Ask Cantonica The Jedi Killer

[Javelin Kell]

The Crescent Royale Casino was stunning. Its gilded golden exterior paired with its high-class partygoers set it apart from anywhere else on Cantonica. But Javelin Kell wasn't here for that. A Jedi had been murdered. And Javelin was tracking the killer.

Javelin was a shadow on the walls of the Crescent Royale Casino. He dressed in formal wear, abandoning his traditional Jedi robes for the sake of his mission. He didn't have his lightsabers on him, instead replaced by an old-fashioned LL-30 blaster pistol that rested on his hip. This blaster was becoming more commonplace on his missions. He no longer saw it as uncivilized. And even when he did, he knew that sometimes he had to be uncivilized to accomplish his mission. And he always accomplished his mission.

Javelin's only companion was his ID10 seeker droid, who hid in the shadows, awaiting Javelin's signal to strike. At a moment's notice, the ID10 could emerge from the shadows to shock one of Javelin's enemies or rush to retrieve Javelin's lightsabers if things went really wrong. But for now, it acted as a scout, its singular red eye narrowing in on anything that looked remotely suspicious. Javelin was the weapon, the ID10 was the eyes.​

​

​

​

 

[Grip TJ]

Grip stepped into the casino, his eyes sweeping the crowds. He knew the place. He'd come here once before, but never in the evening hours. He fingered the blaster hidden on his side underneath his Mandalorian armor. Through his helmet, he saw the casino lit up in hues of gold, red, and purple. The crowd here was almost exclusively overly dressed, rich snobs. Someone passed by carrying heaps of silver-green chips. The casino holographically displayed these chips as a rolling set of cartoony tires up above the highrollers tables.

Grip sat down at one of the tables. A holographic menu floated up to him, advertising a 3d, adorable talking pink cupcake with a white frosting face. The menu hovered in front of him for a moment before he gave it a push, and the cupcake disintegrated into hot pink static. A half hour passed; a drunken lady approached his table, asking if he she could sit. He waved her away. But when a casino droid noticed him and approached, he waved it to sit down.

"We have been expecting you," said the droid.
"Who are the suspects you've narrowed it down to?"
"Three possible suspects from the people here."
"Good, killers like this have to be caught fast." The casino offered a great deal of information on its customers. It could track where they came from and where they were going, and keep a log of how many credits they spent. After a Jedi had been murdered here, the casino had only become more paranoid and upped its surveillance. If only Grip could get access to the central database. There was no better way to find out what they knew about the Jedi killer than to offer to find the killer yourself. He smiled at how clever his plan was. The hunted would become the hunter.

@Kryptonis

 

[Javelin Kell]

It was hard to ignore the Mandalorian that stepped through the doors of the Crescent Royale. His red, rust-colored armor reflected the obnoxious lighting fixtures that lined the gilded palace that he stood in. A Mandalorian? Javelin had been sent on a particular assignment from the Jedi to look into someone known as "The Jedi Killer". Javelin's thoughts couldn't help but drift into the history of the Mandalorian Wars, where Jedi and Mandalorians would fight each other until their final breaths. There was certainly a motive. Revenge for his people, a personal vendetta, or something that Javelin wasn't thinking about. It was possible.

Javelin reached out with the force. He saw the ever-moving gears of the force turning before him. He closed his eyes and tried to connect with the Mandalorian. Though he didn't dress like one now, Javelin was a Jedi. He could tap into a person's feelings. And that's exactly what he did. His touch was subtle, and Javelin made an extra effort to read the feelings of this man without him noticing. Even so, there was always a risk. If the Mandalorian had a strong mind, he'd be able to recognize that someone was in his head. He wouldn't know that it was Javelin's doing or exactly what he was searching for, but he'd be able to tell.

The gears turned. And turned. And turned.

Then they stopped.

@Taygood​

​

​

​

 

[Grip TJ]

Grip felt a twinge, like a hand of static electricity reach out and tap him on the forehead. At first, he didn't realize what was happening. He was thinking of his past week, flying to the planet, cleaning his armor, testing his jetpack, and blood, blood and burns. The first shot didn't kill; it took two more. But, wait, what? Grip started trembling, eyes rolling back in his head, his neck bent and slumped to the side, shaking, convulsing. A passing droid stopped and looked at him. A child in polished black shoes and brown khakis stopped to point at him, while his mother carrying a purple parasol dropped her wine glass in a hand-to-mouth gasp.

Javelin's attempt to force himself into Grip's mind had triggered a seizure, messing with the brain implant used to control his epilepsy. Grip's body continued to convulse. Though he was still upright with his back against the chair, his body was jittery, uncontained, all volition lost.​

"He'll be fine," said pit boss #1, fingers interlocking nervously.
"He will be if they remove the suit," said pit boss #2, smoking a cigar.
"You can't tell me he's not a hazard. He's scaring the clientelle."
"He's only as much of a hazard as you want to make him."
"Fine, remove his suit."
The casino droids stepped up to the limp Grip and put their robot paws on the Mandalorian's helmet.
"Woah," shouted Grip, leaping up. "Hands off my helmet." He stood up, clear-eyed but shaky.
"Someone here tried to psychically attack me. We need to find them. They're likely the murderer."


@Kryptonis

 

[Javelin Kell]

The gears came to a screeching halt. The Mandalorian's reaction to Javelin's mind touch was unexpected. Not since his Padawan days did Javelin ever provoke a reaction even somewhat close to the one he was witnessing now. He tried to make an extra effort to ensure his target didn't notice. His touch was subtle, but this time, it wasn't subtle enough. Even so, even for the briefest moment, he saw something. Three shots. The Mandalorian fired three shots and then- Javelin had his answer. But before he could act, the Mandalorian stood up from the floor, announcing that the Jedi Killer had invaded his mind.

Trickery. Deception. These weren't usually tools of a Jedi, but they were the ones that Javelin employed while on his missions. It was annoying to see his own tricks used against him. This Mandalorian was the killer. For that, there was no doubt. Nevertheless, the red-armored Mandalorian was trying to turn the casino patrons against him. Luckily, no one yet knew that Javelin was the one who not-so-carefully probed into the Mando's mind. But Javelin had a feeling that they'd find out soon enough.

Javelin unhooked his communicator from his belt. "ID10, get ready to deploy my lightsabers on my signal." The calm before the storm was ending, and Javelin could sense the lightning coming.

@Taygood​

​

​

 

[Grip TJ]

"Listen," Grip told the bosses and droids gathered in a group huddle. "I am going to try and interview some of the patrons to find out if anyone saw anything. But watch me closely, my attacker will likely strike me again. In effect, I will be the bait. Wait until he comes after me, then you can detain him."
The pit bosses looked at each other, not sure what to do.
"Just don't make a big scene," said pit boss #1.
"It will be a big scene if he has a fit again," said pit boss #2.
"You think I don't know that? I'm just saying, don't cause a big ruckus."
"We'll be watchin' you, but mind your business. Don't go snoopin' around the high roller tables."

Grip walked slowly around the casino floor. He eyed people near and far, winning big and losing bigger. One of the advantages of wearing a Mandalorian helmet was that no one could read your facial expressions. A protocol droid followed him around about five feet behind. Grip was still a bit unsteady- he doubted he could fight anyone in his state- yet he could still fight on his terms.

He walked up to an old lady with pancake cheeks and a white mohawk and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned and in her confusion tried to peer into the dark slit of his helmet, as if there lie the dark mysteries of the cosmos. "Well, what is it," she said, swirling liquid in a crystal glass.
Grip cleared his throat. "Miss, have you seen anyone suspicious here?" She just looked at him. A moment or two passed before Grip realized how stupid his question had been. He quickly changed tactics.
"Have any goods hands tonight?"
"Dueling dice is what I'm all about. Not complicated. Never trust those cards."
She threw a pair of dice across a board. Something lit up, ding-ding-ding. A small hutt at the other end of the table cursed. The woman shrieked and clapped her hands.
"You're my lucky charm, honey. Don't go anywhere!" she told Grip. Grip stayed put, and waited.


@Kryptonis

 

[Javelin Kell]

The Mandalorian was easy to spot in a crowd. He was on the move now, recovered from the psychic attack that Javelin accidentally inflicted. Javelin had been in situations like this before. He'd found the target, but there are too many witnesses around to make a move. But he's been in situations like this before. He had a tactic in mind. One that was definitely invasive, but usually got the attention of his target. Though in situations where they decided to run, Javelin could reach out and stop them with the force. It wasn't foolproof, but it was pretty close.

Javelin reached out with the force again. This time, the Mandalorian wasn't his target. Now, it was the old lady that stood in front of him. He tried to be discreet as he focused and planted a thought inside the woman's head. Something that he wanted her to say. She said it aloud as if she was reading from a script.

"You killed a Jedi on this world."

Javelin did the trick again, this time to a bulky gentleman that had been at the same dice table as the woman. "You are under arrest in the name of the Jedi Order and the Republic. Do not cause a scene."

One last time, Javelin invaded a nearby Ugnaught's mind, persuading the creature to say exactly what he wanted him to say. "There is a transport shuttle outside waiting to take you to a trial in front of the Jedi High Council. Give yourself up and come quietly."

The three beings came out of their daze. Their hands were on their temples as they looked around, asking what had happened. No one knew how to respond. One second they were in control of their bodies, and the second they sounded like protocol droids uttering a pre-programmed response. It was clear something strange had happened, but no one seemed to know exactly what.

Fool proof.​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

[Grip TJ]

By the time the third person had started talking, Grip was already ignoring them and looking around. He now knew this was a Jedi attempting some kind of weird force magic trick. Such a move would probably require the Jedi to face and look at their target. Grip quickly surveyed the room: a little kid picking his nose; an obese Hutt eating barbeque; two women clinking crystal wine glasses; THERE. Across the room in formal clothes a man who was staring at their table. A likely culprit.
Grip immediately turned to the protocol droid tailing behind him. "Tell the bosses that three of their customers were just attacked again by the force- likely by a Jedi." The droid buzzed and ambled off.

"What's going on," said the gentleman who had had their mind taken over. "Words just tumbled out of my mouth like cereal from a box. Who is this Jedi Council?" He slammed his chips on the table. "I'm out."
The old lady grasped at Grip's arm, her face white. "Is this a demonic possession?"
"No miss, it's a criminal who is after your credits. Your life may be in danger."
"He's not gettin my credits." She scooped several stacks of blue and red chips into her purse before tossing another pair of dice.
Grip let his hand fall to his blaster as he eyed his likely assailant across the room. It seemed incredible that a Jedi would ask him to turn himself in by using everyday people as puppets. So uncivilized. Guess the Jedi Academy had lost its touch.

@Kryptonis