from it. Just as before, there was nothing to be found. They needed to find evidence on Fondor. When they finally arrived Izel regarded the ship wordlessly. It was clear the lieutenant had put a lot of work into the vessel, just as they had with their corvette. The Vratix just hoped it was a fast ship really.

"It's certainly descriptive." She answered as Corran mentioned the name, and nodded in compliance as he asked them to limit themselves to the common area and cockpit before making her way aboard. "I'll try not to snoop about." She added a bit more lightheartedly.

@Charndley @TerranSteel

 

[Juniper]

Nara was ready to bite back with an insult, ever ready to get into petty arguments with friends. But maybe now was not the time. So instead, she made go with a silent scowl to herself, turning away from Izel for a few moments. A pissing contest over who actually owned the corvette was pointless, they all agreed they were going to Fondor anyway.

Instead, she contented herself with silence on the way to Corran's ship. Tapping on her datapad, checking the feeds, searching for anything interesting. Anything about Kori, anything about the Jedi, anything about anything. Disparate threads that could weave themselves into something.

Nara was distinctly impressed by the ship, though. She'd never seen a YT-1300 look so good. Although it did bring back painful memories of her own ship. Still though, there was even a nose pod on there. First time she'd seen that. A red stripe, almost like Corran was some teenage racer-boy hoping to make the hyperlane runs.

"Did you do all this, or did it come like that?" Nara asked, a little amazed as the entryway descended and she followed him inside. "I've never seen a YT-1300 so well taken care of. I mean, people don't look after them, too old or too run-down. What are the engines like? Your hyperdrive stock or did you upgrade?" Suddenly, in the presence of technology and upgrades, her mind moved a mile a minute.

@Reyn @TerranSteel