Ask Close to Home

[Corran Velt]

Apologies are easy to give, but hard to know how they'll be received. Falynn could have rejected it outright in frustrating at his intrusion. She could have shrugged it off with patient indifference. Instead, and to his surprise, the Ranger medic rose to face him head on. Corran furrowed his brow in noticeable confused relief. She was being so understanding, even after he stepped on the landmine that is complicated family relationships. It would have been totally understandable for her to brush it off and move on. But she admitted her own faults that led to the stumbling conversation, like some third-party referee. A sense of ease took hold as he accepted her forgiveness, though he remained perplexed.

At mention of his mother, a mixture of warmth and guilt swelled in his chest. The male Ranger turned his head slightly and glanced away. The warmth that Ranger Tikarsis liked and even gleaned something from the bond between Corran and his mother. The guilt because it did indeed differ from her own. In retrospect, it probably sounded like bragging. At least Falynn didn't seem to take it that way. It made some sense though. Jersan Velt seemed to leave an impact on everyone she met. Even just the proxy of telling her stories could have power and they spoke to the Ranger Medic. A mother's love was truly a powerful thing. The blond youth was lucky. "Yeah," he said with a certain subdued joy, "My mom has that kind of effect on people. Even from far away."

Things got quiet after that. The young man took his position near the window and stared through the barely parted blinds. Another few hours of this and they'd part ways to sleep. Another few hours of watching speeders go by, of couples giggling to each other, of gaggles of finely dressed men to tempt fate at the casinos. Not that it bothered him. Duty was required of them. It's just that... he wondered if this was worth it. Stake-outs were relatively easy ways to gain surveillance intel, but sometimes hours, days, or weeks of work brought up nothing. Corran squinted his eyes at their target. He hoped it wouldn't be. Falynn was the first one to break the silence and the male Ranger turned his head to listen more intently.

A… walk? Corran blinked at the medic. Official orders were to observe the establishment for any criminal activity. They didn’t say where they had to observe the sauna from. The small getaway apartment was the most advantageous and had been secured for the two for that express purpose but... Maybe the male Ranger had more tunnel vision than just looking through the microbinoculars. Getting out and about would expand their vision beyond the windows pointed at the front door of the opposite building. But what if they missed something? What if they found something?

“Sure,” Corran finally answered, “We just need to look more casual.” Compared to other passersby, two law enforcement officers would stand out like sore thumbs. The young man unzipped his crisp jacket and ruffled his hair a bit. He then picked up his holster and strapped it under his jacket. Finally, the badge off his chest was carefully hidden just below the jacket's collar on the inside. A couple final touches on untucking his shirt and the disguise was complete. Corran fanned out his arms and turned to his fellow Ranger, "What do you think?"

@FireSong

 

[Falynn Tikarsis]

“Sure,” came Corran’s delayed reply. He was right, it wouldn’t do to have two stiffly dressed law enforcement agents traversing the streets at night. If there was something that would draw all attention to them, that would be it. “Right.” Falynn reached up to let her hair down and ran her finger through the strands a few times to smooth it down. Following suit, she also concealed her blaster beneath her jacket and tucked her badge away on the inside. As a final measure, Falynn tugged the sleeves of her jacket up a little to remove the strictly polished look. Then she pulled them down. And back up again. In the end, she settled for three-quarter length sleeves. Falynn didn’t really know what she was doing as she fidgeted with her clothes. It wasn’t that she never dressed casually, just that she never dressed casually for work. It was a strange sensation, really. Especially the hair. Falynn never wore her hair down while she was working because it got in the way. Then again, she never worked in Cantonica.

When he was finished, Corran turned around and asked for her opinion. For whatever reason the medic found that slightly amusing. It was more often people asked for her medical opinion, not her clothing opinion. As she surveyed his appearance, two thoughts emerged. First, it occurred to the medic that it wasn’t just her who looked different. She nodded her assent, “Looks good. I think you'll pass for an average pedestrian around this area,” and in return asked for his. “How do I look?” Falynn generally wasn’t one to dwell on appearances, but it was essential she be successful in removing significant traces of her profession. Second, taking in her own appearance, Falynn realized it was fortunate that the area they were scouting wasn’t in the heart of Canto Bight. Their fashion, or lack thereof, would be the first aspect any onlookers noticed. Among other things, one of the bonuses of moving to Coruscant was that she didn’t need to think excessively over her clothing choices for the day. All that preening from others in her social circle? Gone. What a breath of fresh air.

The next course of action was to actually exit the hotel. Purpose and the impression of confidence was key if they didn’t wish to be regarded as suspicious looking offworlders. But just the thought of going outside made her feel uneasy. She knew rationally that their hotel was far from where she‘d lived, but it would still be strange to walk the streets of her hometown. Another thought struck her. What if they ran into someone she knew? The chances of that were slim, but the thought remained nonetheless. A pit of dread grew inside of her as Falynn also realized it was going to be more difficult to explain where she was from the longer she waited. Maybe it would just be better if she told Corran outright. Wait for his reaction, get it over with, and deal with the aftereffects. Or maybe it would be easier if he asked her first. Then she would have to respond.

Pushing her thoughts aside, Falynn grabbed one of the room cards off the nightstand and slipped it into her pocket. “Ready?” She glanced at Corran before opening the door of their bedroom. Gesturing outside Falynn said, “After you. What area do you want to walk around?"

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Falynn’s assessment of him didn’t exactly cause a spike in confidence. He’ll pass for an average pedestrian. What kind of showy people lived around here anyway? Oh well; it couldn’t be helped. At the request for her own assessment, Corran rested his chin in the palm of his hand and then his elbow in the other. He looked like a particular artist examining a fine exhibit. Blaster and badge were hidden away. Sleeves rolled up to mid-forearm. The medic had put in less work than he did. One thing did manage to change her visual appearance quite a bit; her hair. Dark lowering into crimson that flowed elegantly over her shoulders. It framed her face well too, giving her something of a posed look. The young man cocked a single eyebrow, wondering if her striking beauty would contrast too sharply with her practical attire. “It’ll do,” came the final judgement. White arm-length gloves and a red, sparkling dress might have been more inconspicuous, ironically.

His own room key secured, the male Ranger exited their hotel abode at Falynn’s insistence and placed the ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ sign over the handle. Probably for the best no one discovered a room full of surveillance equipment. As for their destination, Corran already had a plan in mind. “We’ll circle the target sauna in a grid pattern, following the city sidewalks and streets,” he said seriously, “If something catches our eye, we’ll move into investigate.” In common terms, they would basically look around the sides and back of the place for anything suspicious. It seemed the blond youth never tired of reciting textbook orders.

Out on the street, the consummate professional’s demeanor shifted into one of a cocky, luck-driven, spacer. Ranger Tikarsis had seen this persona once before and maybe there was something more to it than mere disguise. Any passerby would likely assume he’s some young buck trying to gamble his meager profit on a haul into riches, but more than likely fail. What they made of Falynn would be anyone’s guess. To make a show of it, Corran tugged on his companion’s hand like a child excitedly pulling a friend towards an amusement park ride as they set off on foot patrol. As the pair made their way through the streets, the male Ranger made sure to always keep some outside wall or entryway of their objective was in sight. When a young couple in ritzy attire or a gaggle of friends passed by, the young man would point and gaze at some neon-lit sign or flashy attraction. Though, it would seem to Falynn, that some of that wonder was genuine.

“Can you believe this place?” Corran asked when they stood alone near a crosswalk, waiting for the light to give them permission to cross. A certain level of innocent excitement was distinct in his voice. Growing up in a lower middle-class lifestyle, this type of ritz and glam always seemed fantastical to the blond youth. Riches on show, both gained and lost in the blink of an eye. A life he’d never know, but seemed to relish basking in for the few times he was in its orbit. “Have you ever been here before? It’s incredible.”

@FireSong

 

[Falynn Tikarsis]

The plan was basically to have a look around the building, which was fine with her. Maybe going outside wouldn’t be so bad. Stepping from the hotel, Falynn saw various couples pass, enthralled by the dazzling signs and sights. Canto Bight had a fairly exuberant nightlife, so that was no surprise. What was more surprising was how Corran’s entire demeanor had changed. Not that she hadn’t seen it before, but the fact that it was so natural. Was it all an act? Or was there another piece she was missing? She was left wondering as he tugged her away by her hand. In another situation, Falynn would have pulled her hand back, but she let herself relax. Made herself appear more natural. This was technically her area anyway. She shouldn’t cower or hide away.

Falling back into the rhythm of a typical Cantonican resident wasn’t too difficult. Probably because Falynn had spent 21 years of her life as one. It was almost too easy to loosen her grip on professionalism and play along. She let pedestrians see what they expected to see. Just another young woman enjoying the night with a friend. Every once in a while she would stop to curiously look at whatever attraction her partner pointed out. He seemed genuinely interested in the sites, and well, that was perfectly understandable. Everything in Canto Bight, from the curvature of the architecture to the various live spectacles was engineered to be eye catching. Even so, it was truly fascinating how much Falynn saw for the first time. Living in the city for so long had severely desensitized, even blinded her to certain aspects. By this time, she’d lost count of the number of times something new had caught her eye.

They were at the crosswalk when Corran commented on the area. Falynn nodded slowly, “It’s something, that’s for sure.” She didn't know what else to say. Admittedly, the city was a beautiful place. That she couldn’t deny. Yet the medic wasn’t sure what to think of it anymore. For one, she could never see it in the same way as the last time she was here. By neglecting to say more, Falynn had hoped the conversation would flow in a different direction, but of course the natural follow up question was...

For a fraction of a second there was a deafening silence, then everything came rushing back. Falynn looked away, toeing the sidewalk with her boot. She considered giving a simple answer of ‘yes’ and leaving it there, but knew that wouldn’t suffice. It was better to get it over with now anyway. She could feel her heartbeat quicken. Not that her home world was confidential, but she didn’t tell people unless there was no way around it. “Look,” her breath caught, “Corran, I haven’t told you this... but I was born here. In Canto Bight.” She managed the last part, though her voice sounded foreign. Falynn could already feel the tinge of pink that brushed her cheeks as embarrassment flooded her features. Her gaze shot back up to look at her partner as she gauged his reaction. Dark brown met sky blue. Falynn wondered what she would find there in his eyes. Disappointment, anger, jealousy, or disgust were the first to come to mind. She’d seen them all before. But even if she could read his reaction, she couldn't read what was going on inside. So Falynn voiced the question that stirred beneath her. “What are you thinking?” Perhaps that was a strange question to ask, but it stemmed from a genuine curiosity. She wasn't looking for any particular answer, just honest thoughts. Just up ahead, the light indicated it was safe for them to cross.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

An absentminded question had caused disquiet to befall one of the Rangers, but Corran was still too distracted by the fabulous displays of grandeur. Some of it was in character, to not stand out as law enforcement, but the genuine wonder was still there. The colorful lights, luxurious speeders passing by, richly attired pedestrians – all of that drowned out any aura enshrouding Falynn. He was looking away, his face only visible in profile, as she confessed the truth of her homeworld.

“Oh, neat,” the blond youth replied absentmindedly, hands on his hips, standing near the crosswalk. A beat. Then a second one. The young man blinked a few times; the words settling in his ears. He glanced at his fellow Ranger, then did a double take. “Wait, what?” His mouth hung open a little and the blond youth looked at her, but his eyes seemed to go blank.

A missing cog that allowed the whole mechanism to operate finally fell into place. Corran’s thoughts began to finally connect as his brain strove to put the final puzzle piece in place. A plastic surgeon father with likely wealthy clientele. A mother who was able to stay home and support her child’s hobbies. A daughter who could sing and study medicine. The estrangement caused by Coruscant. Corran’s blue eyes came into focus, looking directly at Falynn; her cheeks colored rose. She was a rich girl on the run.

The female Ranger got the first word. He didn’t really have a response ready for her inquiry into his thoughts. A confused stutter attempted to jump-start words but nothing came. Mercifully, the cross-walk light illuminated permission for them to move across the street. “Walk with me,” Corran offered in a low voice, so as to not insult her by turning his back and crossing the road without her. It also gave some time to come up with something.

He wasn’t mad or disappointed. Maybe a little envious, but nothing anyone else wouldn’t feel towards those who had more credits than them. It was more his own embarrassment. How did he not see it? Everything seemed so obvious now in retrospect. He stepped onto the opposite walkway and finally turned to answer the question. "I'm thinking..." He began, finding the words as he went, "that I'm glad you told me." That was the truth, but not particularly telling. Corran rubbed the back of his head, expressing some uncertainty. "Why didn't you say so before, though? Should we go see your folks while we're here? Is that why you signed up for this operation?" Maybe it wasn't fair to ask those of her, but the young man had a lot of thoughts coming to the fore. Family was important to him and if he was ever on Commenor, he would certainly go see his mom. Even if they had a troubled past, Falynn might have come here to see them and if that was the case, Corran wanted to make time for that. Even if it meant raiding the sauna.

@FireSong

 

[Falynn Tikarsis]

Surprise was the obvious reaction, but also the most common. It was what came after the initial state that Falynn waited for as the two crossed the street. There wasn’t really anything to do besides wait. She took this time to consider a few of the possible outcomes. With this revelation, Falynn felt she had a lot to answer to. Whatever the end result, there would be more questions. Of that she was certain.

When Corran found the words to express himself, Falynn was surprised. She searched for any other signs of displeasure and came up short. Nothing? A new confusion settled in her mind. That certainly hadn’t been her expectation, but it only proved to show why she shouldn’t hold certain prejudices. Clearly she couldn’t predict what the outcome would be. He was glad she had told him. Well, perhaps she wouldn’t come to regret this after all. The questions she had been expecting came next. She was relieved by the fact that compared to what she’d already told him, these would be relatively simple to answer.

“I guess I didn’t tell you before because it wasn’t too relevant,” Falynn shrugged slightly, “It wasn’t the reason why I joined this mission.” The reason why she had waited to tell Corran was a bit more complex than that. But how was she supposed to explain how much she disliked telling people about her home world? She hated how much it alienated her from others. And while that hadn’t been the case with Corran, telling others usually resulted in a much larger reaction. Thus, the reason for her reluctance.

The other question came as more of a surprise. “My parents? I—“ She considered the possibility for a moment before stopping herself, giving her head a shake. “No, I shouldn’t see them. I don’t think they want to see me.” Not now, at least. Falynn had a pretty good idea of what her mother wanted of her, and it wasn’t something she was willing to do. Besides, it wasn’t fair to Corran if she dragged him into her personal life. He hadn’t come all the way to Cantonica for that. Yet even so, the notion continued to pull at her. What if she did see her parents? How would it go? Eventually, her thoughts gave way to an audible sigh. Why was it so complicated?

Still unsure whether she had made the right decision in rejecting the idea of paying a visit to her parents, Falynn took the time to observe the sounds around her. There, in the distance, a faint but familiar sound. Someone was speaking Cantonican. An inexplicable rush passed through her. It had been a while since Falynn had heard the sound from a person other than her parents. Especially since the language was primarily contained to the planet. The discovery brought another question to mind, and looking at her partner she asked, “Do you speak any other languages?” For now, this would give her time to think.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

For such a personal topic, the Ranger medic answered matter-of-factly. It wasn’t relevant. It wasn’t the reason she signed on for the mission. Corran looked at her out of the corner of his eye, trying to size up his partner. If they had been on Commenor, one of the first things he would have blurted out would have been ‘Hey, you know I’m from here? I know this great place to eat or attraction to see.’ Though… based on everything he had pieced together, Falynn wouldn’t want to be open about where she was from. It often caused her too much grief.

That postulation was confirmed as the female Ranger visibly reacted to the mention of seeing her family. At first it seemed like she considered the possibility, but then a shake of the head cast it out of hand. Corran offered a light frown. How could parents not want to see their own daughter? A successful one at that. The concept was very foreign to the man who was incredibly close to his own mother. The blond youth looked away for a moment and sighed reluctantly. It was better to leave it alone. Falynn’s family was none of his business and he felt a little rude for barging in again.

Conversation trickled off into quiet between the two Rangers. About them people went about their business, oblivious or uncaring of the two undercover officers. Corran turned away, towards the rear of the sauna he could see at an angle down an alleyway. No activity. Maybe this whole stakeout wasn’t going to shakeout. Behind him, Falynn asked another question. It seemed so random that it caught him off guard. “What?” Corran asked as he turned to look at the medical woman. He had heard her correctly, but it just seemed so out-of-thin-air.

Resting his hands on his hips again, the young man was able to give a steadied reply, “Huttese. Aside from Basic, I speak Huttese. Mostly the trade-language version from my time with the merchant fleet.” It might have been the second-most-common language in the galaxy, so it may not be particularly surprising that he spoke it. The further you went out to the galactic rim, the less common Galactic Basic became and Huttese started being the lingua franca of traders, merchants, and bureaucrats. It was a practical thing. It had been awhile since he had a full conversation in that tongue. Likely to be a bit rusty.

“Why do you ask?” The young man blinked at her. Maybe she had an idea about the mission? Others around were speaking a language he didn’t understand. Maybe she was just curious. “Are you going to tell me you’re octo-lingual too? Doctor, singer, heiress. It’s surprising you’re still single.” Almost immediately after those playful, teasing words left his mouth, Corran regretted them. Falynn might have been sensitive to those descriptions. Hell, she might even be married. The young man extended his hand a bit, offering an invisible apology, “I’m… I’m sorry about that. I get ahead of myself sometimes.”

@FireSong

 

[Falynn Tikarsis]

Now that was fascinating. Huttese was spoken on Cantonica as well, though not as commonly. Falynn supposed she wasn’t too surprised that Corran spoke the language, especially with regards to his trader background. “Only curious. I speak another language and wondered if you did.” His next words caught her by surprise and her eyes widened a bit. Falynn chuckled at the thought of being octo-lingual. Imagine how many language barriers could be broken by the mere fact. “No, no, I’m barely bilingual. Only Basic and Cantonican, and the latter leaves much to be desired.” Laughter began to bubble inside of her as she considered Corran’s words. As if she could be considered an heiress. By now, Falynn was pretty sure she had fallen out of the line of inheritance. Had she any siblings, that certainly would have been the case.

In between her response, Falynn considered his third apology of the night. Once for laughing, once for prying, and now for teasing. In a way, it showed he truly didn’t wish to offend her. On the other hand, it made her question her own actions. Did her reserved manner make people more nervous or careful around her? She sighed inwardly at the thought. Twenty-nine years of age and she still couldn’t bring herself to be more friendly. More outgoing.

“Really, it’s okay. I’m not offended in any way, shape, or form.” With any hope, that would be enough to convey that it wasn’t necessary to apologize for every line Corran thought he crossed. “In fact,” the buildup of laughter began to slip from her delicately crafted expression. “Sorry, it’s not you,” she quickly explained. “I’m just laughing because you’re right, though it’s not too surprising,” Falynn gave a small shrug. “I suppose my careers have just kept me busy.” First, it was schooling. Then, suffering from burnout as she fought to meet the demands of a medical professional. Now, after transferring careers, it was even dangerous to look too far ahead. Her life was simply too unstable to be in a relationship.

The road dumped them at the end of another crosswalk. Falynn smirked at her partner before letting her innocent question fall. “Dare I assume the opposite of you?” she gestured vaguely in the air, ”A significant other perhaps?” She almost surprised herself by voicing the question. It wasn’t typical of her to ask in such an outright manner, but in the most childish defense possible, he had brought the subject up first.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

A laugh. Or something like a laugh coming from Ranger Tikarsis. It was a short, soft thing. Girlish in a way he wouldn’t have anticipated, yet still mature. Corran glanced out of the corner of his eye at the female Ranger walking beside him. Was she easing up a bit? Was he? The male Ranger wasn’t entirely sure what to make of their continuing conversation. It had started out as simple, surface-level question to pass the time and now they were walking along a sidewalk, chatting away about everything under the sun. It was an interesting tidbit that Falynn spoke Cantonican. At least a little of it. Planetary dialects were so rare nowadays.

Her expression of forgiveness would have made Corran’s shoulders ease, if they weren’t technically on a mission and something like foot patrol. Inside, there was a distinct feeling of relief however. One never knew where the boundaries of comfort were for others. While on the job, there were even more lines not to cross. Corran understood this well because he liked those lines and boundaries most of the time. Those very boundaries were pushed past again by another bout of flighty chuckling from the female Ranger. Was she normally this giggly?

"Yeah, I understand. Being a Ranger doesn't make stuff like that easy," the blond youth agreed. Though he didn't fully grasp her other life experiences, he totally knew the burdens of their current work on relationships of any kind. Long stretches of time not seeing family. Friends either traveling among the stars or taking dangerous risks with you and not always coming back intact. Lovers even more challenging and fragile than the other two combined. Somewhere deep down, that felt unfair. That working for law, order, and justice required so much sacrifice for the bonds worth protecting. Corran glanced again to the complex woman beside him. Maybe trying hard could keep those bonds alive. "Oh, and another thing," the male Ranger raised a finger to make a point, "Never apologize for laughing in good humor. I enjoy laughing." A welcome grin curled at the corners of his lips.

The pair once again came to an intersection and a holo-sign forbid them to cross the street. Despite everything else that came before, Falynn’s first half of the question caught him off guard. A certain dreadful anticipation built up in his chest. Then the other shoe dropped. She asked about a ‘significant other’ through a feline smirk. Corran’s chest visible heaved when he released a sigh, which also doubled as an indicator that he had heard her question but needed a moment to process. What counted as a significant other among the Sector Rangers? By Falynn’s own admission, they were often too busy for anything. Did it have to be a professed love you wrote to while away? The young man didn’t have anyone like that. What about spontaneous meet-ups at bars? He didn’t have any of those either. Something complicated came to mind though. Doctor Ilana Morata. An Arkanian medical doctor, much like Ranger Tikarsis herself, whom he had stumbled upon on Corellia and worked together on Nar Shaddaa. Was that romance or a hook-up? It didn't fit neatly in either. Plus, Corran hadn't heard from her since going their separate ways on the Smuggler's Moon.

A brief shake of the head and a shrug lead into the answer, "No, no one like that. You know how it is." The soft expression of disappointment seemed to surrender to something like a playful, boyish smirk. "My mom says I'm just not trying hard enough. Why, do you know someone to set me up with?" A small twitch of the eyebrow heralded the teasing jest. The cross-walk lit up green, finally allowing pedestrians to cross. The male Ranger nodded with his head to the left, which would flank another side of their target building. If they didn't catch anything on this pass, would they ever?

@FireSong

 

[Falynn Tikarsis]

She should stop. That was the first thing on Falynn’s mind as she watched for Corran’s response. Her most recent question had bordered on rude, even if she was mostly teasing and only slightly curious. It was far from what was typical to ask of a coworker. Yet, reconstructing her delicately crafted wall and reinforcing it was more difficult than she would have imagined. The truth was, she could feel herself beginning to relax. That was the only reasonable explanation for what had brought her to ask such a question. Now, Falynn found herself at a crossroads. Right would return her to the security of set boundaries. Go left, and she may find herself watching as her walls crumbled to the ground.

It turned out he didn’t have a significant other. Falynn gave Corran a glance as he replied. Ranger Velt was a very likable person, so while that was surprising, she acknowledged the constraints of being a Ranger. The occupation provided just enough time to do adequate work, but not enough time to satiate other desires. Surely that was disappointing to some. Was she herself content with that way of life? Her parents would say she should be. After all, it had been her own decision to make.

Falynn shook her head as a smile touched her lips. “Believe me, you’re asking the wrong person. I don’t have much experience in that particular field.” She thought about Corran’s mom saying he didn’t try hard enough. Curiously enough, romantic relationships was one aspect of her life that her mother never breached. Perhaps that was because the subject never came up in their lengthy conversations.

As the Rangers turned left to flank another side of the building, Falynn opened her mouth to say something before closing it as she came to an abrupt halt. There was a door on this side. It had been created to match the surrounding wall almost perfectly in color and texture. The purpose was purely aesthetic, but succeeded in deceiving the eyes into seeing a solid panel. Falynn looked to where their apartment was in relation to where they now stood. This entrance was conveniently from the binocular’s line of sight. “Did we ever consider that the sauna would have a concealed delivery entrance?” Most buildings had two entrances, but not every building disguised their doors in the same manner. As Falynn scanned the door, her attention was drawn to the corner. “Look at the bottom.” There, carefully tucked in between the door and the frame, was a small unobtrusive object. Small, but enough to keep the door from fully latching shut.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

A perplexed frown accompanied with a single cocked brow. Although he didn’t know how old Falynn was, it seemed odd that she claimed to not have much experience in relationships. No high school crush? No medical school flirtations? Not even a bad boy partner during her time on Coruscant? Considering how she looked, her interesting personality, and that cute little smile she shared sometimes; Corran found that hard to believe. Maybe the Ranger medic just didn’t want to share her dalliances into romance with him. That’s fair. There was one or two of his own that he’d rather not dwell on. The young man shrugged and let the conversation drift off.

Continuing on their path to circumvent the target building, Ranger Tikarsis opened her mouth as if to say something. Corran flicked his eyes towards her in anticipation of something, but for naught. She came to a sudden halt and seemed to be examining something along a blank wall. When the dark-and-red-haired woman looked up to their former vantage point and back to the wall, the male Ranger mimicked her but was unable to understand the connection. It wasn’t until she asked him about concealed entrances did he finally catch on. Following her instructions, Corran knelt down and examined the barely visible crack that exposed the door built into the wall. “Good eyes, Falynn,” he said with sincerity, “Watch my back if anyone comes looking.” The blond youth's face seemed to change from something amiable and friendly to the stoic, determined one of a law enforcement officer. Even his jaw seemed to become more like set stone.

Squinted, blue eyes traced the outline of the door for any type of alarm or traps. Nothing seemed to indicate such a set-up. The male Ranger slid his fingers against the crack in the door and felt conditioned air. It led into the sauna, alright. Allowing one glance over his shoulder, he drew a vibroblade knife and wedged it into the thin opening. Using this leverage, he silently pried the door open enough to get his fingers in. When the coast was clear, Corran motioned for his partner to stick close. “Follow me,” he whispered. He nudged the door open just enough to squeeze through. Once inside, he drew his Power 5 blaster from his coat holster and waited for Falynn before continuing to investigate.

@FireSong

 

[Falynn Tikarsis]

The female Ranger eyed the street as her partner pried the door open. Thankfully, it wasn’t a very well-traveled part of the city, and those who happened to walk down the lane were few and far between. The last thing they needed was having to explain why they seemed to be breaking into a building. In the distance, a siren sounded. Someone shrieked in laughter. The sign down the street changed to advertise a trip on the Sea of Cantonica. It seemed every passing moment would remind Falynn of her past life. Corran whispered for her to follow him, so she scanned the road once more before slipping though the door. If they could get through this unscathed, Falynn would be grateful.

The entrance led to a dark hallway with doors on either side. Immediately on the left was an open room that resembled a storage area. When the massage parlor had been fully operational, it likely had been fully stocked with additional resources. Now, the shelves were scantly filled. Down the hall, light from street lamps and bright signs filtered in through the windows, providing some visibility. The doors on the right were closed and provided no indication as to what was behind them. Though Falynn had never been to this particular sauna, she guessed that they led to private massage rooms or something of the sort.

A noticeable silence filled the building as well; a stark contrast to the world behind the door. Even on the less crowded roads outside, the steady hum of conversation could always be heard. It was almost too quiet as if something, or someone, was waiting in anticipation.

Falynn followed Corran into the darkness, drawing her own blaster from its holster. Other than the obvious quiet and dark, nothing else seemed out of place. Even from the inside, the sauna just seemed like it was closed for the night. Coming alongside her partner, she wordlessly gestured around them. Left into the storage? Forward down the hall? Right behind closed doors? She looked at him as a sentence formed in her eyes. Take your pick. Whether or not the area would contain incriminating evidence was anyone’s guess, but she would follow where he led.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Lights from the street and the occasional speeder provided the only illumination to the darkened sauna. The darkness danced away from any revealing light source, casting an eerie pall over the supposedly relaxing establishment. Unless there was some janitorial staff, the massage parlor was completely deserted. Blaster in hand, Falynn came up beside the male Ranger and silently gestured to all the various paths forward. A near empty supply closet, a hallway going deeper into the sauna, and rooms for private massages. The objective of the mission was to catch the supplier of defective medical supplies in the act or with evidence in hand. Anything less wouldn't be enough proof to extract the suspect from Cantonica. Oh, how Corran loathed planets outside New Republic jurisdiction sometimes. There only option was to see if anyone was home.

The male Ranger gave a nod in understanding and then gestured with his hand towards the private massage rooms to proceed. Silently, he crept up with blaster at the ready. As quietly as possible, he turned the handle and the door began to open. Peering through the crack, it soon became apparent that it was just an empty massage room. Only a table for someone to lay and a shelf for oils and a washing station. Quietly as before, the young man closed the door without a noise. He checked two more nearby rooms and they all were the same thing. Empty massage rooms, devoid of any evidence or sentient beings. This was a dead end. Face half revealed by a streetlight outside, Corran gave his partner a shake of the head. Nothing this way.

Careful, sky blue eyes scanned the rest of the area immediately available to them. It was unlikely that an empty storage closet offered anything beyond bare shelves. The building wasn't likely to contain a second secret door, was it? That left the hallway deeper into the supposedly empty building. The intel the Sector Rangers had been given was good and if Falynn came along, she believed in it too. Corran held out in hope that the pair hadn't spent all day and night watching a simple massage parlor.

As if to reward such faith, muffled laughter came from down the hallway. It seemed distant and where it emanated from was unclearly. What was clear was that the Rangers were not alone in this supposedly closed parlor. The blond youth returned to the side of his fellow Ranger and gripped his blaster tightly. They'd go together into the dark.

@FireSong

 

[Falynn Tikarsis]

Searching the rooms yielded nothing. Innocently lacking in any evidence whatsoever, the Rangers’ only choice was to press onward down the dark hall. Fortunately, the massage parlor itself was a small building which didn’t cover very much area. It wouldn’t take long to investigate the entirety of the building, and if they didn’t find anything? Well, that was sometimes just how these kind of missions went. Days spent lying in wait only to discover the information was outdated or worse, falsified. The medic hoped that wouldn’t prove to true in this situation. Not when they had come this far.

Falynn knew Corran had also heard the barely audible laughter when he returned to her side, determination on his face. No one else was scheduled to be in the parlor, for open hours had long since passed. This would be worth investigating. A plethora of questions leapt forth as the female Ranger envisioned what they’d find. Was that laughter at someone or something? Were others present? What if they were too late? At this point, Falynn couldn’t decide whether she would rather catch the culprit in the act or discover there had been a huge misunderstanding.

The pair silently crept towards the direction of the sound. The hall led to the main entrance of the building where there was a reception area. To the right was another hallway with fewer doors. If the hall behind them was for the massage parlors, the other one likely led to the saunas. There was a helpful floor diagram posted on the wall which illustrated the layout of two connected rooms at the end of the hall. Light illuminated from underneath the two doors that led into each room. Falynn supposed it was convenient. Two Rangers, two doors. If they each entered through one, they would be able to block both exits in case someone tried to run.

More laughter emanated from behind the closed doors. It was louder this time, careless even. Hopefully that meant the Rangers still possessed the element of surprise. Walking alongside Corran, the medic‘s grip tightened on her blaster in anticipation. Once they reached the end doors it was evident that neither one had been locked. Above all else, Falynn found that the most strange. Wouldn’t rooms like these typically have locks? And if so, why hadn’t they been locked when there was so clearly something behind them? There seemed to be an obvious answer. To prevent walking into a trap, she tried to think of a possible workaround, but drew a blank. In order to reach the inside, they would have to willingly walk through the doors. Taking a breath, Falynn looked back at Corran so they would enter at the same time.

Her door opened. There was a blissful silence as no alarms sounded, and no hidden mechanisms went off. Falynn blinked once. Twice. Whatever she had expected to find behind the door was not what currently lay before her. She hoped Corran had made a different discovery.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Laughter had attracted the attention of the Rangers like a siren’s song. Step by step, silently, the two encroached on the only odd thing in the empty building. In the darkness of the hallway, the light beneath the two doors seemed like headlights coming at them. Interestingly enough, the doors were not locked. Corran glanced sideways at his partner. She noticed it too. Doors unlocked when a place was supposed to be closed for business was sketchy enough, but if criminals met here and left them unlocked, only two possibilities remained. A trap if they were clever or negligence if they were arrogant. The male Ranger sincerely hoped for the latter.

Falynn looked at the blond youth, communicating a course of action. The unspoken, wordless language between law enforcement officers where looks were often better than hand signals. Corran mounted up on one door while she took the other. What or whoever was inside would have to go through one of them to escape. His hand tightened around the grip of his Power 5. The male Ranger's breathing steadied in anticipation. The pause before the plunge. Out of the corner of his eye, Falynn glanced back. That was the signal for simultaneous entry. As she entered, he was a half-second behind her. The door swung open and Corran stepped through, aiming through the blaster's iron sights.

Steam floated in the air, giving everything a wet and warm feeling. Fluorescent lights in rectangles from the ceiling above supplied white light to the area. A single man with a bath towel around his waist stood like a bantha in headlights. Being in a vulnerable position with a blaster pointed at you is likely the worst thing that could be happening to him. For a moment, they stood in silence. Corran opened his mouth to announce himself officially but the terrified man in a towel beat him to it. "HEY, we've got troub-!"

A light squeeze of the trigger sent a blue stun bolt into the startled man's chest. He slumped to the tile floor, unconscious. They needed to move fast. Whatever was going on here wasn't on the up-and-up. "SECTOR RANGERS! Don't move!" Corran shouted as he quick-stepped into the sauna. It seems the door the male Ranger had entered in was a preparatory area before entering into the main lounge. A second, handless door was to the left. Sounds of shuffling and startled men sounded behind this second entryway. A swift boot to the door sent it flying open and Corran bursting through. Sidearm at the ready, he hoped Falynn was making her breach and they had captured a deal in the making.

@FireSong

 

[Falynn Tikarsis]

Falynn had considered that she would find potential buyers or sellers, defective medical supplies, or even absolutely nothing behind the door. She had failed to consider the possibility of discovering what looked to be a science laboratory in the sauna. After her initial surprise, the medic stepped inside and gently shut the door behind her. The smell of bacta seemed to percolate from the sauna’s interior walls in an almost suffocating manner. Positioned in the far corner was a small table with boxes stacked on top of it. A longer table took up the floor’s remaining surface area. At a quick glance, anyone could see that it was crammed with various medical supplies and chemical equipment. Before Falynn could get a better look at any specifics, she heard a commotion from the other side of the adjoining door. Corran had found the culprits.

Nudging the door open with her boot, Falynn raised her blaster to greet those inside, only a moment after her partner. Three other men were scrambling around the sauna to make an escape. Those with the quickest reflexes grabbed their weapons and prepared to fire. Closest to her, a man fell back unconscious as he made for an exit and was met with a blue bolt to the chest. Although the medic didn’t have a particular desire to stun anyone, the men had been warned to stay still and were still choosing to return fire. She aimed her blaster once again.

“Wait, wait! Don’t shoot.” Falynn had just been about to discharge another stun round when a man raised his hands in a sign of surrender. He was, to put it bluntly, of short stature. Barely reaching above Falynn’s waist, he lacked any serious height advantage. She looked at him for a moment before lowering her blaster. So long as he didn’t take advantage of her, he could remain conscious. At least the Rangers would be able to gather additional information from the man. That is, if he chose to engage in conversation.

Once the action had died down, the medic observed what she and Corran had caught in the making. Three crates were laid out in a neat row on a bench. Two were unopened while the third proudly displayed its contents. On the same bench was an individual, opened medkit. At first glance, it was impossible to observe any defects. The seal on any perishable products was unbroken, and there were no obvious signs of tampering. Even on closer inspection, Falynn still couldn’t tell what was amiss. The supplies weren’t hospital grade, but that wasn’t a crime in and of itself. Thinking back to her discovery, Falynn addressed the man in a level tone. “What explanation can you give for the setup in the preparatory room?” She pointed toward the area where she’d found the makeshift lab. If it came to it, a forensics team could uncover the lab’s secrets, but the easier way would involve the man giving an honest answer.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Synchronized like the experienced law enforcement they were, Corran and Falynn entered the sauna at roughly the same time. She got a stun off first, however. The people inside were rightfully spooked and either tried to flee or grab their weapons. One making a rush for the door was dropped by Ranger Tikarsis. Another grabbed a hold-out blaster from a nearby bench in the sauna. Corran didn't even need to use his iron sights. A streak of blue stunned the would-be shooter and sent him to the floor. The male Ranger was lining up another shot when someone cried out for the shooting to stop. Once a cacophony of chaos, the room seemed to all freeze in mid-motion. A small man, very small, had cried for the cease-fire. When Falynn lowered her blaster, Corran did as well, along with many others.

Though the room was still tense, and the male Ranger kept his hand firmly on his sidearm, the atmosphere of violence had subsided. The sauna had a bench that held several sealed boxes, one opened, and finally a medkit seemingly untouched but all its contents for the world to see. Like the raid on the safe house on Corellia, he had no idea what a defective or genuine medical pack would look like. He'd have to rely on Falynn's experience and knowledge. With no obvious answers, it seemed that the blond youth's decided to start interrogating for them. At first, the short man blinked like a bantha caught in headlights. "Setup...?" Then a small chuckle escaped from the little person. "Oh, you mean the water units in the prep room? It's all complicated but it is for this sauna's healing properties. Very expensive."

A few other men nodded in anxious agreement. Corran never saw any "setup" that Falynn had mentioned, but he knew when people were trying to play dumb and insult your intelligence at the same time. Stepping in before anything else could be said, the male Ranger snarled at the small man, "Oh really? Then why so many blasters in one place? Huh? I've got at least three of you dead to rights on intent to assault an officer charges. So, you better make a wise choice right now." On any other world, that would have been a threat. On Cantonica, it was practically toothless. The short man didn't smile, but his eyes seemed to. If you had money and connections on this world, you could get away with anything. Intent to assault wasn't enough. Especially in these circumstances. A second of silence ticked by.

"W-w-wait."

The man in the towel stuttered, clearly nervous. Sky blue eyes shot him a glance before returning to the others, keeping watch over any hostile movement. "The... the kits. The kits are off-market. I-I-I-I came here to buy some. Please, I needed them. They are so hard to find on the Outer Rim. Please!" Almost instantly, the small man who had offered peace stared at the stuttering man. A case not quite blown open, but the roles in the play were starting to be discovered.

@FireSong

 

[Falynn Tikarsis]

So the man wanted to do things the hard way. Falynn sighed inwardly as she heard his explanation about expensive equipment. She harbored no sympathy for those who clearly knew what was being asked and still chose to feign ignorance. Sure, the water units were probably costly, like most items on the planet, but it didn’t take a biochemist to know there was more going on than he claimed. Corran had picked up on his bluff as well and, in turn, snapped at the man. Evidently, Falynn wasn’t the only one frustrated by his response, or lack thereof. With no further leads and an ever increasing nervousness running through each of their suspects, the palpable tension returned.

Then, a man in a towel spoke. Halting sentences which resembled a confession were exposed. As all eyes turned towards him, the small man broke his charade with an almost imperceptible glare at the one who had spoken. No doubt words of accusation or denial were beginning to form behind the previously sealed lips of the other buyers. The room held its breath in silent anticipation.

A couple of simple sentences was all that had been spoken, but Falynn felt as if she had been struck. Perhaps unintentionally, his plea carried enough pathos to elicit a feeling of sympathy from her. She understood where he was coming from, but even beyond that, she knew it to be true. Med kits were terribly difficult to get in the Outer Rim. And what if he had a family? What was the catalyst for any of their decisions to turn to this exchange under the table? Crime was often a last resort out of desperation. Her dark eyes stared at the stuttering man for a second before Falynn swept her gaze to the other men, thoughts spinning. After another beat, she broke the silence. “Yes. I understand they are hard to find out here,” the medic began slowly. “I even understand why you might need them and choose to this method to obtain the kits. But turning to an off-market dealer is dangerous. How can you,” she turned to address the rest of the crowd, “How can any of you be certain that you ‘ll receive a medical kit that has passed inspection? One that isn’t,” a short pause, “defective.” Falynn let the accusing word hang in the air.

A murmur rose from the people crowded in the sauna as they whispered among themselves. When the medic had asked her question, the possibility that they were unaware about possible defects in the kits had crossed her mind. Falynn glanced back at the short man and perhaps it was just the lighting, but it seemed he had paled ever so slightly. He knew they knew. She saw him weigh the matter in his head. If the buyers still chose to side with the seller, that was their choice. They had been given a chance at redemption because Falynn knew this case wasn’t so black and white. A softhearted action, but what was she supposed to do when a gray area penetrated every corner of this deal? In the end, the outcome would be up to them. When the room quieted again, she posed her final question. “Tell me, is it worth all the risk?”

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

As Falynn addressed the assembled beings, some desperate criminals and others just desperate, Corran kept his hands firmly on his Power 5; ready at a moments notice to drop anyone with a stun shot. So far none of them moved a muscle, listening to the female ranger's words. Much like her, they were thorough, precise, and brutally blunt. In a way, it sounded like a mother scolding some kids she was disappointed in. Ironic, given what she had told him earlier. The final truth, defective kits, finally forced the people held in the sauna to react. An uncomfortable reality descended upon them. Could the critical medical supplies they had come all this way for be defective?

Growing paler by the moment, the short man seemed to realize the tide was turning against him. All it would take is the words of another and the rangers could likely bag him as the main culprit and suspect. What surprised the blond youth the most was that Falynn seemed to be giving them all a chance. To make a choice. Merciful of her. At the end of her question, the room got quiet. Everyone was waiting for someone else to make the first move. Each likely had made up their mind, but wanted to see how things unfolded. After a few silent moments, an older man took a step towards the door. "I'm out. Stakes too high for me." One by one, others took their leave as well. Either they were too dejected by the possibility of spending large sums of money on faulty life-saving equipment or they didn't want to tussle with the law.

All but the man who spoke first. He clenched the towel, holding it tightly to his waist. There was nothing more clear in the universe than the feelings of dejection, loss of hope, and frustration on his face. Finally the tension released from his shoulders. A sign of surrender to reality. As the towel-adorned man left, he turned to glare at the pairs of rangers. "Y-you Core world hounds d-don't know how hard it is." He gestured to the medical kits. "M-m-my... last hope." Corran couldn't help but feel sympathy, even with the insult. In the Outer Rim, some would risk danger for the chance of something good at the other end. But the law was the law and it had to be done. At the doorway to exit the sauna, the toweled-man placed a hand against the frame and said something over his shoulder. "He m-makes them." Without another word, he left.

That was enough for the male ranger. They had come this far and found their target. Caught in the act even. The information had turned out to be true. A kindness, given the difficulty of executing justice on a world like Cantonica. Keeping a blaster in his right hand, Corran drew forth some cuffs and began approaching the small man. "You are under arrest. You have a right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a..." Methodical as ever, he recited the suspect his Galactic Rights and took him into custody. In any other scenario, the short man would have likely struggled but two-on-one, and both armed, was, as Falynn had suggested, too risky. "Ranger Tikarsis," her partner called out, "Would you call it in? We'll need forensics." She likely knew that, but he wanted to be communicative. It was because of her they had broken the case and it would her praise to capture by being the one to report the success. He owed her that much.

@FireSong

 

[Falynn Tikarsis]

Slowly by surely, each man staggered out of the sauna until only one remained. Falynn was pleased that the majority of them had opted out of purchasing the kits, but it saddened her that this situation had had to occur in the first place. Such was the life of many in the Outer Rim. The last man hesitated as his eyes darted from the Rangers, to the ground, to the medical supplies, to the dealer, and then back to the pair. It was clear he was weighing his options and calculating the chance that he could get away. At last he too left, clearly disheartened. With the look on his face as he exited, Falynn wasn’t taken aback by his verbiage. She wished there was something she could do for him, but like Corran, agreed that even with his circumstance he was not above the law.

As her partner apprehended the short man, Falynn nodded to show she heard and pressed her comlink. The operator on the other end answered in a dull, tired voice. “Hello. This is Sector Ranger Falynn Tikarsis...” Falynn moved out of earshot of the suspect as she listed her credentials and detailed the situation. “We are at the Shining Sea Spa and Sauna. East Side. No wounded. One suspect is in custody. There are defective medical kits and a lab station here as well. Forensics will be needed to analyze samples.” She waited for a confirmation from the woman on the other end before ending the connection. “No, that is all. Yes, I understand. Thank you.” The operator affirmed that local law enforcement would clean up all the loose ends; the Rangers’ task had been completed.

Falynn walked back towards Corran and the dealer to wait for the other agents to take over. “The Canto Bight Police Department will arrive here shortly.” Though she spoke mostly to her partner, the suspect heard as well and blanched. “What! N-No...no...you can’t do this to me,” he sputtered. The medic saw, as plain as day, the fear and hatred in the man’s eyes. He knew he would lose everything once incriminated. Falynn didn’t respond, so he continued. His words at first defensive, gradually became pleading as he babbled uselessly. It was a fairly common occurrence among those in custody. They often became loose-lipped once they realized they were trapped.

When the officers arrived, he quieted down, as if realizing all hope was lost. Moving to leave the sauna, Falynn turned her head to the side speaking in a soft voice, “You brought this upon yourself.” She wasn’t even sure he had heard her, but in the end it wouldn’t matter. He knew her words rang true.

Now that the pair of Rangers had completed their mission, they could begin making their way back to the hotel. Walking alongside Corran, she turned to look at him saying, “I’m relieved this mission turned out. I know I’ll likely receive the praise for being the one to call it in, but in truth it was a joint effort. Thank you, Corran.” Perhaps he didn’t release it, but Falynn knew had she been assigned alone to this mission, the end result wouldn’t have been the same. Just being on Cantonica hit too close to home that the medic would have found it hard to focus on anything but being in her birth place, only a short distance away from her parents. Having another person there was, in a sense, reassuring. After a moment, she spoke again. “So, what’s next for you? Any plans?”

@TerranSteel