In the End

[Serena Valtome]

To say visiting Hapes was an odd experience was an understatement. This world had sat outside of Republic space for as long as anyone could remember due to its unique positioning and culture. Serena had never been here, but it was certainly a beautiful place worthy of the core's attention even. While not exactly an expert, the Hapan culture had been studied enough for her to get by during the visit.

"Another daughter has gone missing," Serena stated simply to her companions. "We don't know why yet, but in the end it doesn't even matter. We have to find her."

The trip so far had been interesting. Women were going missing with strange men and the houses were furious. They had to figure out what happened quickly to help bring peace to Hapes and hopefully gain a wonderful member planet. Hapes could be a good example to the rest of the outer worlds if it joined in. Senator Valtome was very interested in gaining these people as allies.

"Let's check the home and see if there is any evidence." She began to head off but turned around before getting too far. "By the way, as I have not formally met either of you, I am Senator Serena Valtome of Empress Teta. Consider me a peer do not treat me like a Senator today please."

@Orbit @Aurius Pheonix

 

[Bishop Cain]

It was Bishop's first time visiting the planet of Hapes and he didn't know much about it at all. He also didn't really expect to be on this type of mission at all, he was used to being out in a battlefield and this was a major change of pace and scenery for him. But Bishop wouldn't disobey command and he went where he was ordered too, finding himself with two others he also had no clue about. The point of the mission, however, was to find one of the missing daughters in what Bishop believed to be in hope of bringing Hapes into the Republic.

As the three walked, Bishop blended in with the rest of the crowd, wearing normal clothes with armorweave underneath. His tattoos were hidden for now except the one on his neck, the image of a spider appearing to bite down in his skin. He had his blaster pistol underneath his clothing and his two vibro blades. He would have preferred to have taken his rifle but he would have also stood out like a sore thumb. Pulling out a cigarette from his jacket, Bishop placed it between his lips and ignited it, smoke billowing up the end of it as he took a drag.

One of his partners suggested that they searched the daughter's house for clues and it wasn't a bad place to start. She then turned around, introducing herself as a senator and that her name was Serena. Arching his eyebrow at her slightly, Bishop wondered why a senator was on something like this to find a missing daughter but he had a feeling politics would be in play here and they could probably use the experience. He just hoped that she wouldn't slow them down if things went hectic.

Bishop chuckled softly at her introduction before taking another drag of his cigarette, "Name's Bishop. Shit, treat me like a senator, heard you guys get all the nice shit." That was his introduction before he stepped past Serena and kept walking, they could do introductions along the way to the house. The more time they waste, the lesser the chance they could find this daughter.

 

[Arhena Espaa]

Girls, girls, girls...

The Hapes Consortium, a namesake derived from Hapes, just so happened to be very similar to the matriarchy under which he was raised. Which is to say, this was really weird on levels he hadn't expected. Being a male Jedi on this assignment placed him in a really interesting and not altogether good position. Both because the Jedi hadn't fully regained the trust of the Galaxy, and because being a male placed him of lower ranking than most. While his position as a Knight would help his word and any legal negotiations that might need to take place, his gender would likely strip away a lot of what made him credible. It was commonly documented in the Jedi Libraries that men were considered second class citizens.

"Another daughter? You're telling me that after the first one, they didn't crack down on security? If they did and somehow that didn't matter... Something doesn't feel right about this."

Arhena was standing behind a Senator, one who introduced herself as the representative of the Monarchy of Empress Teta. That interested him from a bookworm standpoint, he'd read about the planet while studying galactic history. But he didn't want to get curious at the second, this was an important problem the trio were dealing with. To his left was someone who looked grizzled and experienced. They seemed extremely tense, even in an ordinary social situation, meaning they were likely a soldier of some sort, most likely with the Republic. Seems this really was a joint operation, and the Republic was becoming more open to Jedi aide, that was good. The soldier introduced himself crudely, and Arhena silently congratulated himself for guessing right.

Veteran, probably infantry. 'Flunked psychology' my afterburners, I've still got it.

He'd been paying attention, he was just bored out of his mind. Jedi lessons had that effect sometimes, especially when the teachers spoke like droids, or were droids. Snapped back to the present by the lighting of a cigarette, the toxins filling the air nearby. He wrapped a small and thin bubble of protection around his body using the Force, to make sure none of that stuff got into his lungs. No thank you, that just wasn't his scene. In contrast with his two allies, he still sported Jedi robes openly, thinking it was important for him to make a good impression and show that the Order was changing, and improving past it's mistakes. He walked gently, and tried to act as humble and timid as he could. It wasn't at all who he was, but it would be better diplomatically if he didn't start ordering things to get done, or rushing into a decision as he would in battle. Nope, this is the kind of patience only a librarian could teach you.

We were going to the house, right? I'm pretty sure that's what she said. Oh, I better introduce myself.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both. Arhena Espaa, Jedi Knight. Just treat me like a Jedi, I guess, I don't really mind."

@Cazar @Orbit

 

[Serena Valtome]

Serena couldn't help but roll her eyes a little at the soldier type. She had certainly been a lot like him at one point before becoming more politically minded. It seemed everyone was in agreement to head to the home and check things out. The intel so far had been sparse so they'd have to do their own investigating and hope to find what was going on here. Senator Valtome was careful as they approached to check for those who might be watching them as well. No one had named a suspect or cause so anyone could be suspicious still.

"Senator Bishop it is, then." She had responded finally as they walked, right after she rolled her eyes at him. "Jedi. A most interesting addition to the team."

As they approached the home in question, it became fairly obvious that they'd fine some evidence. A second story window was shattered and there were some burn marks on the pavement from likely a fast escaping speeder. It felt like a bold grab from what Serena could see so far. Perhaps they were afraid security would catch them. Perhaps security was chasing them when this went down. It was hard to say for sure. Serena bent down to look at the burn marks when movement caught her eye. A man had been sitting in the shadows watching the house from a distance. He seemed to take interest in their presence. Serena's gut sank as her intuition told her this couldn't be a friendly presence.

"Someone is watching us." She said as she made eye contact with the man from their large distances apart, just before he decided to start running. "Kiffing Kath Hounds, he's running."

Senator Valtome stood to give chase, but was not sure she was in the running shape necessary to close this gap. The Jedi or the Soldier would be better suited if they didn't just choose to shoot him or something. Serena hoped they could question this man to help find a lead to what was going on here. This was their best lead thus far.

@Orbit @Aurius Pheonix