Pulling Strings

[Galahad Vult]

theme​

The diversity of the places that Galahad and Austin's adventures took them never ceased to amaze the ex-guard. First was the desert landscape of Jedha dotted with plateaus, then the rolling hills of Dantooine, followed by the lush forests of Tython and the grand cityscape of Corellia.

But Ojom? Ojom was different altogether. Initially Galahad expected they would be making landfall on the planet's surface, until he learned that it was cold. So cold, in fact, that it was practically inhospitable. Its orbit, however, was filled with massive space stations, forming a large collection of trade hubs. Initially, Galahad expected it to be similar to Coronet City in many respects, but he could not have been further from the truth. Where Corellia had been sleek and streamlined, bustling with hyperlanes and filled with the glistening steel and glass of towering skyscrapers, Ojom's space stations were rustic and robust. Its architecture offered much greater functionality over form, some areas of the station visibly patched up to bring back to working condition. A few floodlights kept its interior lit well enough, ranging in colour from white to yellow and orange, starkly in contrast to the flashing gradient of shades displayed by Coronet City's downtown scenery.

Ojom's aesthetics were also reflected in its clientele. Merchants of all shapes and sizes clad in drab brown and grey clothes called out their wares from various shops and stands, and freelancers equipped with large, robust firearms and gritty armour plating stood by talking business with potential employers. From what Galahad had heard of the Outer Rim, this place very much gave off the same feeling. While to him it appeared grungy, dark, and less sophisticated, to others it was ripe with opportunity.

Almost a month ago, Austin and Galahad had discovered a lead after apprehending a group of thieves on Corellia. Other responsibilities had held them up until recently, namely the large investigation Galahad had been requested to assist with by Master Zeerda and the Conclave called by the Councillors to discuss the Republic's outlawing of Jedi in their space. Having completed their more pressing tasks, however, the two friends now had time to continue their own investigation. The focus of their search was a place and a name: Ojom, and 'the Spyder'. For all they knew, he could be some kind of gang lord or an arms dealer. Whatever the case was, the two Jedi were here to investigate. Having foregone his typical Jedi garb for standard spacer's leathers, lightsaber hidden beneath his robes and a plain cane in place of his ornate staff, Galahad gazed around at the central marketplace's entrance from the hangar bay. "Well, we must begin somewhere. We should gather information as best we can before asking any direct questions. This 'Spyder' could be far more dangerous than we have anticipated."

@Vosrik​

 

[Austin Wolfe]

It had been quite some time indeed since the two Jedi had picked up the investigation that they first learned about on Corellia. Their return to Tython had sidetracked the two greatly — with Galahad being called away for another investigation by Master Zeerda and Austin sitting on the Council of Mastery for multiple Knights. Furthermore, Councillor Vollen Shai had tasked Austin with assignments on planets in the Deep Core — specifically Constancia and Pollilus. Following those distractions, the Chancellor decided to outlaw the Jedi, which then prompted a Conclave to be held and many more discussions had afterward. However, Galahad and Austin finally found the time to take up investigating this "Spyder" and his Market.

Looking around at the busy trade hub, it occurred to the doctor that he'd never actually been on a space station this large before. Despite Brighthome being readily available for him to visit, Austin simply never had the opportunity to do so. If one did not look upwards or around too much, one would even think that they were simply in the depths beneath Coruscant. And the populace certainly looked like they belonged in the deep levels of the Republic's capital. Dressed casually like his companion, Austin also held onto his lightsaber, although hidden in an inside jacket pocket. At Galahad's statement, the doctor nodded in agreement. "Despite my years on Coruscant, I am not so very street-smart. Perhaps we should —" he was loudly interrupted by a holo-ad that cranked up the volume. A very peculiar voice blasted out across the trade hub. "WELCOME! Welcome all to my little Web." Austin looked up at the holoscreen. It wasn't directed at anyone in particular, and many people stopped what they were doing to watch. On-screen was a particularly...large Besalisk in a mask of some sort. His voice was throaty and very husky.

"Today I have a sale, a once-in-a-lifetime deal on class-4 hyperdrives. Should you find yourself looking for a way to spend your hard-earned cash, well let me tell you all." The Besalisk drew close to the camera, his face taking up nearly the whole screen. "I think you'll all find that the Spyder's prices are..." he leaned back, one of his limbs resting on what looked like a suspended throne. "The best prices." The screens switched off, and the populace began milling about as usual. Austin looked over to his fellow Jedi. "Was that...Spyder himself? Does he run this place?" he said in a low voice. Taking another look around, he surmised that it wasn't too hard to believe. "Well, if he owns all these shops and markets here, he must have a taste for the illicit deals as well." The two Jedi would need to do some bartering. Austin simply had no clue where to begin.

@Shalken
Spyder's colour - darkkhaki​

 

[Galahad Vult]

Still glancing around and trying to process the sights of the space station, Galahad's focus was disrupted by the loud advertisement that played several large, misshapen screens scattered about the marketplace. While the broadcast was exceptionally loud, one oddity the ex-guard noticed was that the speaker himself was not. Ultimately it was not a very useful detail, but a peculiar one nonetheless.

Galahad listened intently until the ad ended, his brows slightly furrowed in thought. "Well, considering he did just announce himself as the Spyder and referred to this chain of orbital constructs as his 'web', I believe it is safe to assume so," he replied. "However, a class four hyperdrive, while fairly good quality, is far from illegal." Galahad also made sure to keep his voice low enough to be heard by Austin but not also cause unwanted attention. "You are likely correct, though; it is possible that this 'Spyder', while acting as a mercantile guru, also deals in less than favourable goods." Though the Jedi could try to postulate the truth about their quarry, nothing could be certain until they discovered more concrete evidence.

As an aged spacer walked past the duo, Galahad cleared his throat to get the man's attention. "Excuse me," the ex-guard moved closer so as to speak in a lower tone while pointing at the now blank screens, "presumably, where would someone be able to acquire a class two hyperdrive?" Class two and above hyperdrives, while certainly not the most illegal of substances one could want, were restricted to military-class vessels and others with similar clearance. However, the spacer merely gave the blond Jedi an annoyed and bewildered look.* "I dunno, up your arse? Piss off, I got work to do." As the man walked away, Galahad shrugged to the doctor. There was likely someone in the station that knew something.

Deciding to narrow down his search, the former Guardian approached a stall that looked like a droid repair shop. By the workbench in the back sat a younger fellow, his ruddy hair matching the colour of the grease that covered his arms. "Pardon me, but perhaps you can help us." Looking up from his work, the man stepped over to the counter. "Sure, yeah. Whatcha looking for?" As he seemed more willing to help than the previous person, Galahad turned about and nodded towards the screens that recently displayed the holo-ad. "A class-4 hyperdrive is all well and good, but let's say I wanted to get my hands on something a bit better." Before he could continue his question, the merchant smirked knowingly.* "Ah, yeah. I see what you're getting at. Well, Spyder's your guy; he keeps it on the down low, but he'll sell you bloody anything. Just gotta ask him nice...and pay him, of course."

Galahad nodded understandingly. An interesting creature indeed, this Spyder was. "You have our thanks, good sir." "Name's Creed," the man shot back with a grin. "Gellart Creed. By the way, if you're ever looking to get a droid fixed, swing on by. I'm the best around, and I'll cut you a good price too." Stepping away from the stall, Galahad assured, "Of course! We'll come looking for you." Before the two could leave, however, Creed called out once more. "Hey, uh, I can tell you folks aren't from around here. If you happen to meet a guy named Theo Graves — dastardly fellow, but real good with a gun and a deck of cards — tell him to get his ass over here. Could really use an extra pair of hands keepin' shop." Waving back, the blond Jedi called out, "I cannot promise we will find your friend, but I will certainly send him along if we do."

Now armed with better insight into the owner of the Web, Galahad looked to Austin. "The plot thickens. Perhaps a meeting with the Spyder is in order. There may be more we can learn beforehand, however."

@Vosrik​

 

[Austin Wolfe]

"Hmm," Austin vocalized thoughtfully as Galahad made a fair point. If the Jedi hadn't found the thieves stealing expensive and rare ship parts on Corellia for the Spyder, it would seem as though this 'Web' was a perfectly legal operation. Austin's companion caught him by surprise, almost immediately springing into action by asking a passerby about acquiring something far from legal in commercial markets. The aged spacer's reaction was clear that not all who traded and lived in this hub were privy to the illicit dealings being done. Austin shrugged back, wincing slightly and placing a hand on his still-healing left shoulder. It seemed being in the field more often had certainly taken its toll on the doctor.

Walking onward to the droid repair shop, Austin couldn't help but notice that despite how rustic and grimy the stall appeared to be, the work done here was nothing short of phenomenal. "Impressive..." he commented quietly, looking at the repairs and upgrades done to an M-series astromech. Listening in on the conversation, it seemed that this particular merchant knew where the merchandise could be found. As Galahad closed the conversation, Austin realized that they didn't actually know how to contact the Spyder — perhaps this Gellart Creed knew of the black market but wasn't involved himself. Likely a smart thing to do in the long run, staying out of trouble, seeing as the mechanic already had a prosthetic arm.

"It thickens indeed," Austin replied, looking around the fairly busy marketplace. "Though we still have little idea how to contact Spyder. Perhaps more digging is in order." Walking further along, he noticed a bar that looked fairly popular, with spacers and traders going in and out. "We will try our luck in here," the doctor commented, ducking inside and getting a look of the place. As with the rest of the space port, it replaced form for function, looking rustic but not broken-down. The bartender, polishing a glass, looked over at the two newcomers as they walked in. "'ello, what can I getcha sirs?" he greeted.

Coming over to the barside, Austin replied, "I'll take a...Jawa Juice please," with a smile and a nod. Peering around the bar, he noticed a booth with a spacer puffing on a cigar. He was dressed noticeably better than most of the other patrons in the cantina. Nudging Galahad's shoulder, Austin motioned with his head towards the man. "He might know how to get a hold of Spyder," he mentioned quietly as the bartender was off getting drinks for the disguised Jedi.

@Shalken​

 

[Galahad Vult]

Nodding in agreement with his friend, Galahad ducked into the bar behind him, his eyes instinctively scoping out the cantina and its patrons. Most of them were merchants and spacers just passing through, though a few others seemed to stand out. "I will take one as well," Galahad requested of the bartender. The former guard then returned his gaze to a trio sitting at a nearby couch. Though initially having considered them connected to the Spyder, he now saw they all had unique emblems on their coats, meaning they were likely making a deal and any one of them could be on of his supporters. Before Galahad could move on to the next group, however, Austin nudged him in the direction of a particular man who sat alone in a secluded booth. "Good eye, Doctor. I believe you are correct." After receiving their drinks from the bartender, the two Jedi approached the man, sitting across from him. He continued to scroll through his datapad, puffing aloofly on his cigar. "How can I help you two gentlemen?" he asked nonchalantly, not even laying eyes on them. Clearing his throat, Galahad requested, "We would like to do business with the Spyder." The man jerked his head towards the door of the bar in reply. "There are kiosks outside, you can buy everything there." Resting his elbows on the table and leaning in slightly, Vult lowered his voice. "True, but I'm sure there are some items for purchase not on those kiosks."

A single eyebrow raised in intrigue, the well-dressed man finally looked up from his datapad, eyeing the two sitting before him up and down. He inspected them in silence for several moments. "And just who're you to want audience with the Spyder, eh? What's your occupation?" Trying to maintain a neutral expression, Galahad remembered the false identity they had set up en route to Ojom. That didn't make him any less comfortable, however, as he was not typically characterized by blatantly lying. "I am Colovance, and this here is Gheleon. We are looking to upgrade our ship before our next job."

The man puffed inquisitively on his cigar, eyeing the two up and down once again. "Freelancers, eh?" After several more moments of intense inspection, the man looked back down to his datapad. "The Spyder can help you all right, but here's the real kicker — what can you offer the Spyder? Your kind aren't always the most...reliable."*

@Vosrik​

 

[Austin Wolfe]

Thanking the bartender and dropping sufficient credits on the bar to pay for the drinks (with a tip), Austin followed his companion to the booth where the well-dressed man was focused on his datapad. He seemed a little rude at first — showing as little interest as possible in the newcomers. It was only until Galahad mentioned the possibility of purchasing illegal goods that the man's interest peaked. Austin took a sip of the light blue liquid for the first time since he'd ordered it while his friend replied. This man appeared to be a broker, possibly even the personal broker for the Spyder. He seemed strangely interested in who Austin and Galahad were though...something the doctor kept in mind.

"Doctor," Austin smiled and cleared his throat, holding out a hand as he sat down across from the broker. "Doctor Gheleon. And my assistant, Colovance. I am a registered intergalactic practitioner." He offered the man a smile. "But yes, we...freelance from time to time. We would like an upgrade, as my assistant said. It does not reflect well on any who dumps their cargo at the first sign of a blockade." The broker smirked and chuckled.

"Indeed, Dr. Gheleon. However, the Spyder likes his business more...personal than others you've likely dealt with." Tapping on his datapad a few more times, he shifted the purple scarf that sat neatly around his neck. "Very well, excuse me for a moment." Without looking back up at the two, he waved a free hand at them — indicating that he wanted privacy. Immediately granting his request, both disguised Jedi stood and moved back to the bar to continue their drinks. Out of the corner of his eye, Austin noticed the broker pull out a handheld holoprojector and speak to a familiar enlarged blue-coloured head — the same one from the advertisements they saw earlier.

"Going well so far, it would seem," Austin commented quietly to his friend. "Perhaps he knows that traveling doctors make a pretty penny and have plenty of "freelance" opportunities." Hearing footsteps, the doctor swiveled in his chair to see the broker approach the duo and hand them the small holoprojector. "He will speak with you. Go somewhere private, or there will be...consequences."* Nodding in understanding, they watched as the broker returned to his seat and continued scrolling through his datapad.

"Well," he commented to Galahad. "Why don't we find ourselves a dark alleyway somewhere nearby?"

@Shalken​

 

[Galahad Vult]

For several moments, Galahad truly thought their efforts would end right then and there. This broker did not quite seem to buy their story, and as he stepped aside to make a call, he looked askance at Austin. "Perhaps," he replied discreetly, "But let us not set our hopes too high. There is no telling what lengths these unsavoury people will reach to make a profit from others' misfortune." Soon enough, the man returned, handing them his private holoprojector. Not wanting to discover these 'consequences', Galahad nodded his thanks to the broker as he grasped his cane and made for the bar's exit. On his way out, it occurred to Vult that he had not been able to finish his drink before having to leave already. An unfortunate turn of events, but one he would have to accept; such trifles likely did not bother those with large amounts of money to spend.

Stepping out of the cantina, Galahad did not have to walk far to notice a thin walkway alongside the establishment. Motioning to Austin, the two made their way down the path which led them to the back of the bar. Now out of sight and earshot of the station's populace, Galahad breathed deeply in preparation before activating the holoprojector. The blue shape of a large, masked Besalisk appeared before them. "Well, well, well. My man in the field tells me you two are looking to do business with me." Nodding in affirmation, Galahad replied, "That is correct, sir. We are looking to purchase—" "'Sir'? Please, call me the Spyder. No need for...unnecessary formalities, eh? he interrupted, his voice raspy and guttural. "Besides, I don't really care about what it is you're looking for." He leaned in closer, his head now taking up most of the projection. "I want to know more about you. Who are you, what do you do? What are your goals, aspirations, ambitions? You see, I like to maintain a more...personal level with guests such as you."

Galahad glanced quickly at Austin, somewhat caught off guard. The Spyder was far different than most shady figures he had heard of in the past. "Ahem, yes. I am Colovance, assistant to Dr. Gheleon here." Having leaned back into his seat, the Spyder rubbed his chin with one arm while scratching his rotund stomach with the other. "Hmm, intriguing. A doctor freelancer! Intriguing indeed. It's settled then. We'll continue this talk in person, holocalls are so...fabricated. I'll send you a private limo to bring you here as a gesture of my good will. We will speak soon." The call ended as abruptly as it had begun, and yet Galahad was left with several more questions than answers. Making their way back around to the front of the tavern, the broker and a sleek speeder were waiting for them. After collecting the projector, the man opened the vehicle's door and motioned them inside.

After a short but elaborate trip through the station's winding streets and corridors, the speeder finally stopped at a moderately fancy hotel. Stepping inside, they were greeted by the concierge at the front desk, who motioned them to a passage that opened up nearby. "This way; the Spyder is waiting for you." It struck Galahad that he would not have considered it to be a doorway at all until it had revealed itself. Following the passage down, the two Jedi passed several mean-looking guards along the way. Despite his amiable demeanour, it looked like the Spyder knew how to defend himself, and likely did not treat those that betrayed him with the same enthusiasm.

The passage eventually opened up into a large room, filled with several more guards and other assistants. At the far end, atop a large, ornate suspended chair, sat the Spyder himself. Seeing the two enter, he raised an arm in greeting. "Ah, marvelous! Come, let us continue our conversation. I'm eager to know more."

@Vosrik​

 

[Austin Wolfe]

As Galahad warned the doctor, Austin hummed in agreement. He had nearly forgotten that it was the theft of several brand-new starships on Corellia that had attracted both Jedi's attention in the first place. Clearly these unsavory people were willing to go to great lengths indeed for a profit, regardless of the effect on their victims. Austin had been sipping his drink more frequently than his companion, and therefore was able to down the last of it before stepping outside. Exhaling in satisfaction, he set the glass on the bar and slid it toward the bartender with a nod of appreciation. Not that Austin was an alcoholic by any stretch, but he certainly did not mind the drink before they spoke with the Spyder himself.

Following Galahad outside, he inhaled the air filled with the smell of grease, fuel, and smoke. Grimacing slightly, he continued along the walkway towards the back of the cantina. With the press of a button, the Spyder appeared and immediately began the discussion. While his fellow Jedi spoke, Austin had little to say and simply smiled and nodded along with Galahad's words. However, the doctor found the Besalisk crime lord's method of doing business rather peculiar. From what he had heard before, most criminals were interested in little else than their own profits, never mind who they did business with. With barely a few minutes going by, their preliminary conversation was over and they moved back to the front of the cantina. "That speeder looks cleaner than anything else in this station. This Spyder likes appearances," Austin commented quietly to Galahad, getting inside as instructed by the broker.

As they traveled the relatively short distance to their destination, Austin felt inside his jacket to double-check whether his lightsaber was still concealed properly. Though he certainly hoped not to use it, at least it was there in case things went south. As they stopped outside of the hotel, the doctor also noted at how clean the hotel was, much like the speeder. Every other building and shop around them were stained brown and black, a clear side-effect of being located on the space station in general. Ducking into the passage and making his way downstairs, it was not long before both men stood before the Spyder in all his...glory.

With two arms resting on the arms of the chair, though it was more akin to a throne, a third gripped a staff planted firmly on the ground as he raised his fourth arm in greeting. Taking a closer look, it became clear that the Spyder was in fact holding something circular and observing it carefully — not even so much as laying eyes on the Jedi in disguise. Austin did not even want to hazard a guess as to what it was he held, though it looked exotic nonetheless. Clearing his throat quietly, he answered immediately. "You inquired earlier as to our goals, our aspirations as businessmen. I am a doctor by trade, intergalactically licensed, along with my assistant and partner Colovance," Austin lifted a hand towards Galahad. He spoke confidently and did not hesitate in spinning his tale of half-truths. "This opens up a great opportunity for us both. We are accepted in every corner of the Galaxy — there to aid the sick and dying, charging whatever fee we desire. And of course, making a little extra on the side." Though unspoken, it was clear Austin referred to their "freelancing" opportunities.

"However," he continued, "our most recent job nearly landed ourselves in a Republic cell. It behooves us then to make the necessary upgrades to avoid doing so. Hearing of your extensive resources, Colovance and I landed here to request the necessary parts." Throughout the doctor's monologue, the Spyder continued to twist the spherical object in his hand, but muttering little things such as "Ooh, yes," and "Wonderful, wonderful," in response. As Austin concluded, only then did the large, masked Besalisk toss the sphere behind his suspended throne and fully address the two. "I like your...style there, Dr. Gheleon. You've got flair, spunk. Guts, as it were." He took a raspy breath, tapping a few buttons on a datapad set into his chair's armrest with a lower arm. "Of course, I'm going to need a little...payment in advance before it's delivered. Something to sweeten the deal, you understand."

Looking over to his companion, Austin nodded in agreement. Being a Master came with some perks, one of which being allowed to use a certain amount of credits as required for assignments. This was one such occasion.

@Shalken​

 

[Galahad Vult]

Though he knew that Besalisk physiology was nothing like that of an arachnid, Galahad could not help but compare the Spyder to an actual spider, his four arms all seeming to act of their own accord. However, the ex-guard noticed another oddity about this character — despite his desire to speak to his patrons in person, it appeared he had little interest in actually paying attention to them now that they had arrived. The doctor continued their facade where Vult had left off, hardly missing a beat as he wove their tale. Yet still the business-minded Besalisk did not even glance at them once, apparently so engrossed in inspecting his bauble that little else seemed to matter in comparison.

It was not until Austin had finished his story that the Spyder finally granted the two his full attention, bizarrely tossing aside the item he was previously enraptured with like a piece of junk. As it turned out, the businessman had been listening, despite not showing any signs of doing so. ⋮⋮ Perhaps it is a tactic, ⋮⋮ Galahad thought, ⋮⋮ in order to unsettle and catch others off guard. ⋮⋮ He decided as he returned Austin nod to give his companion a full assessment later. "Of course, we can arrange that."

From the left wall strutted over a burnished brass protocol droid which handed over a datapad. Taking the device, Galahad punched in the correct information with Austin's assistance, granting the Spyder the promised collateral before handing it back promptly to the beady-eyed robot. The transfer having gone through, as expected, the Besalisk clasped his two lower arms about his midsection, clearly pleased. "Ah, yes! Excellent! Rest assured, I will have your item prepared within the week. Trust me, your money is in good hands. I only do business that will benefit the both of us." Waving a free hand, he grasped a nearby exotic fruit. "Run along, now. Enjoy your stay in my Web."

◊ ◊ ◊​

Galahad shut the limo door behind him. He and Austin now stood where they were not fifteen minutes earlier, just outside of the cantina. "Unpredictable," the ex-guard stated matter-of-factly. "Perhaps besides his most obvious personality trait, it also appears to be his greatest strength, providing him an edge over others in the untrustworthy world of dark markets." Flicking aside a piece of garbage with his cane, Galahad commented in a quieter tone, "In any case, we obviously do not intend on completing our purchase. Do you have an idea for our next course of action?" he asked the doctor.

@Vosrik​

 

[Austin Wolfe]

Seeing the protocol droid approach the two, Austin internally reviewed the information he and Galahad would need to input into the system. Masters in the Order were given some, but not much, funds with which to complete certain assignments. Though the two had nowhere near the hefty sum of credits needed to fully purchase the class-2 hyperdive, the Spyder certainly didn't need to know that. However, they did have enough on hand for the deposit — and were given a week before being provided with their desired ship part. Nodding and bowing in respect, the two Jedi left the presence of the eccentric crime lord.

"Mmh," Austin hummed in agreement to Galahad's first impression. "We have been given a week, my friend, to discern exactly where the Spyder stashes his illicit goods. Whether they are kept in safehouses across this very station or in separate caches scattered across Ojom itself — we need to do some digging." Grabbing the collar of his jacket with two hands, he straightened it out and strode forward with purpose. "We have work to do, though I believe Gheleon and Colovance will need to step aside and allow two men of a less savory nature to take charge."

Fin​

@Shalken​