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Warm Breezes [GM] (Closed)
TheTraveler — 06/25/2021
Warm Breezes
Summer Palace, Austerity,
Delphin, Baklid VI
11.04.0969
Master Thoin sits silently in the back of a dark speeder going over the reports and information provided to him by SunCo’s new head of operations here on Baklid. He frowned deeply, as he read each document carefully. Their ability to gather intelligence was reported to be top tier among the corporate elites in the Core. Even rivaling those of the Republic. As he flipped page to page, he started to question those rumors. His attention and focus were broken when the speeder door opened and his former Padawan slid in next to him, “they have an image of the person you engaged during the Hotel fiasco.”
Quinn looked at the image, “yeah that’s him.” He studied the image carefully, “I thought it looked a lot like a Shadow Stalker.”
Master Thoin nodded, “and the woman in the Hotel could be the darksider the Olivan agent was tracking before the Cathedral bombing.”
Quinn leaned back thoughtfully, unsure of the connection. “I don’t know. Maybe.” He turned to his former Master, “I have a special request Master. More like a favor, and it is important to me.”
Master Thoin set the Datapad down, “really? Go on.”
“It’s Astra Korraay,” Quinn said softly. “I think she is in trouble with the Dooku’s. I don’t have all the facts yet…” he fell silent for a moment.
“But…” Master Thoin encouraged.
“I sense that she is in need,” Quinn said softly.
“Of all the Legacy Families, the Dookus are one of the most secretive,” Master Thoin said in a thoughtful voice, “with the passing of Lord Serrano, I have no contacts within them.” He smiled, “but I know someone who does.”
“Master, Astra has personally asked me to ensure that her location doesn’t become known to them,” Quinn’s voice was nearly begging. “Please they can’t know.”
He nodded, “I will make sure of it. So did you find out about our lost little spy?”
“Master?” Quinn said softly and confused.
“Roza,” he explained.
“She was killed,” Quinn said with a hint of grief in his voice. “Murdered like the others,” he added.
“Interesting,” Master Thoin said softly, “Did you question her why the death wasn’t reported?”
Quinn’s face turned sour, “I didn’t meet with Astra to interrogate her!”
The old master laughed, “I guess you are right.” He ran his hand over his bread, “I don’t suppose she would know either.” He picked up the data pad, “not that SunCo was very helpful after all.”
Quinn shifted in his chair, “they lied?”
Once more the man laughed, “they are corporates, of course they lied.” He brought up a file, “here, the best they offer is suggestions and possible motives of what Durro is doing.” He frowned deeply, “so why is Durro Thel-Tanis going to Baklid 2?”
Quinn shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t know. There is a large black market there. Especially in stripping and reselling stolen spacecraft. If I remember correctly,” he said with a slight hint of confusion in his voice.
“Thel-Tanis has a ship. That stolen Arc-170,” Thoin said flipping through the files. “Still the files are useful enough. And I don’t sense any attempt to deceive us regarding Baklid 2.” He tapped the glass that separated them from the droid driver, “to the temple,” the old man ordered.
“So, what are we going to do,” Quinn asked softly.
“One thing I have learned about these Corporate types,” Master Thoin said as he leaned back in his seat. “They lie, but there is always enough truth to be useful.”
“So you will keep your word,” Quinn inquired.
“The Prime Minister is a monster,” Master Thoin said with a deep frown on his face. “Sadly, we can’t touch him. But this Lady Ava Forma is no Jedi. Let her expend her resources and deal with this monster.” He turned to Quinn, “we have Durro Thel-Tanis and a Darksider to capture. This is our venue, and our priority.”
“So you have heard back from the Council,” Quinn said with surprise.
___
The old man nodded, “based on the evidence, they had chosen to support my call for a Darksider Hunt. Sha Koon and her forces will remain in system under my command. I have ordered her to move her capital ships in to position to blockade the system’s two hyperspace egress points.” He drew in a deep breath, “Durro Thel-Tanis will not escape me.”
“And the Darksider, Master?”
“We will go to Baklid two. Capture them both, and then Thel-Tanis will tell us what he knows of Olivan,” Master Thoin said softly as he looked forward.
“Master,” Quinn said shifting in his seat uncomfortably.
Once more laughter filled the back of the speeder, “stay, look after the girl and trust that her secret will remain ours.”
He nodded his head, “thank you Master.”
“Don’t thank me yet, Quinn,” he said with a smile. “This is the first Darksider Hunt in nearly ten years. Hunters from across the Galaxy are biting at the bit to join. Whoever takes her down will have fame and glory.” There was a hint of dry humor in his voice.
Quinn smiled, “true, but Korraay is in pain. I can feel it.”
He turned and looked at his former Padawan, “you feel guilty over the death of her friend.”
He shook his head quickly then stopped and gave a sad nod, “I….” he choked up slightly.
“Relax Quinn,” he said softly. “We don’t know if it was our plan that led to the girl’s death.”
“But Master,” Quinn turned in surprise and spoke in shock. “She was murdered like all the others. There has to be a connection.”
“Does there,” the old man questioned. “Why?” he turned his head and gazed at the younger man. “So, you can feel somehow better, cause all this time you thought she blew you off.” He rested a hand on the young man’s shoulder. “Lad, I know you felt horrible about it. You felt that she lied to you, to us.” He paused and smiled softly as if realizing a truth, “to you.” Quinn looked down in shame. “Quinn, even if she had. Her actions were those of her own. They don’t reflect on you or who you are.” He turned and rested back in his seat, “let’s say you are right. The girl’s death is connected to our Olivan investigation. What then?” He paused a moment before continuing, “your involvement now would place Ms. Korraay in danger. Do you still wish to remain and protect her? Or shall you vanish into the shadows and take the danger away with you.”
Quinn shook his head, “no….” there was a sense of strength in his voice. “If there is a connection than she is already in danger. Nothing can change that now. So, I will do what I failed to do for Roza. I will protect her and her child.”
The old man chuckled, “as if there was any doubt in your actions.” He pulled up his comlink and hit the open channel button.
A few moments a man’s voice came over, “Master Thoin.”
“Commander, ready the ship. We are going to Baklid Two.” He paused a moment, “Knight Quinn will not be joining us.”
“Sir” there was clear questioning in the man’s voice.
“With Knight Quinn’s absence on the mission. I would like to change my pool choice. Put me down for Frobev finding the Darksider.”
There was a hint of laughter on the other side of the comlink, “yes Master. It is done. Is there anything else?”
“No, I am on my way. We depart once I arrive.” On that Master Thoin closed the link.
“Frobev,” Quinn said in disbelief. “Over Sha Koon or even Raek?”
He smiled and nodded, “while they have field experience, Frobev is like you. A natural tracking machine.”
Quinn smiled, “I’m flattered.”
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