Ask Majestic

Newton

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Courscant
Newton was at a table in the higher up areas in The Majestic, one of the nightlife cantinas in the upper levels on Courscant. The upper levels of the cantina ifself are open to those who pay more, and the Blackwell Manager didn't have any shortage of credits by any means, so he would do that. There would be music in the background, but it wouldn't be as blaring as it would be down below. It would lend well for privacy reasons as well, as this places, for his contact by the name of Zaylos that he would meet soon. There was a treasure hunt, one involving droids and tech. Newton was interested, he has done similar things before and they yielded good results. Plus it is nice to get out of an office-setting once in a while. But more details are needed and he wanted to meet his contact personally.

The droid engineer was wearing casual clothing, as he isn't working today. Newton has been busy with Blackwell for the past few weeks, it's a relief to be off.

There would be a separate bartender tending to partons on the upper floor. Newton had already gotten a New Alderaanian ale from then, which he is slowly sipping away every now and then. Newton told the bouncer at the front about his guest Zaylos he was expecting soon, the bouncer would direct him to where Newton is.

It's almost time, Newton would check his chrono. M7 as by his side, Newton would shoot a smile towards his companion droid, he would then be glancing towards his surroundings while waiting.

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Zay Kartan

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Coruscant was one planet Kartan loathed. Getting in and out of the galaxy's most popular city-planet was a huge pain in the ass and if he weren't here on business he'd happily skip the whole place every chance he got. Denizens across the galaxy viewed the planet as a beacon of hope, the pinnacle of civilization, and the place where all your dreams came true. Unfortunately, the harsh truth of it was: If you weren't rich or important or both, Coruscant was a prison.

Zay lit up a Corellian Spirit and took a drag as he made his way to the club where he was meeting his contact. He was surprised when a representative of Blackwell Tech reached out, but when an opportunity comes knocking, Kartan was more apt to walk through the door than ignore it. He rounded the corner and blew a plume of smoke as he took in the location. A holobanner read in gaudy coruscanti script: The Majestic and Zaylos knew he was in the right place. He stamped out his cigarillo and made his way to the main entrance.

A line of sycophants awaited entry and eyed him as he approached the bouncer. The guard was a burly human with slicked-back hair, mirrored aviator sunglasses even though day was dwindling tonight, and a suit that screamed, I think I'm hot shit.

The bouncer took one look at Zay and jerked his chin toward the end of the line, "End of the line is that way, bub."

Kartan blinked in irritation and felt his ire threaten to take control, but he stuffed his pride and plastered on a smile saying, "Thanks, but I'm on the list."

The bouncer cocked a disbelieving eyebrow and once again, Kartan had to stop himself from letting his temper get the best of him. Ever since he'd had his eyes opened to the force he'd found it increasingly difficult to control his temper. There was a subtle seduction to the desire to inflict pain, and that desire... scared him.

"Oh really, what's the name pipsqueak?"

Kartan could feel his blood starting to boil. His jaw clenched and through gritted teeth, he said, "Zaylos Kartan. Need me to spell it for you?"

The bouncer scanned a datapad he'd retrieved from the inside of his suit and chuckled derisively, "I'll sound it out."

The bouncers sucked his teeth in rapid succession as he scrolled through the names and with a disappointed sigh, said, "Huh, look at that, you are on here. One sec."

The greeseball reached for the handle of something in his jacket and Kartan nearly pulled his blaster before he realized it was a digital thermometer. The bouncer raised it to Zay's forehead and a faint green light cast an envious shadow across the man's face. "Alright, all clear, c'mon in. Sorry for giving ya shit. It's kinda my job."

Just like that all the irritation and indignance that had been blossoming within Zaylos withered.

"No worries, boss," said Zay as he entered.

The Club lived up to its name. Holodancers lined the walls, server droids delivered drinks and the dance floor was filled with beings enjoying the high-energy synth music blaring from the speakers. Zaylos didn't dally in the throws adulation as he moved through the main floor. His contact had reserved a space higher up, so he made his way to the lift. A short ride later he stepped off the elevator and scanned the space. Compared to the cramped space below it was much easier to make out individuals. He pulled out his datapad, glanced at the message he'd received and then surveyed the space once again. He spotted a man and a droid just off the main throughway and as their eyes met Kartan gleamed recognition which told him everything he needed to know.

He slid into the seat across from Newton and his droid and introduced himself, "I'm assuming you're Newton, I'm Zaylos. Nice to meet ya."

@The Good Doctor
 

Newton

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Newton was checking his chorno just before his guest arrived, and then Newton would look up. There he is. "That's me" Newton would then extend his hand to Zaylos after he sat down. "Nice to meet you as well Zaylos" he would reply back him and nod his head. "Hope they didn't give you too much trouble getting in here." he smiled as he took a sip of his ale.

Shortly after Naylos' arrival, a female twi'lek would then come over to the table, having spotted the new arrival. "Hello there sir, care for a drink?" she would offer to him as she smiled. The benefits of the VIP area "My treat, if you want. Anything drink you want." Newton would offer for Zaylos, being generous to pay for his drink

After his new acquittance would take his order and get past any of the pleasantries, they could then do what they came here for, talk about the treasure hunt.

@Zay
 
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Zay Kartan

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Zaylos smiled, "Nah, no biggie."

Newton offered to buy Zaylos a drink and he took him up on it. Kartan smirked saying, "Buying me drinks already? I'm gonna need to keep my hard up around you," before responding to the Twi'lek's inquiry, "I'll take a Dantooine Cognac, on the rocks, please." His gaze shifted to the R2— no— R3 unit and he admired the astromech for a moment. Back on Lothol Minor he'd had a close friend that was an R3 unit and the droid brought back fond memories of a terrible time...

Kartan laughed off the memory and cleared his throat. "So, what can I do for you?"

Zaylos wasn't passive. If he was being hired to work then he wanted to know the job upfront. It gave him more time to think which lead to a better execution overall. Honestly, he wasn't sure why Newton had reached out to him. In reality, the most Kartan had done for Blackwell was maybe, and this is a super hard maybe, move some overstock inventory for them, but there was no way Newton would have been interested in that. If Zay had to place a bet, he'd assume The Suit wanted a patsy to place the blame for something he was trying to hide.

Kartan watched Newton with an easy smile settled on his face. Since returning from Malheion, Zay's confidence had soared. Funny how life and death levels of stress tempered the mind.

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Newton

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"Anything else Newton?" the twi'lek would turn towards hi, and Newton would just gesture her away so that he can get his guest's drink. Anyways, he asked what he can do for him, and Newton is not shy about getting straight to business once the usual pleasantries are done.

Newton would then get to the point "Alrighty then. I'm looking for someone of your skills to assist me with a, treasure hunt of sorts." That's what he had in mind. He would then ask his new-found acquaintance a question. "Are you familiar with Hypergates?" Newton was, but he didn't know if Zay was. The fact they exist isn't exactly common knowledge, but if he knew, that would be less explaining to do.

"I've gotten word that archeologists in the Outer Rim found large artificial archway that looks like it goes back thousands and thousands of years. Archeologists were working deciphering it." If the information is true, then that might be a Hypergate. "I haven't heard or read anything else about it in the past few days, but this 'archway' alone interests me, and I want to check it out" Newton when he discovered one on Theta, Lyra discovered codes to access more of the Gates and Newton discovered an advanced ship AI technology, one that he fashioned into his ship.

Newton would pause as he would let Zay take that in and ask any questions he might have.

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Zay Kartan

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Kartan listened as Newton layer it out for him. The man didn’t beat around the bush and Zay appreciated that. The smuggler crossed his arms and cupped his chin in his palm as he considered the information he was being given. Honestly, if he’d had this conversation a month ago Zay would have been up and out of his seat at the mention of treasure, but after his exposure to the supernatural he found himself much more open to the idea of hypergates and hidden riches.

“Newton, I don’t have a clue what hypergates are, but I like the sound of treasure.”

The waitress returned with their order and Kartan thanked her before taking a swig of his drink.

“Where exactly in the outer rim?”

That leg of space was much bigger than most realized. While the core and surrounding rings were relatively compact, the outer rim acted as the literal edges of the galaxy. It was the last wild frontier there was and without a clear heading there was no way he’d be able to help at all.

“Wait, don’t tell me. I bet you 5 credits it’s on Batuu!”

Black Spire Outpost wasn’t exactly filled with fond memories for the smuggler. He’d nearly been killed there, but Batuu wasn’t the worst place to start an adventure. Sure it was home to some of the meanest and gnarliest smugglers and pirates of the galaxy, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t worthy of legend. The more he thought on it the more a familiar tale tugged at the back of his mind. One of magical pirates that could step through an empty arch way and vanish, but that couldn’t be connected... could it?

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(ooc: posted from phone, don’t hate me. LOL)
 

Newton

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So he didn't know what the Hypergates are, expected. The Hypergates are arcane devices with few people knowing what they are, what they do, and that they may actually still exist. After the expedition to the Unknown Regions with Lyra, Newton really hasn't been able to keep in contact with her, so he doesn't know who would know from her about those gates.

Anyways, he may not know about them, but it sounds like he's up for the job. He doesn't need to know how they work, they just need to find them and that's good enough.

But to his surprise, he guessed correctly where the hypergate's reported location was. Batuu. "Wow" Newton would then giggle. "Lucky guess. You are right, it is on Batuu." Newton said. He himself has never really been to Batuu. From what he read about it's on the fringes of the Outer Rim and is home to Smugglers. "Have you been to this planet before?" Newton would ask. He called the planet out first, so it's probably he's been there. Familiarity with the place could be helpful.

Nonetheless, Newton would then proceed. "Anyways, I found one of the Hypergates not too long ago. Broken however, although there was also a vault that contained samples of ancient, advanced technology from the Ancient Gree I managed to get my hands on. If this archway is a Hypergate, there might be another vault..." he speculated, maybe there isn't a vault with the supposed gate, but it's worth looking into.

"So, this is my offer to you: Help me find this site, ensure my protection. You will be compensated fairly." Newton doesn't mince when paying well for services rendered. "However... if we find a gate and/or a vault with more technology... then an even larger amount of credits would head your way. " Newton was a pretty wealthy person, and if he did find what he wants, then a bigger reward for Zay would still be a small for what he would get.

"Any questions?" he would leave to Zay, taking a drink of his ale

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Zay Kartan

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Zaylos's grin stretched into a smile that he punctuated with a sip of his cognac. Batuu was at the edge of the map and for smuggler's was a planet wrapped in a pseudo-mysticism that seemed to fit the narrative Newton was laying.

"I've been there a handful of times. It's not for the faint of heart."

Kartan's words may have been cliche, but based on his last experience they couldn't be closer to the truth. Batuu was home to roughnecks. It wasn't a posh club in the upper levels of Coruscant. It was cut from grit and grime, and the those that frequented it's surface would be just the same.

"What makes you think this thing is real?"

Newton answered his question and the smuggler felt his eyebrow arch in surprise. "Wait, so you've seen these," Zay groped the air for the word, "Uh... portals, first hand?"

Up until this point, Kartan had been playing along, but if Newton could prove he'd seen this kind of technology before then the probability of the story being true would rise exponentially.

Newton laid it all on the table, and Zay sat forward listening intently. He chewed over the proposition letting it tickle his imagination when he had a sudden realization.

"Blackwell Driveworks is about to release a prototype, the Arrow-3. You know it?"

He'd await the man's response before saying, "I'm in, if that's the ship we take."

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Newton

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Newton nodded as Zay spoke, he's been to Batuu before, so having him as company would be very benifical, especially if it really isn't for the faint of heart as he said.

Back to the topic of the gates themselves. "I've only seen the broken gate in the Unknown Regions. I've seen the skeletal remains of those who died in an explosion to get it working again. Hoping that there is a working one out there I can find." Newton didn't feel the need he needed to prove anything. He has the job offer, it's simple on paper. If the gates are real, are working, or have any proof behind it - or not - doesn't seem relevant. If there are no gates, he will still be compensated for his services. But if he insists, M7 has images of the gate in it's memory. There are also the logs from the station above Theta on it's drive, but then again he isn't sharing classified data.

Newton raised an eyebrow at Zay's rather specific request for a specific ship. "The Arrow-3?" He asked, then he started to remember "Ah yes, the new light-freighter model." Although Newton primarily specializes in robotics, as a higher up corporate executive he gets holomemos and the likes from all the different branches of Blackwell Tech. He now has a more clear collection of that one holomail.

"Hmmmm, I might be able to make that arrangement with Driveworks. This is for Blackwell and this could make for a good testing opportunity..." he mused, Driveworks would be more willing to let them borrow the prototype if what they are doing benefits Blackwell. "And you are a good pilot." So, this should be fine.

Newton's drink would be about finished, and it looks like these talks are looking about the same way, he said he's in and Newton would smile. "Splendid" he said. With a pause he would sip the last of his drink and before they end the talks, he would leave this out for him "Any other questions?" Now might be a good time.

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Zay Kartan

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Suprise stampeded across the smuggler's face as Newton agreed to his terms. Kartan found himself struggling to contain his excitement but managed to reign it in.

He cleared his throat saying, "Sounds like we've got a deal."

A permagrin took up residence on Zay's face as they hammered out the final details. Kartan planned to head out to Batuu ahead of time and survey the land. He had a few close connections in Blackspire and figured it would be as good a place to get started as any.

"Here's my frequency, let me know when you're on Batuu. Can you do me a favor and bring any info on Hypergates you have? I'm sure it'll help us figure out what we're looking for."

Kartan would offer his hand to shake before standing and making his way out of the club. With the negotiations finished it was time to get to work.

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