Ask Friends Everywhere

[Elina Zelle]

Each room was it's own spectacle when she opened it. They each had their own sort of theme and she could tell almost half of them have never been touched. She would have loved to comb through each one and possibly take a few items for herself but that would take too long. Elina did however spot a nice necklace and she flicked her hand when she passed it to have it lifted to her pocket with the force.

But, none of the rooms were what she was searching for and she sighed softly before continuing on. When she reached another hallway, she found a set of double doors at the end of it. That certainly seemed like what she was looking for and she approached quickly. Elina placed both hands on the handles and gave a sharp pull but they didn't budge in the slightest. "You're shitting me." Sometimes she just wanted things to line up for her but the galaxy had its way of doing things.

She crouched down and stared at the lock for a few moments before lifting her hand as she gingerly finagled with the tumblers inside it. Elina knew she had powers when she was a young kid and the way she practiced was with locks around her home. Things caught her interest and sometimes she just couldn't help herself. After a few moments, she finally heard a click and a smile spread across her face.

She stood back up smoothly and placed a palm against the door as she pushed it ever so softly to open. It creaked slightly until it eventually revealed a massive office. The entire back wall was just a window and gave a view of the entire all the gardens and fields that were a part of the manor. Bookshelves lined the opposite walls and a massive wooden desk lay in the center.

Elina made her way to the desk as she ran the tip of her nails along the surface of it, clearly drawn in by the lavishness of it. When she reached the chair, she sat herself down and began searching through the drawers. There were personal items but nothing that stood out. Elina then glanced around the desk and found there was no computer or terminal connected to it and nothing for her or Renfry to try and crack. She would reach out with the force and down below to Renfry,

find anything?

 

[Renfry]

Renfry proceeded through the banquet hall or dining room or whatever these people wanted to call it and pushed her way into the next room. This one seemed to be a bedroom of some sort, though she found it odd that it was attached directly to the dining room.

She began to rummage through the things in the drawers but gained the impression that this was not actually the room of the Senator or any of his people. A guest room?

No luck, she sent back, not entirely sure how she felt about having someone else placing telepathic thoughts in her head. Though, it wasn't like she was reading Renfry's mind. Nevertheless, it was an odd invasion.

Only moments after her response, she made her way into a hall and found what looked to be an office. It was large with what looked to be some sort of hand carved desk in the center. Book shelves lined the walls with old-school, physical books. And a data terminal.

I think I found something. Are you any good with slicing? she sent back. Renfry was not...

 

[Elina Zelle]

Renfry told her no luck and Elina just simply shook her head. This manor was turning into quite the gold mine for them apparently. She stood herself up from the chair and took one more glance around the office to make sure she didn't miss anything. After the second check-up proved to be fruitless as well, Elina exited from the office and made her way downstairs to where they were supposed to meet.

When she reached the bottom step, Renfry's voice pierced through her mind again as she was asked if she was good at slicing. Elina reached out with the force in order to sense the other Sith before making her way there. It would be a few moments until the door to the office finally opened, Elina stepping through with an arched eyebrow at Renfry and then towards the terminal. "Nope, I'm more good with my hands than with technology." She never had the benefit of dealing with terminals and datapads in her younger life to make her a geek.

She made her way over to the other side of the desk where Renfry was as she crossed her arms. "Is there anything you can do?" Elina suspected the answer was no because she would already be doing it but she felt like asking. "We either yank that with us or we go and find out where our Senator is personally to get what we want. He may be carrying his information on him." It wasn't unheard of for politicians to carry all their dirty secrets with them.

Elina opened her mouth to speak again but that's when they would hear footsteps and heading straight for the door.

 

[Renfry]

Renfry cursed in her mind as Elina admitted she wasn't good at slicing either. Renfry had grown up in a tribal culture, and her experience with technology was only the most simple interactions she'd learned since leaving Dathomir a couple of years ago.

She mentally cursed again. All for nothing. She started turning over their options in her head, not wanting to take the terminal with them and leave such an obvious trail, but... but someone was at the door.

She started pushing Elina back toward the other door that Renfry had come in. They would have to find the Senator, it seemed. Finding him shouldn't have been too difficult, but getting him alone... that might prove a bit more difficult. Unfortunately, Renfry had an idea for that as well.

She headed for the exit just as she heard the door open behind them. She hoped that Elina had followed suit as well as they both made their way back through the kitchen and toward the exit of the house.

 

[Elina Zelle]

Elina stared at Renfry as she waited for her to make the call. The footsteps grew louder and she reached over herself, ready to take something but was pushed away quickly. Well, it seemed the terminal wasn't going to be an option for them. The Senator was their new objective then and she simply followed her and to the exit of the manor.

They walked through the kitchen silently as her ears could pick up the footsteps and how they made their way toward the desk. She guessed it was good they didn't decide anything. It didn't take long for them to reach the window they came through. Elina pushed the window to open it as they were both greeted with a soft gust of wind. She stepped forward to drop through the air before landing softly in the grass with the help of the force.

When Renfry dropped as well, Elina just remained there and pressed up against the wall to keep out of sight for now. "You got any idea where our boy is?" Their goal changed and now they actually had to get in close with the man. That just made the mission a whole lot more interesting.

 

[Renfry]

Renfry paused for a moment, mind racing through their options. She wished she had had time to look at the Senators schedule or planner or something, but she hadn't, and neither had Elina.

And yet another idea came into her mind.

Nope, she answered in a tone that was entirely too chipper for delivering bad news. The Force was a powerful tool and up until now they'd used it for almost nothing. If they were going for the Senator directly, Renfry was beginning to think that blackmail wasn't even the best option. The Force - and particularly her magick - allowed for far more coercive means of getting what you wanted from someone.

But she was getting ahead of herself. She held up a finger to indicate to Elina that she should wait here before slipping along where the area where the river and house were close to one another.

She waited for a guard to pass near and reached out with the Force and into his mind.

Where will the Senator be going today, she said. The man jolted for a moment, surprised to see her. It's okay that I'm here, she said, applying a more forceful application this time.

It's good that you're here... he's going to be speaking at the a rally tonight and then going out to a dinner not on his schedule, the man said.

Renfry smiled at the man - not that he'd remember it - and thanked him before turning to Elina.

He's at a rally. Shouldn't be hard to find with a quick data search, she said. And the "off schedule" dinner. Well, that provided even more opportunities. Especially if it was a dinner with someone he wasn't supposed to be having dinner with.

 

[Elina Zelle]

Well, Renfry just spoke the truth and told her no. The two hadn't really prepared for this mission well and relied heavily on discovering something inside the manor. Elina exhaled as she thought for a moment but was cut off when the other women held up a finger before wandering off. She didn't see any reason to not listen to her so she waited there to see what would happen.

Renfry went off and eventually found a guard before infiltrating his mind. Even from where she was, Elina could spot what was happening and simply leaned against a wall with her arms crossed. The interaction didn't last long and revealed that their senator was at a rally. That wasn't the best scenario to hear as it meant he would be in a public place and under heavy watch. The dinner was a possibility but it depended on where it happened and what transpired at the rally.

After a quick search, they were given the location of the rally and that it was for a local fundraiser. "There he is. We better get moving before he heads off to that dinner." Elina glanced around to make sure there were no guards around before she bolted off and towards the gate. She hopped over easily and would wait for Renfry on the other side as she acted inconspicuously to not make her run difficult. When she made it, Elina walked away from the manor and to a nearby parking lot.

She approached a nearby speeder as a random civilian did. He heard the footsteps and turned to spot her and Renfry walking straight toward him. The man gave them a smile but when he did, Elina simply lifted her hand as he was thrown backward with the force and his head smacking roughly against another speeder. He was out cold and she quickly went through his pockets to take out some keys before getting on the speeder. Elina activated it and gave a grin to her partner, "You be the navigator." When they were both on, she would split off from the lot and towards the rally.

 

[Renfry]

Renfry was glad to have what they needed and she moved quickly to leap over the gate as well. She landed gracefully on the other side and looked at them both.

We need to clean up, she said. They were both still drenched and would stick out in any crowd. She glanced at her datapad to see how much time they had and where the rally was held.

Hotel room. Clean up and get ready... the rally doesn't start for another hour and then it'll go for a while, too, she said, pulling up a cheap hotel that they could stop at to get their clothes washed, shower, and put together enough for what was to come.

We trail him out of the rally and take him at the dinner, she said. Or en route. Either way, it would give them a bit of time to catch their breath and get ready.

 

[Elina Zelle]

Elina was ready to just head straight for where the rally would take place and have them both prepare. But Renfry had another idea as she suggested cleaning up first. She slowly glanced over as the woman brought up a datapad and the location of a hotel they could stop at. The smile that spread across her lips couldn't be helped, "Are we sharing a room together or separate?" It really didn't matter to her but she thought it would be fun to tease Renfry a little.

With no point to object as the rally had an hour before it started, Elina altered their course and instead took them to the hotel. When they entered, she simply threw a bag of credits on the front desk for the attendant. "A room please." The attendant just glanced between the two as they were a sight to behold but he eventually reached under his desk and gave them a key with the room number on it. She offered the man a wink before picking up the key and making her way to the elevator with Renfry.

When they finally arrived in the room, it would be nothing special. There was a kitchen, a living room, a couch, a bed, and one room that appeared to be for the bathroom. Elina immediately went to the couch and practically just crashed on it with a groan as her muscles and the rest of her body relaxed. One of her hands covered her eyes as she let out a soft sigh, "This place smells like an atrocity." It was the only word she could think of to describe what her nose was being hit with. "Please hurry with your shower."

 

[Renfry]

Renfry's eyebrow quirked up as Elina asked if they would share a room. Of course, she said, with a sly smile. It was only logical, after all. It seemed Elina agreed as they got a room and made their way inside. It was... not high end.

Renfry's face scrunched up in disgust at the smell, but they weren't coming here for an extended luxury stay: it was purely practical. She made her way into the bathroom, rinsing down her clothes and getting in the shower quickly. She didn't feel like staying here much longer than they had to, and there was hair dryer that she used to dry the clothes. Not high end at all, but better than nothing.

She was out after a few minutes and it would be Elina's turn as Renfry put the remainder of her things together.

It didn't take her long to be put back together again. Perhaps it was a side effect of the years she'd spent in the wilds, but there wasn't a great deal of frilling that she needed to do once she was actually cleaned off.

So, Elina, she started off, looking in the mirror as she finished fixing her hair.

How good are you at seducing Neimoidian politicians? she asked, suppressing a grin. @Orbit

 

[Elina Zelle]

The sound of the shower started and she was utterly grateful for it. It meant that it was her turn to get ever so close to steaming hot water. It had been a while since she took a real shower and it almost felt unnatural to her at this point to have working water. Elina was surprised when the sound of the water turned off and her eyes snapped open as they were directed to the bathroom. Damn, was Renfry the opposite about the feelings of showers?

When Renfry exited, Elina stretched her legs fully in the air before swinging them over to stand up. "This will be glorious." At first, the idea of coming to a hotel didn't exactly appeal to her but after standing inside the room, it wasn't a bad choice at all. While Renfry went on to fix her hair, she entered the bathroom and shut the door behind her. Her ears were still unnaturally good and she would easily be able to hear the other woman speak. Her clothes slipped off easily as the water started up once again and steam filled the room.

Elina let the water soak through her hair and cascade down the rest of her body as she let out a relieved sigh. But her ears wiggled slightly when she heard Renfry through the door. She didn't have the same hearing as her so instead of just yelling out through the water, she spoke through the force once more, I've never seduced a Neimoidian before but I assume there shouldn't be too much of a difference. Men liked what they liked and it wouldn't be too hard to discover what made him tick in the right way.

To be honest, though, I don't really have such nice clothes for this dinner we're supposed to have. But as Elina ran a hand through her scarlet hair, her eyes snapped open and went to the door, Wait a minute, I'm seducing, what are you going to do during that?

 

[Renfry]

Renfry finished putting herself together, her hair braided and set over her shoulder as she thought about their plan. She wasn't prepared for the feeling of someone else in her mind and she grimaced again.

Do you have a better plan to intercept him without raising alarms? she asked. She wasn't sure they had time to go shopping and even if he was corrupt, she doubted he was weak willed enough for a simple mind trick.

I'll be getting ready to get him out of there and... preparing to perform the ritual, she said. It was the first time she'd mentioned, but but there was an alternative way besides blackmail. It was part of the reason she'd left his office and chosen to target the man directly.

We just need to get him alone somehow, she said. Preferably - or necessarily - without violence and raising an alarm. @Orbit

 

[Elina Zelle]

Elina was blissfully unaware that Renfry hated her speaking into her mind but it was more practical and would be done when it was needed until she was told not to. Not really, this all really is last minute. One sec. She was still in the shower and the distraction of hot water against her skin wasn't helping her think as she enjoyed it too thoroughly. A minute would pass before it was finally turned off and she could step out and place a towel around her torso and her hair.

Elina finally stepped out when she was dry enough, just wearing her tank-top and her long pants as her golden eyes glimmered from her feeling refreshed. "A ritual? You really need to learn to fill in your partner about your ideas and not just wing them." She didn't mind that much but she would still like to be in the know. The only concern she has was that it was a ritual. There wasn't much known about them unless you were a Nightsister and she had no ability to judge whether it would actually work or not.

She sat down at the table as she rested one arm on top of it and placed her chin in the palm of her other hand. "Well, he left the manor when we arrived. It was still an hour early so that could mean he's either there already with just his personal or could be at some local dive until it begins. What type of ritual are you conducting? How long will we need him for?" It was the reason she didn't approve of being revealed about the ritual then because it meant Renfry would have to explain this to her and Elina had a feeling she wasn't going to be entirely forthcoming.

Elina's eyes widened as she thought of something and she stood up to head over to her jacket. Ruffling through her pockets for a moment, she eventually pulled out a golden necklace she had snagged from the manor. "Any way we could track him with this?" She could track scents and she wondered if the Nightsisters had some type of ability to do the same.

 

[Renfry]

Ah yes, Renfry had a tendency to do that. She answered questions precisely as they were asked and failed to ask questions that weren't asked. However, now that Elina had done just that, she went ahead and answered.

I'll need him for... quite some time. And your help, she said. Kidnapping a Senator was no small feat, however. Maybe we should hold off on the hit, then, she said. They were flying terrifyingly by the seat of their pants, and while that was something she had a tendency to do, she was beginning to question all the holes in their plan.

It'll either make his mind very amenable to whatever we say or it'll turn his mind to mush, she said, as if she hadn't just indicated they may turn a man's mind vegetative.

She took the necklace and turned it over in her hands with a frown. I don't think so, she said.

I'd have to get... my hands on him, she said. More specifically she'd have to get her own blood on him, but she didn't need to give that detail yet.

We already know how to get into his manor, maybe we just go do it tonight. Security might be thicker, but it'll be easier to capture him alone when he's sleeping, she tossed out as a potential plan. @Orbit

 

[Elina Zelle]

Renfry answered her questions in some of the most frustrating ways she ever experienced. She'll need him for 'some' time and make his mind 'amenable' or would completely destroy the man's mind. There quite a few absolutes in this, more failures than successes but the more they talked, Renfry seemed to realize that their plan wasn't really a plan but them just using their powers willy nilly in order to get what they want. "I think we should hold off too. If we kark this up, our chances of getting close to him again will be nearly impossible."

When she handed her the necklace but was told it couldn't be used for tracking. Elina exhaled, saddened by the news but glad the necklace wouldn't be destroyed as she picked it up and slipped it into her coat again. It was a pretty necklace and she didn't want to lose it. Renfry mentioned she had to get her actual hands on him but suggested that they should wait for him to return to the manor. "That definitely seems a much better plan. Less risky for everyone involved that way." At a rally, there were way too many people that would be unaccounted for.

Elina made her way over to the couch once more and collapsed onto it exactly like last time. She placed her head against the armrest and closed her eyes. One of her arms came up and she flipped her wrist to her face as if she was checking the time even though her eyes were closed and no watch was there. "Well, we have a few hours till sundown. How should we waste those hours?" With the rally taking place, half the city would be practically empty and for them to explore.

 

[Renfry]

Renfry was silent as she thought about the question. She was glad they were on the same page about how to proceed, but that still left a lot of unanswered questions. They needed a better plan than before, and that would require preparation.

We should probably get ready, she said. Though the idea of staying here wasn't appealing. She went over to open a window, letting the smell go out and fresh air come in.

She moved over to a table and began to focus, moving her hand over the table to create an illusion. She recreated what she could remember from the estate, visualizing it in her mind and letting that picture flow through the Shadow.

I'd prefer to stay dry this time, she said, looking at alternative routes inside.

If I can blink inside, maybe I can open the gate for you, she said. There were probably gate controls somewhere.

Any thoughts on where the gate controls are? A security room or something? she asked. @Orbit

 

[Elina Zelle]

Elina reluctantly opened her eyes when she heard Renfry suggest that they get ready. She couldn't help but mutter to herself, "I said a few hours." Certain one or two of these hours appeared able for personal time but that was snuffed out quickly. She got up with a sigh and stood to her full height with a stretch before walking over to the table and pulling out a chair next to Renfry and sitting herself down.

When she created the illusion of the manor, Elina's mouth dropped as it was almost a perfect representation of the manor. "Oh, that's awesome." She couldn't hold back her excitement as such a simple display. Renfry commented that she wanted to stay dry this time and she could only chuckle as her response. But when blinking was brought up, Elina swiftly turned her head to look at her with an arched eyebrow, "Oh, so now we're able to teleport, huh?" Maybe they could have avoided the river altogether last time.

When asked where the gate controls were, Elina leaned forward to examine the building for a few moments before coming up with a conclusion. "Upstairs was all guestrooms and offices. I'm assuming because you're asking, the security room wasn't on the bottom floor as well. My guess would be down here." She pointed to the basement of the manor, "It would be the most protected." That's where she would put it if she owned such a place like that.

"If you can blink inside, you may be on your own for a while." Elina could find a way inside but it would most likely be the river again and for that fact, she wouldn't mind waiting outside.

 

[Renfry]

Considering neither of them felt like they had a plan, Renfry was surprised that Elina didn't seem interested in coming up with one, but decided to go along with it nonetheless. There was still a great deal of work to be done and she wanted to be more prepared.

At the comment about teleporting them, Renfry made a correction.

Myself? Sure. But both of us, not so much, she said. And on the spot, on the fly, she didn't fancy trying to figure out how to open the gate or being forced to go it alone. Unfortunately, it didn't sound like either of them had spotted any kind of a control and they might still be stuck splitting up.

That was when another thought struck her.

What about an approach from above? she asked. There were repulsor speeders that could fly above the bridge and while they wouldn't be allowed to land, a pair of Sith didn't need to land. They could drop hundreds of feet under the cover of night straight onto the grounds.

Rent a speeder or even take a ship and fly it over and drop straight onto the property, she said. There was always a chance of being spotted by security, but that was a risk no matter which way they went.

I have a pilot droid, she said. Technically she'd... "liberated" the pilot droid, but it was good enough to get them into position and keep flying.

How many security guards and droids did you see? she asked. @Orbit

 

[Elina Zelle]

Renfry clarified that she couldn't teleport both of them but just herself. Well, it was at least better than none of them being able to teleport but the thought of splitting up didn't appeal to the both of them. But that's when another plan was formed and the idea of approaching from above was put on the table. "Oh, that could work." There airways and bridges everywhere that crisscrossed the city. Even the manor would be exposed to the iron jungle.

"I trust that more than both of us splitting up and seeing what becomes of that." If one of them got caught, it would put the other in an extremely uncomfortable position. "No renting or stealing, that will leave a trace back to us." When a senator was involved, it meant that every nook and cranny would be swept over, twice. "A city is always alive, no matter the hour. It will be rough but I'm sure we can just hitch a ride on one of those transports." It's what she did on Corellia to reach restricted areas of the city and just hopped from one ship to the next. Elina wasn't a fan of droids and her method wasn't the easiest but if Renfry really wanted to use her droid, then she wouldn't object and would signify that with a slight shrug.

When asked about the security, Elina gave another shrug but not because she didn't know, "A couple of probe droids that constantly circled the perimeter. A few squads of guards, three in total. But we came in during the day and when the Senator was supposed to be at a rally. Security was lighter and will come back probably with a few more." The information wasn't completely reliable and she signed as she realized they really couldn't spend a few hours for themselves.

"We should probably head to the manor soon. We have a way to get in but we should see what type of security he possesses." It was the smart thing to do and Elina would just have to accept it wouldn't be the most fun.

 

[Renfry]

Renfry liked Elina's suggestion of hopping on another transport. Less likelihood that it was traced back to either of them that way. She nodded in agreement with the plan, and realized that it was shaping up into something that might actually work.

I'll let you pick the transport since you seem to know more about that, she said. Renfry had never tried anything quite like that before, so it was likely better to let the expert handle it.

Agreed, she said at the suggestion that they go to the manor.

I'm going to stop at my ship and grab some better clothes and gear for this, she said. A night infiltration meant she wanted something that'd cover her face, was more flexible, and more practical.

Do you have or need anything? she asked. The two women were about the same height, so she figured her own clothing would work for Elina as well. None of it was very flashy, but that was the point: practicality over fashion.

Either way, Renfry stood, let the illusion fall, and started getting ready to get on the move. They'd have to gather their gear, evaluate the security when they got there, head to the transport depot, and make their infiltration. No pressure. @Orbit