They called Dubrava the armpit hole of the Galaxy. Ariadne often wondered what an armpit hole was, before deciding that she didn't need to think about it much more. What Dubrava actually was ended up being more important: a sparsely populated planet covered in humid, sticky swamps. Ariadne knew the place from her cargo-hauling days, conveniently located on a trade route whilst being way the heck out from anywhere anyone cared about. Perfect for smugglers, fugitives and mercenaries.
What better place to start stealing people away?
Nobody cared what happened out here, so it was a prime target for slavers and general scumbags. Dangerously close to Syndicate space too, which could explain the missing people. Mind you, in her experience, criminal groups usually left a trace. And they didn't pick off people one by one. Ariadne inspected the reports in the backroom of a cantina. An old smuggling friend had settled down on Dubrava a few years back and knew just who to call when people started disappearing.
"... no discernable pattern. Khoan and Naxes on this day, Hela the next, then nothing for three days until Verexa." The green skinned Dubravan stood opposite Ariadne, pointing at various maps. Crosses were drawn were they were last seen. Dots marked last known locations. Various scribbles and lines around, vague attempts at connection.
"No patterns at all? No meetings beforehand? No mysterious ships? No slimy scumbags hanging around the spaceport?" Ariadne asked, poring over the documents.
"Nothing. Well, no more than usual on the slimy guys... but if they were slavers, they'd have hit a farmstead, or a whole little swamp hamlet, right? Not just one or two here and there." The Dubravan sighed, before looking back up at Ariadne. "You will find them, won't you?"
"Cut with the sad crap, Harlow, it won't solve anything," Ariadne told him, before nodding. "I'll damn well try. I have a few ideas, but I'm waiting on help."
"Help? You need help?"
"A Jedi never acts alone, Harlow."
The Dubravan snorted. "I still cannot believe you, of all people, went off with those freaky Force people."
"Better than staring at your face all day." Ariadne smiled and looked back at her datapad. "She should be here any moment. Then we'll head out, see what we can dig up. I'm hoping Knight Demici has some bright ideas."
@HoneyMagpie