Ask Nar Shaddaa Model Imperial Citizens (Fox Edition)

[Merian Sere]

Continued from The Wayward Navigator.


Sector 37, Nar Shaddaa
2100


If she let herself believe it, Merian could swear she was ISB again, like the last time she’d been here.

Nar Shaddaa had an atmosphere that was unlike anywhere else. You knew it by the smell, by the ruckus, by the neons in Huttese. By the aliens from the galaxy over, each more exotic than the last, yet somehow each managing to look like they had bad intentions.

It wasn’t surprising that Commander Baize had to bow out of the mission on account of some military emergency. As much as the man tried to stay close to the action, the reality of his desk transfer never really let him. And besides, though she wouldn’t say it to the commander’s face, Merian had questioned the IAF’s involvement in a mission like this one from the start. The same could be said for her, she realized, but it wasn’t the same. For almost a decade she’d done this. With the blaster at her hip and her lightsaber tucked away, all inconspicuous in civilian clothes, it really was like before, barely a few years, when the Knights didn’t exist even in thought. When she was still the ISB’s secret weapon. All that was missing was Maros by her side.

Maros. Even thinking of him had Merian clenching her jaw. But he’d made his choice. And doubled down on it.

As she waited for her contact, all the knight could do was review what they knew about the case, which was depressingly little. A gang, the Blue Novas. A bar, the Swamp. A ridiculous name, Frankie. And Talisha Rayn, the greatest astronavigator the Empire had seen in decades, who’d somehow gambled her way into their clutches. How some people could have everything and throw it all away.

If you’re already dead, I’m dragging your corpse back to Raxus for trial, Merian thought.

She’d been told her contact was reliable. At least they gave her that.

 

[Cipher Four]

Location: Nar Shaddaa

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___Four sighed quietly as she navigated the bustling streets of Nar Shaddaa, drifting like a ghost through the fog. Every step she made was calculated, and every route she took kept her exposure to any surveillance to a minimum. It was a stark contrast to how she acted not too long ago. She missed the simplicity of spending a night in the town with Altair, enjoying the mundane happenings afforded to those who weren't inundated with covert operations and political subterfuge. Now, she was back to being Cipher Four and had a job that needed to be done.

___As she walked, Four recounted every minute detail about her liaison. Merian Sere, human, twenty-eight years old, Imperial Knight, former ISB agent. It eluded Four why Watcher would assign her a mission with a Force-sensitive, especially considering the premium on keeping her position as a Cipher under wraps. If Merian were to somehow glean her identity, it would complicate things for both of them. Then again, Altair never caught on to who she was until she told him, but perhaps he didn't care enough to find her suspicious.

___Four sighed and shook the thoughts from her head, stopping where she stood. She reached the rendezvous, and Merian stood in plain sight. It was time to get to work. The woman flipped her hair back as she approached Merian, her demeanour instantly shifting from the cold, calculated woman she usually was to a more friendly, affable persona she adopted for every mission involving others.

___At least, until she decided it was safe to drop that façade.

___"Hey," Four greeted the other woman, lifting her head in greeting. "You my blind date for the bar? You're even cuter than in your picture," she tittered playfully. If Merian was the former ISB agent her dossier claimed her to be, she would recognise the subtleties of one Imperial signalling another.

@Volene

 

[Merian Sere]

“It’s not a blind date if you see pictures,” Merian pointed out, frowning. “That’s cheating. I didn’t know what you’d look like.”

It wasn’t the angle she expected, but she was more than capable of going with it and making herself understood. No, that wasn’t the noteworthy part. Merian had yet to see a Fiani in service to the Empire—wasn’t Fiana part of the Kashyyyk system? Wouldn’t they hate everything the Empire stood for, forever?—and it was enough to make her doubt. Or, like they said: trust, but verify.

“And you’re here willingly?” she asked. “Jon did mention the gambling debts, did he?”

 

[Cipher Four]

___Satisfied that Merian understood her implication, Four laughed and waved a dismissive hand.

___"I'm sorry for ruining the surprise. I'm quite the inquisitive woman, and I simply couldn't resist sneaking a peek," she laughed. "Yes, Jon mentioned the gambling debts, and yes, I'm here willingly," Four finished, although the statement was closer to a half-truth. While she wasn't here because she wanted to be, the agent was here because the Empire wanted her to be, and what the Empire wanted was, by extension, what she wanted. With a smile, Four offered a slender hand.

___"Rin," the woman introduced herself. The identity, of course, was a fake one. She couldn't show her hand too soon, if she showed it at all, but her years as a Cipher and the confidence with which she spoke made the lie near undetectable. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I think the best way to get to know someone is with a story. Why don't you start?"

@Volene

 

[Merian Sere]

Mostly reassured, Merian motioned for the woman to follow her.

“Then there just isn’t much that can faze you, is there Rin? Come on. I’d rather tell the story on the way there.” That, too, said something about her. Hopefully the agent shared her taste for doing things efficiently.

Merian led her to the roof where speeders were parked. Hers was as inconspicuous as any. Normally she would have asked if the other woman preferred to drive, but in this case she wasn’t sure enough her partner actually knew where they were going to hand over the controls. And all the while, as they took their place, rose over the building and integrated Nar Shaddaa traffic, Merian stayed silent. Only when she was sure the wind and roaring traffic meant her words would not be overheard did she speak up again.

“So, story,” she called over the sound of the speeders. “Picture this. Young-ish woman, bit older than me. Best mathematician you’ve ever seen calculate a star chart, but somehow doesn’t understand the odds in gambling are stacked against you. Perhaps she thought she could beat the game, I don’t know,” Merian trailed off.

“Regardless. Doesn’t understand how interest works, either, especially with criminals. Took in a loan with the worst of them. Now she’s missing. She has an ex-husband in the IAF with debts of his own, but investigation says it’s unrelated. We don’t have much to go off of, and for all we know she’s dead already, but here we are,” she concluded. “I assume you’ve read the rest. Any questions?”

@Remileah

 

[Cipher Four]

___"Not much at all," Rin replied, following Merian to the roof of the building. The woman made no protests as she boarded the speeder as a passenger, letting Merian take the driver's seat. She remained silent as they fell into the traffic pattern, her ears perking as the other woman began regaling her with the story of their target.

___"Just because someone is intelligent doesn't mean they're smart," she sighed. "We assume she's alive until we confirm otherwise. If we operate under the assumption she's dead, we're already setting ourselves behind," Rin stated. While the two women flew together, the Cipher removed a datapad from her jacket and sent an encrypted request for all information relating to the woman and her husband in the IAF. Perhaps there was something to be gleaned that the Empire tried to cover up, something only a Cipher and the highest echelons of intelligence would have access to.

___"My questions may have been covered in the report, but humour me anyway. Do we have names for the loan sharks she borrowed credits from? What about a locale, where we might be able to narrow a potential list down?" Rin asked. "What was her last known location before she went missing?" she inquired, preparing to type up additional information requests if she was given enough to work with.

@Volene

 

[Merian Sere]

“They call themselves the Blue Novas,” Merian answered. “Small-time gang trying to make it big. Lots of competition around these parts, you see. ‘Frankie’ is the name we have for their leader. I don’t know about you, but I don’t buy it one second.”

As they neared their destination, Merian knew they wouldn’t be able to talk so openly much longer. Already she was slowing down in preparation for exiting the faster lane.

“Last known location is her home, where she last reported to the ISB six days before she was reported missing. For all we know they went to abduct her directly there. No holocams in the unit,” she explained. “As for the locale... Well, none other than the least profitable cantina in the entire sector. Not a front, at least so obviously, but we think the gang could have a deal with the owner to look the other way. They get a place to meet, he gets to keep the bar he’d otherwise have long run into the ground. Perfect place for a first date, don’t you think?”

@Remileah

 

[Cipher Four]

___As Merian relayed all the relevant information, Rin typed up additional requests to forward to see if any further data would be had on these names and organisations. Out of everything known so far, Four couldn't shake the feeling that something didn't add up. A small-time gang in the business of loan sharking successfully kidnapped and hid a high-profile individual such as Talisha, whom the Empire had little to no success locating and retrieving. There was something else at play here.

___"I couldn't think of a more perfect location, myself," Rin answered her companion, sending in one final inquiry to headquarters regarding the establishment and its owner. Once finished, the Cipher stowed her datapad and removed a pair of small buttons to offer one to Merian.

___"If we're separated and something happens, or you need my help with a situation, activate this," Four informed the woman. "It'll notify me that you need me, and I'll do the same if I find myself in a situation I can't get myself out of. It's better to be safe than sorry."

@Volene

 

[Merian Sere]

A glance over her shoulder. Merian lifted a gloved hand, drew the button to her with the Force, and returned to driving.

“I’m familiar,” she simply said. It wasn’t that long ago she used them herself.

That time Maros used his to instruct her to take the shot.

“More safe than sorry. If you’re in trouble... I’ll know.” Merian’s smile was almost ominous. She’d sent a city up in flames to rescue the pilot who’d saved her life. But that had been a battlefield. This was not. And Merian wasn’t so far removed not to know to be subtle for now.

The speeder left the air lanes with their target in sight. Merian brought it around, once, allowing almost a full pass before the place without looking suspicious. There wasn’t much to report. The place was still. Even at peak hours, ‘The Swamp’ didn’t seem to be a hot spot exactly.

Merian parked the ride, hopped off. She held a hand out for Rin.

“I’m favoring direct entry. Unless you object?”

 

[Cipher Four]

___Four remained silent as Merian pulled the transmitter from her hand, utilising the Force. It was a jarring reminder about who she was working with, and her commentary about knowing when she was in trouble put the Fiani on edge. Despite her reservations, the woman maintained her casual demeanour and fastened the button to her jacket.

___"No reason to try other methods until we have enough suspicion to act," Rin answered as they pulled out of the air lanes and situated in a parking spot. "Let's be as discreet as we can, though," she added as she dismounted the speeder, landing on the ground with a peppy bounce. Rin turned to Merian and offered her hand, a beaming smile on her face, to assist her off the speeder. She was supposed to play the part of a jovial woman on a date, and that was the role she intended to fill.

___"Thank you for sharing so much! I'm already enjoying myself. I can't wait to see how the rest of the night goes," Rin tittered. "Shall we?"

@Volene

 

[Merian Sere]

Discreet. Right.

From the moment the two agents entered the establishment together, they realized it may not be possible.

Sketchy didn’t begin to cover it. Even by Nar Shaddaa standards, the Swamp was uninviting, dirty, spiritless. The music was terrible, pre-recorded and not nearly loud enough. Three patrons played cards in a corner. Another one sat at the bar, and that was the extent of it. Four people, at peak hours. Five with the Weequay bartender. That was who Merian went to.

Few people as there were, all of them eyed the new arrivals suspiciously. Merian returned nervous glances, like daunted by their attention. She beelined for the bar, Four in tow.

“Hello, uh, I’ll have a... Surly Sarlacc, please. And whatever she’s having is on me.”

That only made it worse. Merian could swear the stares intensified if it was even possible. The sabacc game in the corner was like put on pause. Visibly the Swamp didn’t often get legitimate customers. The knight gave her partner the chance to order, and when they were handed their drinks she claimed one of the many empty tables.

“I’m so happy to be here,” she said. Her tone didn’t quite match the words, but if she couldn’t play the stiff, closed off career woman, what could she?

Slowly, the card game resumed, and the looks went from a constant thing to one every minute or so. But Merian knew better than to think they’d escape the regulars’ notice tonight. She quirked an eyebrow at Four. I don’t know if discreet is it.

 

[Cipher Four]

___As Rin stepped into the bar and scrutinising gazes fell on her and her companion, she continued playing the part of the aloof partygoer. In her work life, acting was no small thing, and this was another day on the job. The less tense and antsy she performed, the less attention she would draw, and she could only hope Merian could keep up the façade. Even so, her mind continued processing outs and alibis should they be questioned.

___"I'll take an Alderaan Twist," Rin requested with a smile, waiting alongside Merian until their drinks were delivered and the two departed for a table. She sat across from her partner, lifting the glass to her lips to take a sip. With an amused chuckle at Merian's words, Rin set the glass on the table and reached cross to gently tap the other woman's hand.

___"Hey, relax," she stated. "I know you haven't been on a date in a while, but I promise I don't bite," Rin continued as she picked her drink up again, gesturing towards Merian with the glass. Meanwhile, her eyes discreetly scanned the room for anything that stood out as intriguing, though she refrained from overtly moving her head to keep her profile to a minimum. "Hopefully the staff at the theatre won't smell the alcohol and tell us we can't watch the movie," she laughed. "We're going to the one south of here, right?" Rin inquired, bobbing her head back to gesture behind her—her blind spot—where the crew playing sabacc sat.

___It was the only place she couldn't look without turning around, and if Merian caught on, she would know Rin was attempting to probe for confirmation whether or not anything noteworthy was behind her.

@Volene

 

[Merian Sere]

A frown.

“I know how dates work,” she said, plausibly deniable but likely vexed by the way she perceived Rin’s comment to be at least partly out of character. “I’ve been dating a long time. And your bites don’t scare me. Do mine?” Her reddish eyes were more intense than she wanted them. Small revenge to keep the Fiani on edge.

Wow, her character was actually undatable. But that was Merian’s fear, that almost ten years in service of the ISB would be brushed off by less than one as a Knight. Hopefully she’d gotten her point across. And all without breaking cover, or close enough.

“I think it’ll be a problem,” she answered then the actual inquiry. “They do watch pretty closely. How adventurous are you feeling? You a habitual rulebreaker, Rin?” If the Swamp’s crowd still had eyes on them, they weren’t close enough—nor did they care enough—to spy on their conversation. Merian downed her drink, then followed it up with a tempting smile. No room for doubt. She was back in character, fully.

 

[Cipher Four]

___Rin furrowed her brow, a frown creasing her lips as Merian went on the defensive and had her outburst. This was precisely one of the reasons why she didn't like unknown variables in her missions.

___"That's not exactly what I meant," Rin replied, lifting her drink to her lips to take another sip. Her dull green eyes met Merian's as she listened to the other woman's tirade, refusing to answer her snippy question. The Fiani was most certainly not intimidated by Merian, but challenging her statement and engaging further in the bickering would be counterintuitive. They needed to remain calm and composed and, more importantly, work together.

___"Oh?" Rin mused, her ears flicking inquisitively. Her brow furrowed, her eyes shifting to the corners to wordlessly acknowledge Merian's concerns. Rin set her drink down and bobbed her shoulders as the woman asked about being a rulebreaker. She looked back at her companion, a thin smile drawing across her lips. "Honey, my entire line of work involves breaking rules," Rin answered with a wink. "I smoke in places I'm not supposed to all the time. That counts for something, doesn't it?" she finished, reaching into her jacket.

@Volene

 

[Merian Sere]

An ambiguous wink at the Fiani’s response, and she moved on.

“Let’s ask them.”

With the firm conviction that there would be nothing to see in the Swamp even should they sit there for hours—not to mention the pressure of time as none of them knew whether the astronavigator was even still alive, and if so, how long she would remain that way—Merian stood and headed back to the bar, like breaking character. Her walk was hesitant. She glanced nervously around the place, but there was no escaping that all eyes were on her.

She waved the Weequay bartender over like he hadn’t been paying attention to her from the moment she stood. He grunted. Merian leaned against the bar, like too weary to keep up the charade.

“Fine, we’re here to see Frankie,” she admitted. “I heard he helps people in our... situation.”

 

[Cipher Four]

___Merian's statement caught Rin off-guard. When the other woman asked the Fiani if she was a rulebreaker, she didn't anticipate they would approach the bartender to inquire after Frankie. It was a reckless move she wasn't fond of, but Merian was gone before she could express her doubts. Rin pulled her hand from her jacket and followed her companion to the bar. As she approached, Rin rested on her elbows on the counter.

___As Merian spoke, Rin watched the bartender with collectedly. Her face belied the tumultuous thoughts in her mind. There were any number of ways this could go wrong for them, and she wasn't going to be caught unawares in the event it did. The Fiani's ears flicked as Merian spoke, and she glanced at her companion as she began formulating contingencies in her mind. This was why she didn't like working with people she wasn't personally familiar with or people she didn't hand-pick herself.

___When Merian finished speaking, Rin looked at the bartender. Her features softened, her ears folding back against her head.

___"Think you can set us up?" she asked. Their cover was already blown if they weren't supposed to know Frankie was here, so she figured she might as well lay down the theatrics with her acting to drive home their sincerity if this plan did work.

@Volene