A Rough Interrogation

A Rough Interrogation
Date of Scene:	09 June 2025
Location:
Synopsis:	The group partners tenuously with Mondrian and Veena to question Hedicole about Dresda's death. Things don't go as planned.
Cast of Characters:	159, Pike Windu, Navi, Cayde Alexis

---

Athena (159) has posed:
Forty eight hours after having returned to Tenoo, the group that had gone to Vuundalla will receive an urgent text transmission from Master Rykard himself. The Marshal is apparently calling for an urgent debriefing regarding all that had transpired with Hedicole and Xera offworld, between all those who are in leadership of the colony save for a certain particular few.

He'd summoned them to his own quarters -- a strange place to meet, but he'd stressed the importance of this meeting being somewhat clandestine...

Pike Windu has posed:
    Pike arrives at the quarters and is admitted. The Jedi inspects the room's decor.

Navi has posed:
Navi makes sure to be on time for this meeting, unsure of what she's walking into. She'd been slightly less reliable in her particular duties since their return, but that was in order to take extra time to look in on Hedicole's family at least once a day, both to see if Hedicole had returned and to help safeguard the family from any danger that might come up.

She's never been inside the Master's quarters, and can't help a sense of curiosity. In her mind, it is probably austere and dignified. Perhaps it is what she expected... or perhaps not.

Athena (159) has posed:
Pike and Navi will probably won't be surprised by what they find inside -- it's very modest. A bed, a rug, a two futons, and a low table surrounded by pillows in the back corner.

Shortly after he arrives, the others trickle in - Master Yutelli, Thaarin, the doctor, Taryn San Tekka, the two security guards, Mondrian and Veena. Rykard hasn't yet arrived, but he'd let them know he's returning from the Temple in the valley and would be in soon. And last but not least, Vons, looking like he hasn't slept since anyone has seen him.

But before Navi can ponder the room's furnishings too much, she'll feel someone tap her on the shoulder very gently.

Navi has posed:
"A true Jedi Master's residence," Navi murmurs, inwardly raising her estimation of Master Rykard a few points as she watches the others trickle in. At the tap, she glances over her shoulder curiously...

Pike Windu has posed:
    Pike greets the other guests as they arrive. "Master Pike Windu. How do you do?"

Athena (159) has posed:
The two security guards do not reciprocate Windu's greeting. They give him a chilling look, and sit down on one of the futons. Vons gives Windu a lopsided grin. "Good see you made it back in one piece, too," he says. "I managed to convince Hedicole to come back. But I'm not sure if we're going to get anything else out of him..."

When Navi glances back to see who's tapping her gently, she'll find Thaarin standing directly behind her. He's cleaned up and no longer drunk or hungover. He moves to exit the tent, and beckons. "A brief, private word, if you don't mind?" he says demurely.

Navi has posed:
"Yes. But only until Master Rykard arrives," Navi replies softly, following Thaarin outside the tent. The looks of the security guards at Master Windu's polite greetings do her sense of impending trouble no favors, and Vons' obvious exhaustion draws a pang of deep sympathy. She pauses long enough to hug him briefly. "Thank you for finding him and convincing him to return. I've been looking in on his family, and they've been worried about him. We're all in your debt for bringing him home," she whispers. "I hope we can talk privately once this is over."

She releases him, somewhat reluctantly, and hurries after Thaarin.

Pike Windu has posed:
    "Thank the Force we all made it back at all." Pike smiles weakly.

Athena (159) has posed:
Thaarin nods almost imperceptibly, and heads outside. Vons has a pained look on his face when Navi thanks and hugs him, and he watches her longingly as she goes out after the tall blue alien man.

Once they're both outside, Navi will find the two of them under a beautiful tree full of exotic looking blue blossoms. Thaarin reaches up and picks one, offering it to her, his expression calm. "I wanted to apologize for my behavior the other night," he says in a tone that matches his expression. "It was foul, inappropriate, and I overstepped your boundaries. And if you feel the need to no longer associate with me, I understand completely and I'll do my best to keep my distance. However, if not, I want to reassure you that my feelings for you remain strictly platonic in nature. I was drunk, but it was all entirely an act. And I'm certain it was for you, as well." A brief pause. "Right?"

"Yeah," Vons says to Pike after a moment, looking defeated. "Thank.. thank the Force." But before the Master can further comment, the doctor pulls him aside, his expression anxious and uncomfortable, similar to how he'd seemed earlier. "I need to ask you something," he says gravely.

Navi has posed:
Navi accepts the blossom with a faint, sad smile. "It was, partly. Though I think you may want to be more careful of the potency of the drinks in the future. You gave me quite a fright at the end there," she advises gently. "Given how wild things got in that club, I was worried for your safety, but there was no way to go back to help you... not with a full-scale panic inside the club, and security thugs and other varieties of thugs roaming all over the city in the aftermath of the disturbance. I'm glad you were able to get out of there unharmed."

Pike Windu has posed:
    "Of course." The Jedi Master bows his head. I will answer the best I can."

Athena (159) has posed:
Thaarin's brows knit together suddenly, and for the first time, he looks visibly uncomfortable and genuinely concerned. "Wait," he says, those burning scarlet eyes of his searching her expression intently, "What do you mean, 'partly?'"

But Navi won't really get to answer, as at that moment, Master Rykard appears. He nods at Thaarin and Navi in turn. "Good morning, you two," he says, "Thank you for coming on such short notice. Shall we?" he says, holding the door to his habsuite open and gesturing for them to come back inside.

The doctor glances back towards the Master Yutelli briefly, then says to Pike. "Have the medics or the healers at the Temple ever had ... a reason to falsify records? Or omit details?" he asks quietly and fervently.

Navi has posed:
"Master," Navi replies, bowing from the shoulders to Master Rykard as he addresses them. "Right away." She moves to follow him inside, with a hasty whisper for Thaarin. "My fright was quite real... you're quite an actor."

Pike Windu has posed:
Pike scoffs. "The Jedi Order is thousands of years old. I would not be surprised if it has been done."

Athena (159) has posed:
Thaarin chuckles softly. "Oh, that," he says quietly, "that wasn't an act, actually. I was quite unwell yesterday. But you need not worry about me. I've endured much, much worse than several shots worth of liquor and a hangover. You would have wanted me out of the way, anyway, I can't imagine you'd have liked keeping track of a incapacitated drunk while saving lives." He takes the flower from her hand and tucks it behind her ear, but doesn't take a seat next to her. Instead, he moves to the opposite side of the tent and leans against a bulkhead, although once everyone is seated, there's an open spot next to her...

The doctor's frown deepens. "What about recently," he asks, "as in, within your lifetime--"

But then Rykard comes in, and the doctor abruptly cuts off, his expression glazing over. He goes back to the lounge area, and takes a seat on one of the futons.

Navi has posed:
Navi nods to Thaarin, a bit relieved to know he hadn't suffered too terribly. She hastily takes her seat, leaving the surprising flower perched in her hair. She doesn't want to throw it away, and she has no other practical place to put it.

She is a bit surprised to see the doctor hastily leave Master Windu's company as Master Rykard enters, but says nothing to Master Windu for the moment. There will be time for questions later. She hopes.

Pike Windu has posed:
    When Master Rykard arrives, Pike gives him his full atention.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Greetings everyone," Rykard says, "Thank you for coming at such a short notice," he continues. "The doctor has completed the autopsy of Dresda, and will be sharing the results of it with us today." He then nods at the doctor.

The doctor takes a moment to insert a small datastick into a holoprojector on the low table, and a copy of a report flickers into view. "Mostly internal hemorrhaging from a long fall," he says. "He did suffer a few third degree burns but they were not fatal. Seems he was the victim of some kind of explosion."

He glances over at Vons, Pike, and Navi, brows furrowing, as if asking them to confirm whether the facts line up or not.

Navi has posed:
"There is a disturbing rumor that the accident was no accident at all, but I can neither confirm nor deny the rumor. Not yet," Navi states, softly but clearly. "But an explosion does not seem typical of a mere accidental collapse, or a mere deadly fall. It cleaves more closely to sabotage. But who would want to commit such an act, and why?"

Pike Windu has posed:
    Alerted by the doctor's question, Pike reaches out with the Force to sense if the doctor is holding something back.

Athena (159) has posed:
"No, that makes sense," Vons chimes in. "Remember, Hedicole had said that Weniscio wanted him to modify a piece of equipment for him. He said that the task sounded like something he shouldn't have done." His brows furrow. "Unfortunately, this probably does implicate him in Dresda's murder."

The elder Master Jedi will find that even though the doctor seems fully present in the moment, his mind is chaos. He is thinking about other things. He'd received Cayde's full medical file from the Temple, and whatever he'd found in it had greatly displeased him. And the Arkanians. He's afraid of what they are attempting behind his back. He also has reason to believe that they'd exacerbated things the day that Dresda had died. Harrah is paralyzed from the waist down, but maybe that could have been avoided...

Navi has posed:
"Hedicole is a good man desperate to protect his family. He admits he made a mistake in trusting Weniscio, someone he considered a friend. I'm hopeful we can persuade him to cooperate with our investigation, and that we can protect him and his family, whom he cares about above and beyond his own life," Navi adds. "I can only ask that Hedicole is shown mercy for what was clearly a terrible mistake on his part, one he would not have made if he were aware of Weniscio's actual intentions."

"I also recommend that Weniscio be taken into custody. We do not yet know the full extent of his role in this tragedy, but he clearly had ill will toward his victims, and that is more than enough to see him jailed," she adds.

Pike Windu has posed:
    Pike nods in agreement as he considers the information he has. He decides to attempt a sharing with Navi.

Athena (159) has posed:
The blonde security guard, Mondrian cuts in rudely, almost cutting Navi off. "That's not how the justice system works," he growls, "you can't just 'show mercy' to a sleemo just because he says it was a 'mistake.' Plus, you're entirely basing this whole assumption of 'he wouldn't have done it if he'd known' on good faith. Which won't hold up in court, because he could have asked, he just didn't. He actively chose not to. And in my opinion, that's -worse-."

He leans forward, scowling. "You also can't just convict someone based on intent alone. I could want to murder you right now," he says in a dangerously calm tone of voice, "but if I never make any threats or actions that reveal I do, you can't throw me into a correctional vessel. We have no concrete evidence, other than Hedicole's word, that he's responsible."

He then leans on the back wall of the hab suite. "But sure, we can see what Wenisicio says."

As if on cue, a couple of the Graf security droids storm into Master Rykard's quarters, dragging in the hapless Dug, Wenisicio.

"What's the meaning of this!" Master Rykard says, standing suddenly.

Navi has posed:
"Is that so, Mr. Mondrian?" Navi retorts. "It just so happens I've heard a few rumors about /you/, too... ones I doubt you'd want this council to hear! Most of them are to the tune of, 'utter contempt for the rights of Republic citizens', 'eagerness for arrests to boost his reputation', and, 'abuse of his authority'. Perhaps you'd best be grateful I can't substantiate /them/. Yet."

She's probably just made herself a target in the arrogant security man's eyes, but better herself than Hedicole and his family! "I also recall stating that said mercy should be based on cooperation with our investigation, something you rather conveniently failed to mention. Perhaps you have found out something relevant recently? Something you are willing to share with the council?"

She has no chance to say more, or even to await an answer, because just then Weniscio is dragged in by a pair of Graf security droids. "That was quick," she murmurs. "Please do explain yourselves, Master Droid? You clearly were not expected here, especially with a guest in tow," she adds, at a more conversational volume.

Athena (159) has posed:
Mondrian just smirks at her, folding his arms. He doesn't seem to feel threatened by her at all.

The droid doesn't respond to Navi. It just stares at Navi, then turns around and then leaves.

Vons regards Wenisicio with furrowed brows. "We talked to Hedicole," he says. "he tells us you put him up to modifying a piece of equipment illegally. Is this true? And related to Dresda's death?"

The Dug coughs and shakes his head, to regain his composure. "That kriffing Chadra Fan is just telling his side of the story!" he cries. "He's just as wrapped up in all of this as anyone else might be! He hated Dresda's guts. He serviced the speeders used by the Sarlacc's Fangs, the bitterest rivals to Dresda's people, the Flowering Mandalorians. I know, stupid name. They're not Mandalorians. But you can ask him yourself... he won't deny it.... "

Navi has posed:
"I didn't think so. For someone with the word 'security' in your job description, you don't appear to do very much actual securing of this colony or its people," Navi adds.

She watches the droids leave, then looks to Wenisicio. "Is that so? I wonder just how much of a role you played in every last bit of those accusations. And just who else had a hand in them."

She looks to the council, ignoring Mondrian. "And just when did this colony become the centerpiece of a gang conflict? Those names he just rattled off don't sound in the least respectable. If anyone has any answers, I'd very much love to hear them."

Athena (159) has posed:
Weniscio points angrily at Navi. "Don't you put the blame on me for this!! This was all before we came here. And he asked for it. And if he didn't want to take them as clients, then he shouldn't have. But he did! And that's not on me!!"

Mondrian gets up, and saunters slowly over to the Dug. "Sarlacc's Fangs, huh? And the Flowering Mandalorians, too. You wanna tell me exactly how you got so familiar with them...?"

Weniscio's averts his gaze. "What? I didn't.. I didn't say I was," he babbles, "I know 'bout them, but--"

And then suddenly. Mondrian strikes the side of the Dug's face so hard that he collapses, his nose bleeding. "Ah!!! O-Ow!!" He whimpers. "Let's try that again," Mondrian starts.

But before Weniscio can answer, Thaarin steps in, his gaze steely and his eyes burning like hell's flames. "You'll stop," he says. "Treat him like a sentient."

Mondrian frowns, and for the briefest moment, looks intimidated. He backs away.

Pike Windu has posed:
    Pike listens closely and says nothing for now. When Mondrian strikes Weniscio, he is startled and steps forward to kneel over the injured al ien.

Navi has posed:
"Hedicole was desperate enough to protect his family that he was seeking a way off of this colony," Navi says. "By any means necessary. We only just saved him from taking passage with a trafficker in sentients... a slaver! Me, I want to know what he was afraid of, and I'm damned sure it wasn't Republic Security."

She moves to kneel beside Wenisicio. "I have no intention to beat information out of you, even if I doubt you'd spare any similar pity or mercy for me or anyone else, if our roles were reversed," she says, her tone low and angry. "It's clear to me that you know a lot more than you're telling. You know what Hedicole was afraid of. And you will tell us everything you know, or I'll gladly let Mondrian have you... or Xera Graf and her droids!"

Athena (159) has posed:
"Oh please!" Mondrian growls when Pike comes to kneel in front of Weniscio. "You're gonna treat him like some kind of VIP over a bloody nose? C'mon!"

The Dug growls. "Are you stupid, girl? What do you -think- he's afraid of?! It's -you-. It's -him-." He points emphatically at Mondrian. "It's all of you. You do gooding types! You have no idea what's it's like to never have... have nothing!!! You don't know what it's like, to have the system against you. To be afraid of gettin' jailed for bein'... bein' hungry! To always be looking over your damn shoulder, wondering if the BPIC is on your ass for just existing where they think you shouldn't!"

"Okay, look people. We're clearly not going to get anywhere without both of them present," Vons says. "Let's figure out a time and place for a joint interrogation, but after all of this. Yeah? Okay."

"I'll take him to medical," the doctor offers. "Master Windu, will you accompany me?" he says, getting up and helping the Dug to his feet.

Pike Windu has posed:
    Pike shoots a glare at the security man. Then he nods at the doctor. "Certainly."

Navi has posed:
"Somehow I doubt hunger is your usual motivation," Navi retorts softly to the Dug. Rising, she looks to Pike and the doctor. "Take every precaution against his escape, Master. The only thing we can trust about Mister Wenisicio is that he cannot be trusted, least of all to behave himself."

"Thank you Vons, Thaarin. That was promising to get extremely ugly," she adds gratefully to the two men.

Athena (159) has posed:
The doctor then hastily as possible exits the tent, helping the moaning Dug along. He glances at Pike. His expression is full of tension, repressed frustration. "Look," he says to Windu tenuously. "I know you don't like me very much. But I am going to need your help."

"I agree with Vons," Rykard says, "We can arrange a time to talk to both of them. It doesn't seem helpful to interrogate them individually."

Thaarin then stands, his expression becoming far away for a moment. Then he turns around, addressing everyone. "This is just a notion for the time being," he says, "but I have a suspicion, that Dresda dying did not surprise Xera at all. This could be because she knew it was going to happen, and said nothing, or, she knows more about your colonist's histories than she's letting on."

"I spoke with her the other day," he says, "and with some persuasion she told me about the man she'd gone to visit at the nightclub. He was a former lover of sorts, I think. And he'd done a number of favors for her in regards to recruiting for the Tenoo Initiative," he says.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    As Soren and Pike turn to take Weniscio away to medical, they'll find Cayde standing near the doorway, leaning against one of the structural supports.

Pike Windu has posed:
Pike grunts. "I am a Jedi. I will help anyone, no matter my feelings for them, if helping is for a good cause."

Navi has posed:
"Wait... recruiting? Was he behind the heavy recruiting drive on Jedha? I was there for that, and it was almost as chaotic as a riot," Navi adds. "It was one of a number of things that has given me great concern for the success of this colony. It's quite well known now that the initiative was close to failing in its recruiting numbers, until it very suddenly ballooned to the necessary levels. This individual may be behind that sudden recruiting spike."

Athena (159) has posed:
"Thank you," The doctor says, sounding relieved. "Look. I'm worried about the Arkanians. They poached some of the medical supplies from the main storage cache, and told no one. When I asked about it, they made the excuse that it was reasonable to think that we weren't in imminent danger of an emergency -- " And then Cayde turns up from out of the blue. He straightens, and turns to face the young padawan. "Hello, Cayde. Is everything alright?" he asks.

"Yes," Thaarin says demurely. "I believe he, and perhaps a number of others he's connected to within the Jedha government, were responsible for those numbers ballooning. Now, what that could mean, I'm not sure. I'm going to keep visiting her, and see if there's anything else I can glean from her."

Pike Windu has posed:
    Pike frowns. He is about to answer when they see Cayde. "Padawan."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde nods briefly toward both of them when Soren asks if everything is all right. However, it may seem odd as he is wearing his robe with hood up although it is a rather warm and clear day out.

Navi has posed:
"Thank you for looking into this, Thaarin. Please keep us informed of anything else you may discover," Navi replies, nodding. "I think I speak for everyone here when I say that this information is troubling. If this colony can become a safe home for sentients with no other place to go, I'm all for it. But I'm not sure that's what's happening. Not in light of recent events."

She looks sharply at Mondrian. "I also think that you and your people should make yourselves useful. No matter who you answer to on Coruscant, you are living /here/ right now. If this colony fails, you're in quite as much danger as the rest of us. Best you conduct yourselves accordingly... as contributing members of this colony."

Athena (159) has posed:
Soren sighs, shaking his head. Cayde won't need the Force to discern that he doesn't believe him, but he's too busy, stressed, and frustrated at the moment to try to addressing right now. He starts following Pike as he heads back to the medical ward with Weniscio.

Thaarin nods imperceptibly, Mondrian just scowls. "Well, it's certainly not you," he remarks sarcastically.

Rykard then stands, frowning at Mondrian, but nods at Navi's comment. "We will make this colony a safe haven, no matter what it takes," the elder Ikkrukki Master says. "For now, this meeting is adjourned. I must bring these matters before the Council."

He then gets up, goes out of his habsuite, and the others file out after him. He sees Cayde in the hallway, and beams. "Cayde! Did you find anything remarkable at the ruins?"

Navi and Thaarin will find themselves last to leave, with the tall blue alien just ahead of Navi. He hesitates in the doorway. "Navi..."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    [Master] Cayde signs in reply. He nods and takes out a datapad, beginning to show him some scans he'd taken of several ancient texts he doesn't know how to read, and more of those birds that look like the one they'd ridden on the first time.

Navi has posed:
"Of course not... I wouldn't want the responsibility for cleaning up your messes," Navi retorts to Mondrian. "But I'm hardly the only one in this colony with eyes and ears. If you continue to treat sentients like they're nothing to you, you'd best be prepared to have those feelings reciprocated if this colony fails. Consider that warning with all due care."

She nods to Master Rykard as he adjourns the meeting, waiting her turn to leave. Finding Thaarin wishing to speak with her, she pauses. "What is it?" she asks softly.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Oh!" The elder Ikkrukki Master says, clearly delighted. "Excellent... these look to be at three thousand years old. Well done," he says to Cayde with a chuckle. He then peers at the scans of the birds. "They seem to have quite an affinity for you," he says, "did you find where they roost...?"

Thaarin sighs quietly. "I'm so sorry for using you in the manner I did," he says, "I got what I wanted, but at what cost? I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Navi has posed:
"I went along with your plan in spite of my misgivings, because I felt it was the only way. I've already forgiven you for any wrong you may have done me," Navi replies softly to Thaarin. "Please, don't beat yourself up on my behalf. I know you meant no harm. And it looks like we did accomplish something for our efforts... we cracked Lady Xera's shell. With the blessings of the Force, we may yet save her, and this colony."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Yes, it is a bit strange, but perhaps his new feathered friends are drawn to his ability to connect with them without the need for any civilized language.

    He nods at the question, and opens a map of the valley, where it appears he has marked a few different nesting locations around the ruins. But what were they? Had anyone yet classified them?

Athena (159) has posed:
Thaarin forces a faint smile, but it's so utterly convincing that Navi won't be able to tell it is. "You should be less cooperative~" he says teasingly, sofly, sweetly.

"You should be less forgiving, less kind, less feeling." He affectionately adjusts the flower in her hair, as it had been sagging a little. "Lest a vile creature or animal come and destroy you, for being too pure and good."

"You should ask the locals," Rykard says with a nod. "My young padawan, you've done so well in the past few days. Finding Hedicole, helping rescue him from the slavers even though he was not grateful for it. And then the ancient texts you found. I'm quite proud of you... But now I must send a report to the Council." He pats Cayde on the shoulder and then heads out.

Navi has posed:
"I'll take care of that when it happens. Probably with a lightsaber," Navi replies softly, with a faint smile of her own. "Someday you'll make some sweet girl very, very happy, Thaarin. Please invite me to the wedding when that happy day comes."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Right, maybe someone in Kublop knows. But when his master pats him on the shoulder, he winces just a little bit. But it quickly passes, and he takes out one of those small tiles Thaarin had given him and starts a simple but accurate as possible representation of the giant yet friendly birds from the valley.

Athena (159) has posed:
He chuckles softly. "Well, you will," he says. "but I won't. If I stay here in the Outer Rim until the day of my death, I may. But I cannot. And I will not." For the briefest moment, he looks wistful and very sad. But as quickly as the look comes, it goes. "There will come a day, when I have to leave, and you'll never see me again. I hope that by then, you'll have found someone and discover that forgetting me is quite easy." He brushes a stray strand of her hair away from her face, and then exits the tent. He sees Cayde, and comes up silently behind him, observing the drawing without saying anything for a moment. Then suddenly, he says, "Those are the birds that take you to the valley, aren't they?"

Navi has posed:
Navi hugs Thaarin tightly as he looks sad. "It'll happen wherever you go, Thaarin. I'm sure of it," she whispers. "Even if I never get to see you together, I'll be happy for you. May the Force be with you."

She releases him and watches him walk out of the tent, brushing a tear from the inner corner of one eye. Mastering her emotions, though not without effort, she leaves the tent at last.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde startles rather dramatically, dropping the tile and stylus. They clatter to the floor as he jumps and turns suddenly to face Thaarin, his eyes wide. He surely would have screamed if he could. But as it is, he just scrambles to pick up the items he'd dropped. Ugh, he'll never get used to that.

    When Navi leaves, he watches her momentarily, considering following her for a moment. But this time he doesn't.

Athena (159) has posed:
Thaarin laughs, which isn't something that happens very often, and hugs the young padawan tightly from the side.

He squeezes his shoulder affectionately. "Isn't precognition one of the many specialties the Force lends to the Jedi?" he teases.

"That was a nice drawing," He tells him, "perhaps we could go into Kublop Springs to find out more about them, what do you think?"

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde flinches slightly again when Thaarin squeezes him, then shakes his head.

    [Not everyone] he signs, pouting a bit.

Athena (159) has posed:
The tall blue alien smiles faintly and releases him. "Then perhaps one day you'll learn it," he says softly.

"I'll see you later, alright? Perhaps you'll feel like going into town then ..." and with that, he heads out.