Ask The Hideaway

Bast Emblai

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Crowd control and client relations had never been Bast’s speciality. She could look for tells of lying, watch for nervous twitches, and analyse personality exceptionally well after years of honing those particular skills. But she was a detective. She saw the worst in people and pressed for justice. Everyone was equal under the law, so no one could escape. Likely, it was the attitude of the ranger that made her appear strict and hardened, and only those who knew her best would ever see past that. No one could say she was too weak for her job if they never saw her falter, never saw her tortures and near unconsciousness, so that was the facade she hid behind. It wasn’t that being unshakable was completely an act. Little scared Bast. Not death, just moral decay and helplessness. She wasn’t a fan of birds, either. The last thought made her chuckle to herself. That was some great blackmail material, there.

For a typically hyper focused person, Bast’s mind wandered much more than it had in her rookie days. Then she had been a model student, eager to please, never satisfied, always striving for better, working harder. Some part of the machinery that made her tick was broken. It had been since she’d trusted another person besides herself with her troubles, been vulnerable. Then there was Haji and Falynn and the building of an inexplicable bond. Being open was refreshing, but she reminded herself to be cautious.

The task assigned to Bast was to provide protection to Raya Barniis, a 24 year old female who worked two jobs, a waitress and board member for ward politics. According to the report, she had filed several complaints against a Senator Marty Balzeek for threats and was constantoy paranoid, convinced her life was in jeopardy. After months of pestering, planetary law enforcement handed the case over to the Sector Rangers because of lack of staff. Not to mention, Raya seemed unlikely to shut her mouth soon. She’d gone so far as to cause a public disturbance by yelling she was being stalked in a crowd and drawing her blaster, shooting sloppily out of fear. Thankfully, there were no casualties from the incident, but the woman was becoming a threat as well as a nuisance, and had to be monitored. Although Bast’s heart dropped a bit at the summary of the mission, it leapt when she saw her partner: Corran Velt. At least the neither ranger would have to go at the case alone. The boy was good company. He was thoughtful, strong, sensitive, vivacious. A rare breed, really. There was also something between them, a deep caring, a compassion. If she were to pick somebody to walk through hell with, it would be him. She had few other choices.

After a firm knock at the door of apartment 42, the woman paused and took in her surroundings. The place was nice, well kept. Bast wondered why she needed to work two jobs. The floor was tiled in an intricate pattern made of marble and chromium. The air smelled like freshening chemicals, soap, and flowers. The door slid open half an inch and a wide blue eye peaked out. Also visible was a sliver of pale skin and a few wisps of copper hair. The door opened wider, but not fully, when the anxious house owner saw the badge on the other woman’s vest. Mustering an attempt at a friendly smile, the ranger introduced herself.

“You must be Miss Raya Barniis. I am Sector Ranger Bast Emblai. I was sent to provide the at home guard you filed a request for. My partner should be here any minute. I can assure you that you are in good hands. Now, if I may come inside? Once your other escort arrives we can get down to some simple questions.”

Reluctantly, the woman opened the door, but didn’t offer a seat to her guest, so Bast stood to the left of the doorway, watching her client pace. The apartment, much like the building, was nice if a bit messy, with a large window. Incense wafted through the air, clouding it slightly. Something was off about the whole place, the whole ordeal. They needed to get to work.

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Corran Velt

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Politics was something Sector Rangers were encouraged to abstain from, at least in the official capacity. To pick favorites among the myriad of governments and authority structures of the galaxy might ham the neutral image of the Rangers or doom them entirely. Unfortunately, politics always seemed to find them and ask for help. This situation, thankfully, was only between a frightened board member and supposedly a Senator. As long as nobody got hurt, problem solved.

Corran walked down the long hallway with even steps. The apartment building seemed nice. Maybe even above his pay-grade. When he arrived at the doorway with the numerals 42, it was already open. Inside was Miss Raya Barniis, anxiously pacing and froze only to eye the new-coming Ranger. The other individual present was none other than Bast Emblai. He knew she was his partner for this assignment, but seeing her in person was always a welcome event. No matter the chaos, Bast was the most steady thing in the galaxy - not to mention Corran's own little world. The male Ranger was pretty certain that if he died, she would find a way to rescue his soul from the Great Beyond and then punch him for being rude enough to perish. Bast was a good... something. 'Friend' wasn't strong enough to describe their bond; their connection. He was okay with that, for the time being.

Corran was styled to his usual precision and stepped into the doorway. He nodded at his partner, "Ranger Emblai." The young man then turned his attention to the apartment owner, "Miss Barniis, I take it? I am Ranger Corran Velt. I'm here to assist Ranger Emblai in our duties." Corran's voice was methodical and stoic, providing all the certainty and assurance a worried citizen might want to hear. He then took his position to the right of the doorway opposite Bast. It was time to get to work.

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Bast Emblai

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Bast nodded in response to her partner’s greeting, thankful he had arrived. Raya had been pacing for what seemed like hours while the ranger had simply watched, unsure of what to do, awkwardly standing in the doorway. Would it be proper to offer the nervous woman a seat in her own house? Their client prickled at the entrance of her new guest, but said nothing in response to Corran’s reassuring words. It was going to be a difficult task to get anything out of someone who clammed up at the mere sight of a stranger. The detective would need to adapt her interrogation strategy.

Attempting a warm smile, a Bast addressed Raya as comfortingly as she could. “We are going to need to ask some questions to work this out, to keep you safe. I need you to answer as best you possibly can. I also ask that you stay in your house, but if you must leave, we will accompany you. Both Ranger Velt and I are armed, so nothing can happen if you follow directions. There will be no need to carry a blaster yourself.” The last suggestion was more for the public’s safety than Raya’s, but the terrified young woman had no reason to know that. The female ranger looked to her partner, prompting him should he have anything to add. Then, with a certain finality, she gestured for the woman to sit on the couch. There was only one chair, so Bast decided to let a Corran take it and situated herself at the edge of the couch, as far away from Raya as possible. She felt as if she were trying to coax a scared animal out of a cage, and that if she got to close, it would bolt.

“These questions are standard. If you do not feel comfortable answering out loud, you may type out your answers on a datapad, sound good?” A nearly imperceptible nod was the only answer. This was going to be far from easy. “Your complaints against Senator Balzeek are on the basis of verbal and physical threat, correct?” Another nod. “I am very sorry Ms. Barniis, but I need verbal or written confirmation. I understand this is difficult.”
“Yes.”
“When was the last time you were in contact with him?”
“I don’t know”
“No problem, just try to remember please.”
“Last week. He came here and searched my house.”
“Were you home?”
“Yes.”
“Is there anyone else who lives with you?”
Raya paused, looking nervously from Corran to Bast and around the room.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
”Yes.” The answer was defiant, forceful, unlike the previous meek whispers. The female ranger threw a meaningful look at her partner, as if to see if he had picked up on the behavior as well. Their client was a bad liar. Searching the house and getting her out of it would be an ideal first move, but Bast doubted she would cooperate.
“Your statement says the Senator threatened to ruin your political career as well as reveal personal information and cause harm to you. Is this correct?”
“Yes.” Raya’s voice broke and she covered her face with her hands. Suddenly the grown woman seemed small. Bast bit back a twinge of regret. She had not intended to upset the woman. This would set back progress, not to mention, it was never pleasant seeing another person cry. The case was puzzling, but clearly very emotional as well. “I will stop with the questions for now. I am very sorry. Would you like me to get you some water? You can talk to my partner if you would rather.” The sector ranger once again looked to Corran, concern in her eyes, but this time the look was for help. He had a knack for comforting people that she lacked. He was just as qualified of a Ranger. The only hope was that a different tactic might work.

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Corran Velt

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With a sturdy nod, Corran followed the non-verbal suggestion for the man to take up a seat on a rolling chair on the opposite side of the small apartment. She was probably right to have her sit closer to the quarrelsome woman. Not to mention it respected a certain propriety, in a professional sense. As his partner began the questioning behind him, Corran listened. The questions were mostly routine and merely required the barest confirmation. Raya even struggled with that. As the male Ranger swiveled the chair around and guided it towards the couch, his mind filed through inquisitive thoughts. Why did the Senator allegedly come and search her apartment? What was he looking for? Did he come alone? Did he intend for Miss Barniis to be home? Was there evidence of this encounter? So many unanswered questions over something that seemed pivotal.

Then there was the question about a co-habitant. Getting answers out of Raya so far was like pulling teeth, but she was forceful in denial of anyone else living here. A noticeable change in attitude. By now, the male Ranger had moved the swiveled chair to sit directly across of Raya and a diagonal view from Bast. The pair of Rangers had gotten to that level of communication where mere glances could convey entire sentences. She was now asking for some help with the other sobbing woman on the sofa. Corran shot back a knowing look with a subtle nod.

“If you’re running for water, I’ll take a glass as well,” the young man suggested to his fellow Ranger, helping ease into the conversation with Miss Barniis. He wanted to ask the younger woman what personal information could be used as blackmail and why the Senator even cared. What was his motive? Why did a lower-level ward councilperson even appear on his scopes? They wouldn’t get any of those key details without Miss Barniis cooperating.

Corran crossed his leg over his knee in a casual fashion and rested a hand in his lap, “Raya, may I call you Raya?” A sniffling but weak nod was the only reply.

“Raya, I want you to know that Ranger Emblai and I are here to help you. We wouldn’t be here if that wasn’t the truth,” Corran said with sincerity. The woman on the sofa's tears began to slow a bit and she peered from behind her hands, like a protective shield being lowered. He went a bit further, "We're about the same age; did you know that? I can understand what it's like. You seem like a nice girl, so..." Corran reached up to his jacket and disconnected his Ranger badge and set it on the glass caf table between them, "we can speak more as equals. Does that help?"

Raya nodded more firmly now and lowered her hands into her lap but remained curled up on the arm of the couch. Removing the badge didn't really mean anything, practically. It was a purely symbolic gesture. She seemed to respond to it. Seeing the more open posture, Corran leaned in a bit more, "Help us, help you. Why does the Senator dislike you? With the right information, we can stop bad people."

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Bast Emblai

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The muffled sobbing from the other room was lessening, Bast noticed as she rummaged for glasses. Going through another woman’s cupboards seemed like an invasion of privacy, but it also happened to be a rather necessary step in getting water. Finally she located some simple metal cups and gingerly removed two, careful not to knock the glasses together and miss something happening through the wall because of the noise. It wasn’t as if she was spying. Corran was perfectly capable, seemingly more so than her, of handling distressed clients. However, leaving one’s partner alone in a room with an unpredictable person was always a risk, so she remained alert and listening, just in case. The detective briefly considered doing a quick once over of the house while Raya was distracted, but decided against it. The search would likely come off as invasive and unprofessional, and the thought didn’t sit right with Bast.

Pausing just outside the doorway, the Ranger listened carefully to decide if it was the appropriate moment to make an entrance. The male ranger was speaking, occasionally interrupted by a small sniff from the being curled on the couch. “... the Senator dislike you? With the right information, we can stop bad people." She would wait for the girl to answer, Bast decided. He was already getting to the personal questions, and she didn’t want her presence to distract or intimidated Raya. There was a long pause. The tap from the kitchen dripped hollowly. Someone inhaled deeply, as if trying to regain emotional control. “I have... he feels threatened by ... but he’s not a threat!” Her voice broke in frustration, remorse. “I can’t say. He’ll kill both of us. I’m sorry.” The female ranger waited a few more seconds, but nothing else was said, so she walked in, slowly, quietly, and handed Raya and a Corran each a glass.

For some odd reason, the shining badge that typically adorned the other lawman’s chest was sitting on the table. Bast raised her eyebrows quizzically, but followed suit, carefully unclasping the small piece of metal that was her life. She’d never done it on duty before, and she felt oddly vulnerable, as if a layer of armour had been stripped off. However, she trusted the man sitting opposite her, and he must have had a reason. Taking his cues might put the civilian at ease.


“Raya, would you like to speak to each of us individually? What can I do to help. What you say is confidential.” The young politician remained silent, her face twitching and close to tears once more. Finally, it seemed as if something within her petite body snapped.

“Go to mm...my closet near the back of the hall. Third basket dow...down.” A simple nod was Bast’s only reaction. Was the woman hiding a bomb? A body? Raya was too good of a woman to be a successful criminal. She had too much heart, a rare quality for a politician. With a wave of her hand to send her comrade out first, she made direct eye contact with Raya and crouched to be at her seated level. “Stay here, okay? We cannot help you if you run. We will help you.” The statement was laced with concern and was genuine. If she bolted, she could well end up dead. And the rangers could help her, when they understood what was wrong. Straightening back to her impeccable full posture, she followed her partner to locate what was in the third basket.

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Corran Velt

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It didn’t make any sense. The Senator feels threatened by someone, but wasn’t actually a threat? Senator Balzeek was open to murder this someone? There was at least a confirmation of a someone else in this story. Based on Raya’s earlier forceful denial, that someone likely dwelled here as well. The young politician pushed back on painting the full picture. Corran didn’t immediately respond, only shifting his jaw in thought. Impossible to proceed in questioning but too important to back off. Mercifully, Bast arrived with refreshment and Corran thanked her politely for the cup, but also the break in awkward air.

The badge on the table caught her attention and she gave her partner a cocked eyebrow. Corran braced for a scolding, if not now, then surely later. Bast was orderly and disciplined like he was and she would have the guidelines on her side. What she did next surprised him. Her badge joined his on the glass table. It was a small thing, but it mattered. Even if she privately disagreed with it, Bast trusted her partner that it was for the success of the mission and for Raya. Corran wanted to smile, but held it back behind his professional demeanor.

The female Ranger, with her additional signal of trust, was able to pry open Miss Barniis. The young woman provided ominous directions for the Rangers to uncover. A wave of the hand from Bast meant Corran was going first. Obediently, the young man rose from the chair and proceeded down the hall, only stopping to wait for his partner who took the time to assure Raya. When both were out of earshot and approaching the closet, Corran would whisper over his shoulder, “Well, we’re making progress.”

Once in front of the closet door, the male Ranger reached out to open it but hesitated. Fingers curled into the palm and opened again. It probably wasn’t anything violent. The Rangers wouldn’t find a severed head in there or deadly trap. Raya didn’t seem capable – she would have to be a criminal mastermind to deceive others thoroughly. Still… the unknown made Corran uneasy. He glanced at his partner for a brief moment. Bast’s serious and determined features gave him a bit more courage. “Here we go,” Corran whispered aloud. The door opened and the young man knelt down to the third basket on a cubby-shelf. Carefully, he pulled the basket out and lifted up the cloth cover to reveal what was inside.

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Bast Emblai

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It felt as if the air was suffocating the rangers. There was the inexplicable tension of the unknown, and Bast knew Corran felt it as well. He made as if to reach for the door and stopped, an uncharacteristic move for the typically confident man. It was amazing how the threat of something dangerous or gruesome lurking in the closet had put both of them so on edge. The sound of what was likely a glass being put down in the other room made Bast‘s heart race, but she kept a her expression neutral. Logic said she was safe. Primal fear told her otherwise. She hadn’t gotten this far with fear as a companion, though. They were safe.

Corran gingerly plucked the corner of the cloth draped over the basket and pulled it off in one swift motion. The detective froze. A small child who could only be a few months old was wrapped up in a thermo-blanket. Big blue eyes cracked open at the sudden pouring in of light and began to water. A single wail escaped the tiny mouth. It was a baby. Just a baby. This was about a baby? Relief and confusion and something else hit Bast like a tidal wave. She simply stared, unsure of what to do or say. Out of all the possibilities she had analysed and enacted in her mind, none had involved a child. What did this have to with the Senator? She felt oddly dizzy.

“I ... it’s just a child.” Searching her partner’s face for guidance or reaction, Bast leaned over and stiffly, as gently as possibly, picked up the baby, hugging him to her chest. It felt like the right thing to do. She had heard of motherly instinct and seen the ferocity mothers held to protect their children, but she had no connection to the boy. What possessed her to cradle him? Had she not moved passed such basic human instinct? Perhaps her mind knew she would never be able to do such a thing which her own flesh and blood. Spinal injury had made that near impossible, a concept she had never mourned until now. The medical fact led to a distant sense of loss. There were other options, she had simply never considered children. Being a Sector Ranger was her life. Her badge was a ring of commitment. The badge she had just left on the table. Shaking her head, the woman reprimanded herself for becoming invested. Carelessly letting herself care for people she’d met that day, for wishful thinking.

“What do you think happened? Does the senator want the child? Let’s get him back to Raya.” The questions were just as much musings aloud as directed at the male ranger. She considered wondering pointedly aloud what sort of person would leave a child in a closet, but decided against it. Such jabbing remarks were crude. Not to mention, Raya had likely hidden her son out of panic when her visitors had arrived. The poor woman was already neck deep.

Unfortunately, the poor woman was also nowhere to be found. Her glass of water was neatly on the table. next to a holo magazine. Bast had a hunch she might run out of unreasonable fear. She was easily manipulated and likely unable to think straight in a state of such emotion.
“She ran. Our duty is to her, not the child. We need to follow.” Despite her words, the ranger made no move to lay the infant down. They couldn’t leave him either.

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Corran Velt

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An infant. Illuminated by the artificial light and barely awake. Corran held the basket in frozen shock; his eyes blinking in stunned silence. Lips parted ever so slightly in an empty question. Even when the baby released a single wail in defiance of its new surroundings, the young man didn’t budge. Out of all the things that could have been in the basket, the young man’s mind would have never anticipated a small infant. That world, of children and family, was so far away from a young man so focused on his immediate life. It was as if his very thoughts had ground to a halt. That is, until Bast spoke the obvious truth.

Corran blinked rapidly for a moment as he returned to the present. He turned his head and followed Bast with his eyes as she reached down and gently lifted the baby from the basket. The male Ranger’s face slowly shifted to one of perplexed and curious wonder. Bast Emblai was many things; Ranger, Detective, Friend. But… this was different. The stern, focused, professional, withdrawn former CorSec officer was being... motherly. Corran was looking at his partner with the same dumbstruck look as he had when he first glimpsed the baby. Even with that expression, a face could not convey the unexplainable feelings bubbling inside the young Ranger. To protect. To provide. How... beautiful she was while nurturing the child. Complex and inexplicable didn't begin to describe the emotions. That feeling you get when a roller-coaster drops suddenly or a ship takes a sharp dive welled up in the pit of his stomach.

What do you think happened? The questions acted like a bucket of cold water. Corran gave his head a small shake, "Uh... I... I don't know." The male Ranger's reply was quiet, as if waking from slumber. His partner's questions were valid - even vital - but Corran had no answers and was in no mental condition to puzzle them out just yet. The young man rose from his kneeling position and straightened his jacket. This whole assignment got a whole lot more complicated. When the two Rangers soon found that Raya had vanished into thin air. The assignment kept getting more complicated.

“She ran. Our duty is to her, not the child. We need to follow.”

Bast was right. The assignment was to protect Ward Councilperson Raya Barniis. With a sigh, Corran walked over to the glass caf table and picked up both badges. He examined them a moment, taking in all what they meant and what oaths they required. The young man then looked up at his partner who held an infant close to her bosom. Bast made it look so natural. Was she... a mother?

Corran turned toward Ranger Emblai and took a few, slow steps closer to her. "We took an oath to protect and serve. This time, we get to do both," the male Ranger glanced at the child, then offered Bast her badge with an open palm. Whatever this baby, Raya Barniis, and Senator Marty Balzeek all had in connection was the only way to settle this predicament.

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Bast Emblai

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Bast took her badge and examined it, touched by her partner’s words. It was in pristine condition, other than a small chip out of the top. She shined it every night when she took it off, placed it on her nightstand, and put it on first thing. The detective didn’t have many possessions, given the nature of her work, and the badge was perhaps her most prized material object. The mirror shine of the surface was divided in two by a black mourning band, and the clasp was not standard issue, but that from her CorSec badge. While a rookie in the Sector Rangers, she had requested the piece of her past be soldered onto her badge to replace the original. With the it on, she was a detective, a soldier, a servant and protecter of the people. With it off, who was she?

A whine from the infant in her arms brought her back from her hypothetical musings. Bast slid the badge into a pocket after a moment’s thought. Slowly, she rocked the baby, shifting her weight from one foot to another. The detective had to be doing something right, because the infant’s sob died to a gurgle in his throat. A curious, chubby hand yanked at a loose strand of her hair. She’d need to tie it back later, but for now, she’d leave it down. A small smile crept into the woman’s face as she watched the young boy pressed against her chest.

Remembering she was not alone with the child in the room, Bast straightened and tucked the lose curl behind her ear. This wasn’t her child. She wasn’t a mother. She could not be one. She was getting soft and Raya Barniis was getting further away by the second. The female ranger uttered a quiet curse under her breath and immediately felt guilty for swearing in front of a child. He couldn’t understand, but it felt wrong, unlike cradling him and humming softly. That felt right.

Unable to meet her partner’s eye, Bast stared directly at where his badge typically lay, above his heart. She felt inexplicably vulnerable. Not only vulnerable, but like an imposter. The baby needed Raya. “I will call all nearby transport stations to inspect passengers and keep an eye out for Barniis. Would you get a speeder or a ship started up? I don’t know if I can drive right now.” The last sentence broke the woman’s typical measured cadence with a certain urgency. The whole discovery had turned her idea of the case on its head, and she needed a moment to reign in. The child held a weight much heavier than the a few pounds. She could trust Corran with the truth, and at the moment, the truth was that she needed time to sort things out. Hopefully, he would avoid crashing in this instance.

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Corran Velt

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In the field, there was nothing that distracted Corran from the objective at hand. From his own wounds on Cona to the chaos of Outpost Blue. When others dithered in the face of changing situations or fear, the young man kept an iron grip on the end goal and never let go. This is what kept his feet on the ground, even when things went horribly awry.

All it took was a baby. All the horrors of piracy, combat, and the cruelties of the criminal underworld couldn’t compare to the distracting power of bubbling infant in the arms of his partner. Bast swayed and let the child play with her brunette hair; a delicate smile on her face. Like a curious toddler, Corran held a lingering stare at the two. His eyes bounced between the baby and the tender Bast, as if his brain was struggling to make sense of the impossible visual image it was receiving. The young man went as far as to lean over a bit to get a better vantage to look at the child and the mirrored reaction of tenderness from the serious female Ranger.

Corran suddenly realized Bast’s eyes had gone from the infant in her arms to his chest – where his badge usually sat over his heart. The young man cleared his throat and took a step back in embarrassment. He then pinned his perfectly polished and manicured badge on his jacket. His partner then directed him to find some transportation – they needed to be in pursuit. As always, Corran followed orders.

"Right. I'll also call in an APB. Raya can't get far and she is known for drawing attention to herself. Wait here until I can get us transportation,” the male Ranger replied. It was mostly a hope vocalized into words. The APB would help alert local private and public security services which might help but Raya’s motives were unknown and anyone could vanish if they tried hard enough. Corran pressed on his commlink as headed out of the apartment, “This is Sector Ranger Corran Velt, I need an APB on Raya Barniis. Age 24, female…” His voice was precise and focused now, just like his long strides down the apartment hallway and eventually to the lobby. There were automated terminals to call droid-pilot cabs, rent speeder-bikes, or even buy a hover-car. In truth, Corran would have preferred piloting a ship in the search but that was like using a hammer on a fly. A speeder was more discrete and could maneuver better than a starship could in atmosphere.

A quick swipe offered everything from flashy red luxury speeders to clunky quick-haulers for people moving in and out. The young man was about to rent a fast vehicle with responsive controls but suddenly stopped his finger from pressing the button. He stayed frozen that way for a few moments as gears turned in his head. The finger swiped back a few slides and pressed confirmation on the new selection.

Bast's commlink would chirp. Her partner's familiar voice would be on the other end, "The rental should be here in a few minutes. I... got one with a car-seat." The way he said the second half of the sentence sounded more like a careful admission than embarrassment. To Corran, the family-focused four-door speeder was the best choice for the current scenario. It had the highest safety rating for the current model and year, it blended in, and was relatively affordable to rent. Plus the built-in car-seat was right in the age range for human infants and allowed his partner to have her hands free. If she wanted to, that is. Even though Bast wasn't there to see it, Corran rubbed the back of his head in a physical expression of his bewilderment. Things kept getting more complicated.

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Bast Emblai

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Having a dependable partner was perhaps the most important saftey measure in the law enforcement line of work, and Bast had been lucky enough to get one. Their communication came easily, and her orders were graciously well received. Being the senior officer, generally what she said went, but Corran was equally disciplined and important. He knew right from wrong and could likely make most, if not all, of her calls himself. Nevertheless, he remained unwaiveringly obedient to command. The ranger certainly had her respect. Sometimes she wondered if he should be in command. Bast had always sworn to take the bullet, take the heat for her team, yet, somehow, she was the only survivor of a massacre. If she’d taken the heat, done her job, she would be in a body bag, at peace, with no regret. Now she was leading her partner, who trusted her more than she trusted herself. The situation seemed like a cruel twist of irony. And the child? He felt so fragile. Not only would she not be a mother, the woman decided, she couldn’t. The risk of something happening to the infant under her watch would be too great. She was done gambling lives.

“This is Sector Ranger Emblai to the Red Train Station. Keep an eye out for a twenty-four year old human female, petite in build, may look like she was recently crying. Brown hair, wearing a blue shirt and black trousers. Her name is Raya Barniis. APB issued. Keep her from boarding any vehicle, please. Over.”

Rather discreetly, it seemed, Corran had ushered himself out. Something had clearly made him uncomfortable. Perhaps the child had affected the unshakeable man similarly. Wanting nothing more than to forget the ordeal and erase both of their unease and confusion, Bast sighed.

Corran had left. She was alone. A wave of rare panic overwhelmed the woman. What if something happened? Then she would have fourteen lives worth of blood on her hands. She couldn’t handle the weight of another life. With a quick movement, she set the baby down on the couch to eliminate all chances of her dropping him. The senator wanted the child. She drew her blaster, wavering as she aimed it at the door, checking every few seconds on the infant. He couldn’t even defend himself like her men at the outpost could. An intrusive image of blood around the child made her heart race. Her head spun. A chirp sounded from the wrist comm Bast was wearing. It was her friend. Expecting him to warn her of a bloodthirsty senator, the detective was shocked when his voice was calm, even a bit... shy?
“Copy that.” The voice her would hear was wavery. “I’ll be down.” A deep breath steadied Bast, slightly, but her hands were still tremoring. Forcing herself to pick up the child, she exited cautiously, one hand on her blaster pistol. An agonizingly long lift ride ended in the lobby.

The rented speeder had already arrived. It was a bit clunky, sized for a family. Too worried to think about the professional et of riding in a family speeder with a coworker, the woman rushed over to the male ranger and held out the child, her eyes desperate. They needed to find Raya and get the whole ordeal sorted.

Driving through the glamour of the city, Bast noticed her comrade seemed agitated. She likely should’ve noticed earlier, been paying attention. Not only were partners physical backup, but also support for eachother. Looking up from the side window, she finally found the courage to meet his blue eyed.
“Are you okay? Are we good?”

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Corran Velt

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Something was off. Even if Bast’s response over the commlink was authoritative, the tone was uncertain. Maybe even nervous. Corran didn’t pace, but allowed his foot to tap in a visible measure of anxiety. He kept glancing towards the lift doors. The Ranger was worried about his partner not for what she said, but how she said it. After what felt like an eternity, the lift doors opened them and Ranger Emblai strode forth with baby in hand. The young man felt an urge to rush towards her and but stopped himself. He was a professional and if something worried Bast, she would need stability to lean on.

The automated speeder pulled up to the walkway outside the complex right on time. Wordlessly, Bast held out the infant and Corran’s eyes nearly bugged out in surprise as he suddenly found himself holding the baby by its armpits. The young man’s arms were practically fully extended. “I’ll just handle this then,” the unprepared male Ranger said to himself.

After some trial and error attempts and some distracting cooing, the baby was secured in the car-seat behind the front passenger seat. That would be easier reach for both of them. With the click of their own safety belts and a press of the ignition, the family-sized speeder merged into the flow of traffic and off to find their runaway politician. Unlike the Vasser rescue, Corran was back to his old driving habits. Going the speed limit, leaving two vehicles worth of space front and back, and checking his mirrors at steady intervals. An additional glance at Bast and the baby were added in, for good measure.

Besides the occasional bubbling and sound from the car-seat, the ride was silent. The neon holo-sign’s colors danced across Corran’s face as they drove past them, serious and unflinching. His eyes occasionally peering through the side window or the windshield, searching for their quarry. Bast pulled herself away from her side of the speeder and asked surprising thing.

Corran allowed himself a brief glimpse at his partner, who stared at him with colorful hazel eyes. Yeah, he was fine. The situation wasn’t dire yet and nobody was hurt. As cases go, it was more complicated than expected but certainly not the worst assignment. Were they good; Bast and himself? That was trickier to answer. The young Ranger was still processing some of the things he felt back in the apartment. The side of Bast he witnessed. None of it was bad. Just… unexpected. Not to mention his own intricate and tangled feelings that welled inside him. Would he have reacted the same if it was Raya holding the child or was it just because it was… Bast? Corran couldn't tell her any of that. They were Sector Rangers on the job and he understood, like him, Ranger Emblai valued professionalism and self-control. Still... the junior partner did have some concerns. A compromise answer would have to do.

"Me? Yes, I'm alright," Corran replied absentmindedly. They came to a stop-light and the speeder eased to a halt. "We're more than good, Bast. I would let you know if we were anything less. You know how I think. If we're together, everything turns out okay." That was honest, at least. It was almost supposed to ease his partner, which seemed a little frazzled to him. Now came the hard part. Corran looked away from the windshield and stared at his partner with a worried brow, "I am a little concerned about you though. Are you handling all... this okay? It seemed like you got a little dismayed back there." There was a pause, letting the words hang there in the air. "You can tell me. It's just you, me, and the little guy." He gestured a thumb back towards the baby which was currently entranced with the yellow speeder out the window in the lane over. The light ahead turned green and Corran swiveled his head back to task of driving. The speeder hummed along in the traffic, quiet again.

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Bast Emblai

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Traffic was light, but the search for Raya had yielded nothing. If she wasn’t in the streets around her home, the officer had no idea where she might be. If she was armed, she could be dangerous. The situation was sad. A cornered and terrified woman who refused help, a corrupt Senator. Since the discovery of the young boy, the case had become, at least in her eyes, inexplicably solemn and terribly complicated, even without the associated emotions. A faint half-smile flickered on her face when Corran reassured her they were good. Then the conversation took a dreaded turn.

"I am a little concerned about you though. Are you handling all... this okay? It seemed like you got a little dismayed back there." Bast shifted uncomfortably, her jaw so tense the tendons in her neck were jutting out. The hazel eyes remained intensely fixed on the dashboard. Every part of her was itching to clam up, remain silent. The detective wanted to be far away from the eyes of her partner, from his worried words. She felt irrationally angry at him for wanting to help her. Did he pity her? She spit on pity. She wasn’t weak. She didn’t need his placating words, his gentle tone. Why wasn’t he mad at her as she was? Scared of working with her after everything. She was becoming unstable, and she knew it. It terrified her. What terrified her more was that no one seemed to notice. Damn them for trusting her. For the thousandth time, Bast wished she had the courage to resign, to turn herself in. But no one would believe her. They would try to tell her it wasn’t her fault. They were wrong.

The speeder accelerated slowly and Corran spoke up again.
"You can tell me. It's just you, me, and the little guy." The disdain on the woman‘s face melted back into an unreadable mask. What did he see in her that made the ranger think he could help? Why did he care? The anger shifted to a feeling of emptiness. She felt like a hunk of a woman filled to the brim with emotion, but now the emotion was distant. There was no point in holding it in.

The female Sector Ranger stared straight ahead, suddenly exhausted from her rapidly cycling emotions. Her voice was clear and almost monotonous.
“I was scared.” There was a pause. Had she really just said that? Everything felt surreal. “I was scared something would happen to the infant. I couldn’t let that happen. I panicked. It felt like Outpost Blue, and I knew I couldn’t let that happen again. There was so much blood. I did not know a person could have so much in them. I just couldn’t see how much blood was in...” A sudden urge to check on the baby enveloped her, a frantic look back confirmed he was fine, enthralled by the colorful lights of the city. Bast sighed, deciding to disclose something more personal. “I became painfully aware of my own physical and mental limitations.”

Now, finally, she was able to drag her eyes to look at Corran. Something about his presence, unflinching, steadied her. He had seen her at her worst. She trusted him. Her admission to her emotion, to her weakness, was evidence. There was a compulsion to say everything, but now was not the time or the place. Thank the suns they were good because she had no one else. The brunette wanted nothing to between them change. She was worried about scaring the young man away.

A running figure caught her eye, disappearing into an alley. It looked the bulky to be Raya, but it could be a lead. Snapping back into her typical demeanor, although slightly subdued, her slim hand gestured out the window.
“It’s a runner at two o’clock. You think we should pursue?”

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Corran Velt

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He listened. He listened without interruption. Corran always listened when Bast spoke. Orders, thoughts, asking for solutions - but this was different. Everything she was saying came from a place deep inside. It wasn't just hearing what words were spoken, but thinking and digesting what was being said. Bast feared for the safety of the child, but it sounded like the real pain... Outpost Blue. That forsaken place. Only when his partner said her final peace did Corran glance from the windshield. The young man always knew his partner was mortal and human - but he didn't know it would be seen this way.

A finger gently tapped the steering mechanism. The speeder was quiet again. "There's nothing wrong with being afraid," Corran finally said. The young man's eyes were focused forward, but he could tell Bast was looking at him from the passenger's seat. "I was terrified at Outpost Blue. So many had struggled there and I was next," his voice was steady, as if he had thought on this alone plenty of times, "And then I found you there. That was the most scared I had been in my entire life." A hesitation. Corran's jaw shifted; a clear indication he was chewing over what to admit next. A soft exhale was followed by careful words, "I was so scared I'd fail you. Wouldn't get you home." The tapping finger stopped. One hand loosened its grip on the controls, as if it was about to reach over to her, but then the grip tightened again. "That's why I always say everything will turn out okay when we're together," the young Ranger spoke with a focused voice, as if it was holding something back, "If we're together, then you can't be alone in a cell ever again."

Corran grew silent after that. The scales were balanced. Both had allowed a small look into their mindsets. Their fears and hopes. If that changed their bond, that was the price of honesty. Sometimes that was worth it. He wondered if Bast thought less of him now. Things like immature, naive, or fanciful would be leveled against the young Ranger. The conversation was pushed into the background as more practical matters made themselves known. Bast sighted a heavy-set figure darting into an alley.

A lead was better than no leads. "Let's check it out. I'll turn here and see if we can meet them on the other side." A flip of the lever signaled the speeder was going to turn right down another road. If the alley went in a straight line to the street over, the speeder would catch them exiting the back alley or even cut them off if they were fast enough.

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Bast Emblai

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The steady tapping of Corran’s finger on the plasti-leather steering mechanism gave Bast something to focus on. She’d much rather listen to her partner than her own thoughts. She had shut them out for months, so it should’ve been easy to lock them away for a few more hours until she got home. She’d pop a couple pills the doctors had given her and restlessly fall into an induced sleep. At first, the idea had terrified her, falling deeply asleep with no control. The detective insisted a nurse keep guard because she couldn’t. The doctors had exchanged concerned looks and agreed, their tone like one used with children worried about receiving injections. Now the meds were part of her nightly cocktail and offered sleep she otherwise wouldn’t get. There typically weren’t even nightmares.

Despite her words and her irrational panic, the male ranger remained calm. He didn’t remain silent, but comforted her. He shifted his jaw, gritting his teeth, his expression contemplative. Was he going to tell her she should take a leave or be reassigned? Surprisingly, his words were also quiet and his voice quavered. It was the woman‘s turn to listen, and as she did, she swallowed and fought back against watery eyes. He was worried to fail her? After she had failed her squad and Commanding Officer? An odd mixture of embarrassment, thankfulness and curiosity gathered deep in her stomach. What had she done to warrant such concern from him? Even stranger was the fact that she had concern for him too. Deeper than she’d had for previous partners.

The man seated in the driver’s seat of the car made as if to reach out, but reconsidered. Reacting, the woman’s eyes widened, but she didn’t flinch. Part of analysing people for years meant she rarely missed small gestures. Regardless of her base reaction, Bast wished he had done it. She’d never been one for physical touch, but somehow the connection helped, felt more intimate. “I do not think you understand what that means to me. You’re a good man, Corran.” The words were awkward but warm. The blond ranger had an eerie way of seeing right through her.

The four-doored, award winning family speeder turned sharply in front of the alley, just in time for a middle aged man to run almost directly into it. Her was wearing several layers of clothing and hadn’t shaved in days, one of the less privileged citizens of the area. Scrambling for her badge, Bast rolled down the window. With quick glance at the insignia, the weather-beaten face went from wary to relieved. In fact, he was so eager to speak, there was no prompting necessary.
“Over ‘er on 21st an’ Riidle. There’s a lady wavin’ around ‘er blaster an’ yellin’ at a man named Marty Bal... somethin’. I think ‘e tried to jump ‘er. I jus’ made a run for it, ya know? Better to no’ get caught up.” Just as he was about to turn away, a small hand thumping against the glass caught his shrewd eyes. A raised brow accentuated the now-amused expression on his countenance. “Ya got a kid?”

“Um... no.” The woman’s reply was short. “Thank you for your help.” With that she rolled up the window and nodded to her partner, not sure whether to feel annoyed or grateful. Atleast they had Raya in their sights, metaphorically.

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Corran Velt

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Even before the destitute man stopped talking, Corran was tapping the location he spoke of into the speeder's guidance screen. If even a fragment of what he said was true, there was no time to lose. Did Raya have a blaster? Where did she even get one? Corran could have sworn she was unarmed at the apartment. Even worse, if Senator Balzeek had found her, the situation had escalated to its more dangerous crescendo. Thankfully, Bast had warded off the man and rolled up the window. Almost as soon as the window reached its zenith, the speeder was zooming through the city streets to 21st and Riidle.

Corran's face was serious, with a grim look in his eyes. It would be apparent that he felt he was racing against the clock. "Do you think Raya actually has a blaster? I don't want to have to stun her, but if she is a threat to the public..." the male Ranger's voice trailed off; the implication clear. The limited amount of trust they had built up with Ms. Barniis would be lost in the flash of a gun barrel. At worst, she was a young woman way out of her depth for the crisis she was in. The speeder kept accelerating, weaving in and out of traffic to reach the intersection as quickly as possible. The quickening pace was entertaining for the baby in the back, cooing and giggling at the sudden shift in lanes.

When they finally reached 21st street and Riidle, Corran brought the speeder to a careful halt - probably in recognition of their precious cargo but also because a vehicle screeching onto the scene might spark off something a few people might regret. The male Ranger was looking through the driver's side window, the windshield, and checking all his mirrors. "Bast, do you see anything? I can't locate the suspects." It was entirely possible the disheveled man was lying - or even just senile. Just as likely that Raya had moved on or hid somewhere. Chasing someone who didn't want to be found in a bustling city was like trying to find a cloaked starship in an asteroid field.

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Bast Emblai

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As soon as the window closed, Bast sighed. The speeder was flying past buildings in varying states of disrepair. The opulence of Raya’s neighborhood had quickly faded into to ruins of formerly tall, proud, buildings. Now the area was more akin to an economic graveyard. White marble glistened under a thick film of grime. Broken glass shone as a mocking reflection of the previously luminous area. The man in the driver‘s seat was tense, his eyes focused and dark, and his lips a thin line. His voice grave, Corran asked her if she thought the woman was truly armed. The detective nodded, chewing the inside of her lip. If she was so paranoid that a personal guard had been requested, it was unlikely she traveled without a weapon of some sort. Then again, witness accounts were reliably unreliable. Fear, anger, or really any strong emotion could lead to lapses in memory.

“We will need to take her out smoothly and gently if she is armed. Shots fired could be an end to the operation, and I do not want her to flee, especially without the... little one.” The female ranger’s tone was calm and firm, but an underlying worry was evident in her unfocused face and her darting eyes. The presence of the infant was weighing heavy on her shoulders. She couldn’t leave him, but nor could she take him. She was a trained combatant and calculating detective, not a mother. Yet somehow, the longing to nurture the child was there, bubbling up whenever he cooed or cried.

Not every woman had maternal tendencies. Her mother certainly had not. The woman who had raised Bast had been distant, efficient at teaching life skills, and always dead calm. When the Sector Ranger had been only seven or eight, she had gotten lost in the winding streets of Corellia. When CorSec had escorted the scared child home, her mother seemed unfazed, not even worried, and sent her to bed. Later, she remarked that Bast would have made it back some way. She had two other siblings, and therefore the loss of one wouldn’t truly cripple the family, especially if the lost individual was a child who demanded resources and attention. The lesson was true and harsh for the little girl. She was impressionable, as young children so often were. How did one walk the line between painful realism and encouraging hope?

Arriving at the scene took very little time, and the speeder came to an extremely gradual stop. Bast was beginning to think Corran was the safest driver in all the sector; Not that she was complaining. Clearly he had passed his aviation and driving classes with flying colors and followed each rule to the letter. She admired him for that. The thought turned up a corner of the detective’s mouth. Ears turning red at her own behavior, Bast quickly turned her attention back to searching for the suspects. There was something between them, but she was unable to name it and nervous to consider it for more than a few seconds. She felt a certain desire to know him better as a man, without the badge. Off duty, of course.


“No eyes here.” The square wasn’t crowded, but it was far from empty, and hazel eyes scanned methodically for Raya. She had pulled up a file of Marty Balzeek on a datapad in the speeder, but he was equally as elusive as Raya. A few Rodians were holding bags, likely heading home from shopping. A greying woman sat under a harsh blue light, letting the smoke from her cigar drift upwards in tangling coils. Spotting the prying eyes, she returned a withering look.

Something dashed out from an alley, scrawney and protective as a stray Loth Cat. Her hair was flying wildly, some parts plastered down with sweat. It was Raya. She was holding a small blaster pistol, running full tilt into the next alley. Barely four strides behind her and gaining was a tall man, handsome dressed in a suit.

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Corran Velt

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With no sight of their quarry from either Ranger, Corran allowed a small exhale of frustration from his nose. Had they come all this way only to miss their chance? They were here on the rumor of a homeless-looking man, so evidence was flimsy to start with, but there had always been hope that a citizen had done something good on their account. The male Ranger believed in the great goodness and potential of the average citizen, if they could keep their virtue. Even the best of people could get things wrong though, and Corran feared this had been a wild bantha chase. It looked just like a normal shopping courtyard, minus the scowling older woman.

That’s when the unexpected happened. Raya Barniis fled into view, wild-eyed and chaotic, running at sprint into an alley adjacent to the courtyard. She brandished a blaster in hand. Just behind was an impeccably dressed man kept pace with her even in a dress suit. If it were a dream, Corran might have not believed seeing it with his own eyes.

An immediate instinct was to chase the pair on foot. The blond youth had a pretty good chance of catching up with them. But leaving Bast with the baby was irresponsible. “Hold on; I’m going to cut them off in the alley,” Corran said aloud while shifting the speeder back into action. The vehicle was wider than other speeders he’d driven, but he would take the calculated risk to drive it off the roadway. If a trash collector would get down there, so could they. In contrast of what one might expect, Corran actually drove past the nearest right-turn into the juncture of alleys. Instead, he kept going until he could one a block up. The alleyway was as abandoned and grimy as one would expect. If Bast was looking out her window, she would see Raya still being chased but her view was then obscured by another building. “Trust me,” her blond partner reassured. Another quick right turn followed along with an almost immediate right.

The speeder came to a halt at a four-way junction of alleyways. It cut off Raya's path forward. The young Ranger immediately pushed out his door and stood tall, hands in the air. "Raya! Stop!" The young councilwoman ran a few more steps before sliding to a stop, holding her weapon in her quivering hands. The handsome man in a suit behind her jogged to a stop as well, four feet behind her. Raya swiveled her blaster rapidly between the man in front of her and the man behind her, urging them to stay back. It would now become obvious why Corran had driven such a circuitous route - to put the driver's side closest to Raya and the passengers behind the cover of the speeder... and his own body. On the chance that the scared young woman opened fire, Bast and the baby would be safe from harm.

"Raya. It's Ranger Velt. We can help you, but only if you put the gun down." The male Ranger stood resolute. Without a weapon draw, he couldn't stun her himself and with a blaster periodically pointed at him, Corran couldn't make a sudden move either. No matter what happened next, he had put all his trust in his partner Bast.

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Bast Emblai

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The strategy behind the round about cutoff became clear fairly quickly. There could have been any number of reasons, but the one that seemed most likely was an attempt at providing physical protection. In order to get to the child, or herself, for that matter, the person would have to get past Corran and through or around the speeder. She had no doubt he would fight tooth and nail if needed, as would she, although the detective doubted she could best him in a fistfight. Not for the first time, she was glad they were allies. Despite her partner’s offer at safety, she opened the speeder door, surreptitiously tucking her loaded blaster pistol into the waistband of her pants. Hopefully, there would be no need to draw, but she was nothing if not cautious.

Palms facing towards Raya and the businessman in a gesture of surrender, she joined Corran on the other side of the vehicle. It was his turn to trust her. She couldn’t live with anything happening to him, after all, he was her partner, her brother in the Rangers, and perhaps something else. Something she didn’t have the time to consider at the moment. Whatever they were, she wasn’t about to let him take the risk by himself. The female Sector Ranger took the heat for her team, not the other way around.

“Raya. You need to put the gun down now. We will not hurt you if you do. We were assigned to protect you. Nothing will happen to you or your child if you come with us. Just please hand Ranger Velt your weapon and get in the speeder.” At the mention of the infant, Raya’s eyes grew wide and desperate, her head slowly nodding back and forth. The well dressed man had quite a different reaction. Fury rose in his face, turning his skin a reddish-purple hue. “The child is here?” Halfway between a statement and a question, the words carried a threatening tone. Quickly strolling over to the speeder, he looked through the tinted window before either officer could make a move to stop him. “Get away from the speeder, Sir.” He made no move, but Bast closed in towards the door he was hovering outside. She spoke again, more firmly. This time, there was no mistaking Bast’s order for a request. “Move back and put your hands on your head.“

Before she knew what was happening, she was being rushed. A suit clad body hit her with such force she fell back against the reliable speeder, fumbling for her blaster and finding his hand reaching for it as well. So he was likely unarmed, but still definitely dangerous. Shoving her to the side, he reached for the door, one arm haphazard keeping her back. Despite his strength, the senator was stupid. He had caught them by surprise, but rangers recovered from surprise quickly. A kick to the back of his knees caught the dapper man off-balance, and soon he was writing on the ground. With Corran’s help, Bast managed to get some binders on the man’s wrists. Seeing him prone on his stomach reminded her of a trapped snake. The metaphor seemed fitting for a politician.

Raya dropped her weapon, still frozen in shock. Rather than kick it away, lest she seem threatening, Bast slowly picked it up and took out he ammunition, pocketing the bolt charge and handing back the blaster to her partner. In the report, the detective decided, the weapon would be used under the pretense of self defense. Perhaps Raya should be charged, but it was unlikely the small woman would pose a threat again. Wiping sweat off her brow, Bast opened one of the rear doors. “Get in now Raya. Please.”

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It all had gone according to plan. Until Bast appeared in the corner of Corran's eye. His eyebrows dented and he stared at his partner for only a second. Bast, what are you thinking? His thoughts were more accusatory than asking the question. He had worked it all out to give her greatest advantage and yet now she stood next to him. Taking the same risks and - oh. That's why. She would never let him take on danger in her stead. At least, not without facing it together. Corran kept his eyes piercing forward, hands upright. If Bast were standing next to him, the Ranger had a plan. He had no idea what it was, but she had his complete trust. Always.

Everything happened so fast. A mere mention of the baby in the backseat subdued Raya but enraged her stalker. Authoritative commands from the female Ranger did nothing but annoy the well-dressed man. If he was the Senator, it fit a type that he hated being told what to do. When the grown man assaulted Bast, Corran moved quickly to counter but his partner needed no hero. The former CorSec officer put the comely man face-first into the dirt and Corran, already in motion, was able to press his knee into the back of the writhing suspect. It was a struggle to bring the suspect's arms behind his back, but with due effort, the cuffs were secured. The male Ranger was so focused on keeping the arrested man pinned that he didn't notice a blaster being handed to him. A quick glance around provided the necessary information. Raya had surrendered her firearm. With a nod, the blaster was tucked into his waist-belt.

While Raya might be fined for public disturbance, she hadn't hurt anyone. Maybe public service if she really wanted to atone. Corran lifted the suspect on the ground and pushed his chest into the hood of the speeder. This one would be less lucky. "You're under arrest for assaulting an officer. Additional offenses may be added upon further investigation. You have the right to remain silent..." The male Ranger recited the citizen's galactic rights. He'd need them, even if he was a government official. "Do you have identification, sir?" Corran demanded. The suspect writhed, "Yes. My right-side pocket. I think this is a big misunderstanding." His voice, even after the physical altercation, was polite and an attempt to be disarming. A quick search revealed the identification card of none other than Senator Marty Balzeek. Chances of true justice possibly got more remote without mounting evidence. It depended on the electorate, planetary laws, and public taste for personal vices. Maybe the best they could hope for would be a public resignation. Well, that was out of the Sector Rangers' hands.

Raya, with a weak and obedient nod, climbed into the speeder and began shushing and holding the baby. Something at least had been righted. Corran turned to his partner, "I think you should take care of her while I call this in. I'll get Senator Balzeek here booked for the night with local authorities and meet back up with you." The male Ranger had been intentionally as vague as possible. He didn't want the man in custody to know where the Rangers were taking his targets. Corran also wasn't giving orders either. He recommended what he thought was the best course of action. Having Balzeek in the same speeder, even restrained, with his targets was a dangerous prospect.

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