The Pit - Part 1

The Pit - Part 1
Date of Scene:	15 January 2024
Location:	The Underworld - Coruscant
Synopsis:	Annelia and Volken find Cayde in a predicament.
Cast of Characters:	Cayde Alexis, Volken Mons, Annelia Belask

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Cayde Alexis has posed:
    The world below the upper tiers of Coruscant is a place most officials would like to forget about. Even here on the "gem" of the Galactic Republic, it's filled with aging and poorly maintained buildings and littered with trash from the more affluent levels above. Those who live here are mostly here because they don't have a choice for one reason or another.

    Tonight though, the Pit--a bar well known in criminal circles for hosting pit fights is bustling more than usual. Some kind of special tournament going on...and well, the populace down here certainly isn't lacking in the bloodthirsty.

    There is a long line out the front door of the rusted-looking establishment, full of rowdy and impatient ne'er-do-wells, and the betting has already begun.

Volken Mons has posed:
He certainly didn't expect to be back here so soon. Volken's last vacation to Coruscant just ended up with him having less fun and more high blood pressure at the antics of his fellows and he was quick to finally make good on his desire to head off world and find trouble elsewhere and away from the clan drama that drove him from Mandalore in the first place.

But, it would seem, that circumstances have a way of drawing you back to where you don't want to be. A need to get to Naboo for..reasons...has pushed him towards meeting contacts back here on the jewel of the core worlds and once more he finds his mammoth figure walking the streets of its deepest levels.

Getting here and moving unseen was easy enough. It shoudl be no surprise that in an ecumenopolis if you don't -want- to be noticed you don't have to be and contrary to his behavior at times, Volken knows when and how to be discreet. Not openly wearing his beskar on the upper levels is a start of course.

However, word and rumor of this 'Pit' reaches him while negotiating his 'no questions asked' transport off world to Naboo. He's got a bit of a wait and so...why not?

This leads to the mammoth man making his way down the streets of these deep dark and dangerous sections. Here, his armor is on and his massive weapons, though peacefully contained, are upon him. A heavy pancho sits overtop it all but it basically makes him look like a walking tank with huge biceps that's approaching the club to study the long line from across the street. His helmet is on but his stance pretty much indicates clear interest...

Annelia Belask has posed:
    Even as Volken approaches, a perhaps-distressingly familiar face steps -out- of the 'Pit'. Escorting one sort of unsavoury sort or another out of the structure and into the waiting vehicle of some of the planetary security forces who don't quite manage to pull off their plain-clothes presence here, she dusts her hands idly on a loose bit of fabric of her robes, taking a moment to take in the air outside the place.

    Of course, even if one doesn't want -overall- notice, heavy footfalls are heavy footfalls, and some 'sorcerers' have good ears. So it is that that familiar face, framed in tied-back orange hair, finds itself looking at Volken as he draws nearer, a curious look on her face. No upset or anything, just some mild surprise really.

    "I was given to understand you were headed off-planet, no?" she calls to the large man.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    The security officers are...eager to get out of here, to say the least. They know this isn't their turf, and that they are terribly outnumbered. They quickly thank her and take off.

    But even as she calls out to Volken, she'd feel a...slight pull in the Force. Another familiar presence nearby. Inside the bar...

Volken Mons has posed:
"You gotta be kidding me." rumbles Volken's voice with a mix of both surprise, sarcasm and irritation. He's not upset per se but this is hardly the type of person he both wanted to and -expected- to see.

The CSF presence, despite their efforts to nto be seen, don't go unnoticed either and Voken just grunts and reaches up to place a hand ontop of his helmed head as he shakes it. His pair of repeator cannons bang against the sides of his legs as he turns fully towards the jedi woman.

"You sorcerers got some sort of tracking magick on me or something?" he questions, "I keep running into you folk and getting nothing out of it but headaches."

He then belts out a rough laugh as if his mood just switched with the rapidness of flicking a light switch.

"Don't tell me you're here to do some fighting in -there-? Isn't this place a little dirty for you sorts?"

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "I am a duellist, not a brawler- the pit is not for me," says Ann simply, shrugging it off as she turns back to the building, head tilted a little. "Just offering a little assistance as someone less likely to be perturbed moving through a space."

    She pauses a moment, frowning a little as she turns more fully to the building. She exhales slowly. "Well. I have no trakcing on -you-. I do have an unexpected one on... someone? Sorry to break the news, but there might be another force-user inside. Whether it's someone -aware- of that... not sure yet. Seems familiar, but..." She pauses. "Ah. I think I have a guess. Care to join me?"

    And on that note she strides to re-enter the building without another word.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Finally, the line moves and Annelia and Volken are able to make it inside. The place is quite crowded, as perhaps was expected. There is a bar to the west side of the building, and a second level balcony with additional tables.

    In the center of everything, is a fighting ring surrounded by a cage. There is also an open platform elevator on the east side of the building, opposite the bar, that goes up to the balcony. Although the more astute observer may be able to tell that the shaft also extends somewhere below the first floor as well, suggesting that there may be a lower level.

Volken Mons has posed:
"A duelist eh? There's a certain guy wielding a sword made out of beskar I wonder how well you'd do against that I wouldn't mind seeing knocked down a few pegs...." muses Volken with a sinister bemused tone to his low nearly unintelligibly deep voice.

The thought of yet -another- would be sorcerer being present isn't to disturbing to him.

This was his opportunity to just let her go on about her business and deal with matters. He could just walk away now but...

That's not in his character..

He seems to have gotten over any problems with being in the presence of this Jedi and he follows after her easily as she seeks entry. Indeed considering their appearence, they might even have an easier tie moving through the line and being allowed in and once inside, he turns about to get a good look at the place. "What a party!" he exclaims roughly before looking back towards Anne. "So...where's the friend you're picking up at? " Looking away fro her he attempts to glance about for any signs of holo projectors that may be showing fights happening or impending fighters.

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "I'm not... entirely sure yet," Ann admits, frowning a little as she looks over the room. The way she winces at certain noises and puts a hand to her ear, it's perhaps a little too much rowdy noise for her personal tastes.

    "With such a massive crowd of people, things are... in motion. I was always a little more ear to the ground with my finding people," she adds, moving through the crowd... well, one might say more easily than the large man, but well. People part for a mandalorian even when they're the regular type.

    Did she hear the comment about the beskar-wielding swordsman? Most likely, given her track record. Perhaps simply didn't care to respond.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Indeed, it's quite rowdy in here, and even more noisy than outside with all the sounds bouncing around the walls and ceiling. It gets even worse when the crowd starts chanting drunkenly at the arena, where a towering Dowutin the size of Volken is facing off against a Trandoshan. The fight seems to be nearing its end, as the Dowutin appears to be getting ready to finish off the Trandoshan. They are both bloodied from what must have been quite a brutal battle, but the apparent loser is definitely worse off. There's no fight left in him as he is lying prone on the floor of the pit, and the crowd continues to egg the victor on to end his opponent, jeering and clattering mugs and utensils around.

    Over by the elevator, a bouncer is holding a datapad with a smaller line of people in front of him. It seems that is where the fighters sign themselves up.

Volken Mons has posed:
An amazing sight it is - when the giants of the galaxy are compared to you in size and you appear to be 'only human' on the surface. But Volken is quite obviously more then that and he no doubt cuts a visually striking image even among this crowd as he wanders through it behind the Jedi Knight. To be certain, the jedi he is accompanying is adding to any visual spectacle for those that bother to notice them both.

Fortunantely while attention grabbing in their own right the fight is holding more attention and they are able to move without much hinderance though Volken seems to nod in agreement with her at the volume.

"Yeah. It's great!" he rumbles having to raise his voice to that of a low thunder to be heard. "Buuuuut....the best things come in paced out doses, yeah?" he's forced to admit.

He focuses his attention on the fight between teh Dowutin and Trandoshan and his eyes hood as he studies the condition of both and then considers the crowds thoughtfully.

"Hmm....is this a deathmatch? Stupid.." he muses. "Waste of fighters if so. Especially over nothing worth risking yourlife for. Hope they aren't that dumb."

With that said he begins to make his way closer to the bouncer managing the signups. "Accidents probably happen though! Hope you find your 'friend'. This crowd's a ticking time bomb."

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "I'll guess you're here for the fight, then?" Ann notes back, glancing over her shoulder at Volken as she circles the room, eyeing people signing up for fights or who might be seeing to fighters who've been injured, or anything to that effect.

    "Or maybe to be -in- it, not just watch..." she mumbles halfway to herself as he makes for the sign-up line.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Once the bouncer enters the names of the fighters on the datapad, they step onto the elevator and take it down into the lower level of the bar. Presumably that is how one enters the arena. Sadly, some of them don't look like they're doing it by choice, although down here in the lower city, perhaps that doesn't come as a surprise.

    As Volken approaches the line though, and as Ann's gaze follows him, they'll notice a familiar figure being ushered onto the elevator...

    Yep, that's definitely Cayde. He looks...paler than usual, and there is a vacant expression on his face. Annelia will immediately sense that something is off, but one may not need the Force to find that look a bit disturbing.

Volken Mons has posed:
"Weeellllll...I wanted to check the place out. I'm on business so I don't know if I've got the urge to get in there until I get a better grip on how the joint works.." muses Volken in answer to the Jedis' inquiry.

He inclines his head slightly as he looks over the process involved in the fighters being selected and heading down to the staging areas. He doesn't seem particularly surprised at some being forced into it. There are likely debts being paid off. Agreements being met. Individuals being coerced in.

He's not CSF. It's not his business... and even if a sense of duty and honor might prompt him to act....it'd take some serious prompting and a better idea of just whom he was acting on behalf of to get him into action. So for now he observes before any sort of rash movements, especially in a crowd of this size.

That is unti he sptos Cayde. He becomes totally silent. Outwardly a silent monolith. Inside of his helm, his mouth has dropped open slightly. He then rumbles, "You gotta be kidding me.." repeating his reaction to Anne from before.

No doubt Anne has already sensed and seen the young jedi but he still points him out, "Isn't that .....Cayde...?" So he knows his name now.

"Do you all need to lock that boy up in his room or something? Why do I keep seeing him down in these parts?? What's wrong with him?"

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "He wants to help," says Ann- and her tone is perhaps more suggestive of... problems, than anything.

    She's not the most imposing figure. Sure, she's athletic, and tall for a human woman, but this is an entire establishment full of the biggest and meanest species the galaxy has to offer. Still, it's rather as if none of those differences in size or frame matter as she marches for the elevator, ducking past people in line as she reaches to try and take hold of the boy's arm before he's ushered into the elevator proper.

    Oh would you look at that, at some point her outer robe was shifted back from her side, exposing the saber at her hip. What a silly random coincidence.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    "'Ey!" The bulky (although not as bulky as Volken) bouncer shouts gruffly as he tries to pull Annelia back before she marches onto the elevator in an attempt to do the same to Cayde, but he's not quite fast enough and it drops down to the lower floor before he can touch her, taking the two Jedi down into the staging area.

    The dimly-lit room below has lockers and several rows of benches. It reeks of sweat and blood. There is a door on the far end that must lead up to the fighting ring. There are several others down here, polishing their various weapons and armor. Another human woman around the same age notices Ann's lightsaber, and looks surprised. "Jedi, down here? You're here to get us out of this, right? ...Right?"

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "Apparently? I might be, unexpectedly," answers Ann, taking a moment to take in the staging area. She takes a step back, leaning towards the lift to listen for any sounds of shouting or being chased from above.

    And in the next moment she checks in on Cayde, leaning down slightly to look at his eyes more closely for a moment. "Padawan. Can you hear me? This will go much more smoothly if you can come to your senses."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    The woman frowns. "What do you mean? Why else would you be here?" she presses. She really seems desperate. There doesn't seem to be an evidence of being chased down here, for the time being, anyway, at least.

    Cayde looks...lost. His eyes seem to be staring into a non-existent distance. While Ann may not have seen this happen before herself, she's likely come across it at some point during her studies of the Force and its powers over the mind. People who were particularly attuned to that aspect of it had to be careful not to lose themselves in others' thoughts and emotions.

Annelia Belask has posed:
    Annelia sighs slowly, closing her eyes a moment to listen to the boy's breath- at least make sure he's staying consistent there.

    She straightens up, looking at the woman and smiling faintly. "I originally came here for an individual. Then caught a sense of this padawan being nearby- and followed him down here. I hadn't known of just... how this place was operating. Now that I see it? We will get something done, whether he recovers or not. Are you able and willing to help me? See whom of the others here would stay with us if matters come to blows? We are at a disadvantage in their basement here and I need to assess how we can use the space should it come to it. Once we are done with those things I will get you to show me where the workers here come and go from to keep control down here."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Physically, nothing seems to be amiss about Cayde. If one didn't know him and wasn't observant, one might not even be aware anything was wrong.

    The woman pauses a moment, watching her curiously. She arches a brow at Annelia...Jedi were weird. "Recovers? Why, what's wrong with 'im?" She sighs. "Dunno how much of a help I can be, but I'll do what I can. But I'd wager you'll have to get rid of--" She's cut off momentarily when the doors open again, revealing a short flight of stairs that leads up to the arena, where the Dowutin she'd seen earlier is still looming. Yet another contestant heads up--a fairly good-sized Devaronian with a big axe over his shoulder. "...him." the woman finally continues, glancing up at the arena champ. "Validus, Mr. Mongul's champion these days."

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "Mongul, hm?" Ann echoes, furrowing her brow slightly. Perhaps it's not a time to try to out-clever herself. She places herself between the oncoming champion and her new associate and the dissociated Padawan. Explanations can wait for later.

    "Validus," she calls across the room- perhaps not the most impressive voice, but she certainly looks out of place. "These people are here by force, I am told? Will that continue to be the case if I look to take them out of that circumstance?"

    Gee, don't introduce yourself or anything, Knight.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Unfortunately, it's far too loud up there, with the crowd making all kinds of noise, and Validus seems to be too focused on his new Devaronian challenger to have heard Annelia at all. Then, the door shuts again.

    The desperate woman scoffs slightly. "Doubt you'd be able to talk him down anyway." she mutters.
    Another voice pipes up from over by the lockers, this one belonging to a Rodian man. "Through a series of bad decisions of her own making, Zara owes Mongul a pretty heaping of credits. And what, you're just gonna...make it so she can get out of it without paying?"
    Zara glares at him. "Shut it!" she turns back to Annelia. "Uh, look...if you help me out, I'll...whatever's wrong with the kid, maybe I can do something about it, I know a thing or two about meds. Used to work for a cybernetics doc..."

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "I'm afraid that even if drugs started it, the boy's condition isn't so... physical, at this point," Ann notes to the apparent Zara, exhaling slowly.

    She turns to the Rodian, brow quirking. "Would you, in judgment of decisions, submit people to violent exploitation? Further, what more do you think is going on here? I have my sincere doubts that this padawan of the Order has managed to incur some grand pile of debt. So why is he down here? Why are you?"

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    "What, he's crazy?" Zara asks, making a circular motion with her finger near her temples. "I might have something for that too..."

    "Well maybe because I -want- a chance to beat Validus?" the Rodian replies rather haughtily. He shrugs at her question. "I don't know, he's -your- friend, isn't he?"

    Although Devaronians are known to be fairly tough, it seems the fight didn't last long, as a bell sounds and the door opens again. This time, Cayde starts going up there himself...

Volken Mons has posed:
"Yeah buddy!"

Volken's deep voice suddenlyb ooms into the staging area as the behemoth emerges into view, this time his Mandalorian armor quite visibly on display as he thunders in with about as much deliberate bravado as he can muster in order to cause whatever disturbance and distraction is needed for Anne to do wahtever she's doing.

He -assumes- this is needed .. considering he has no idea what's been happening and th exact situation.. but he -can- cause a bit o a stir when he puts his mind to it. He brings both of his colossal arms up into a massive double biceded flex, swelling them to sizes that give the impression of transprot vechicles under his skin with corded rope sized veins under their tattooed flesh as his menacing helm swivels about the room to look matters over. He then brings his fists together, causing sparks of energy and electricity to fly as his massive knuckle dusters collide.

"Whose placin' bets because my blood is pumpin'!!"

He starts forward, reaching up to pull his tattered pancho off to reveal his immense physique and stylized armor in full while approaching with heavy footfalls towards Annelia just as Cayde begins to make his way towards the arena entrance, "Nuh un! I can't let my wee lil'foundling go in ahead of ol'daddy dearest! Come on back boy! Respect yer elders!!"

Permission or no, he moves forward to try and grab for Cayde to prevent his departure unless someone tries to block him -- which will no doubt be another matter all together.

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "I have mentioned already his status as a Padawan of the order," notes Ann, reaching out herself to grasp Cayde's shoulder and engage the ancient and well respected Jedi technique of flicking the boy across the nose.

    Will it help? Probably not. Will it make her feel slightly better? Maybe a little.

    "I would not be so eager to fight, Mandalorian. It seems those less eager folk in the line may well be here in an indentured capacity."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Apparently before Ann gets a chance to answer her new friends, Volken barrels in and starts yelling to get everyone's attention. Which, at his size, he is quite good at. Heads definitely turn and stare. Now, there's someone who might have a chance against the towering Dowutin up there...Zara suddenly looks a bit more hopeful.

    Following the nose flick, Cayde does suddenly seem to snap out of it. Or maybe, it was Volken's booming voice, or a combination of both. More than likely though, the fact that Volken made everyone in the immediate vicinity turn their attention onto him, a singular target, had something to do with it. He blinks several times and stares at his surroundings, appearing disoriented. What...was happening?

    Meanwhile, the crowd and Validus are getting impatient. What was the delay? The next fight was supposed to be starting already!

Volken Mons has posed:
"Hey, hey, how ya doing."

Volken waves cheerfully at those present before slowing down as he approaches Cayde and Anne. Despite his antics and bravado..he -had- been paying attention and picked up on some things through casual conversation on the way down the lift and now Anne has just confirmed matters.

"No foolin'?" He asks of her, "Well...sounds like we got us a little problem then because Id on't think they're gonna let us just walk out. And I bet if you go in there just flashing that sorcery of yours around it's going to bring down on us the security of everyone who runs this place. So it sounds to me like we need some sort of distraction to get out of here. One of us is gonna have tog o up there and a half drugged out boy sorcerer is probably not the best idea, especially if you want your orders reputation to be kept nice and shiney.... Looks like I'm the best option... Unless you have some other plan""

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "My plan involved contacting the CSF to accelerate investigations into the place- but if you are offering to throw more tables, I won't stop you. I'd like to get Cayde back to the temple sooner than later anyways- get a check in from better healers than me and discuss how this happened. Even if part of me *does* like to picture leaving that devaronian's axe in shards and slag. I may be Irritated about the noise here, though."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    At this point, the crowd is booing because the next fight still hasn't started yet. A group of bulky bouncers show up on the elevator platform, armed with electrobstaffs. They grab Zara and start dragging her toward the stairs.

    "No! Please...I don't wanna die..." she begs, staring at Anne and Volken desperately. Cayde still isn't sure what's happening but it's clear this woman is in distress and doesn't want to go where they're taking her so he rushes in front of the door to the arena, trying to block their path.

Volken Mons has posed:
This spurs Vooken into action though no doubt only a heartbeat before Anne would act.

"Alright, alright!" Volken shouts, "I was just trying to get me a good luck kiss! Can't a guy have a heroic farewell from his family!? Don't you people know anything about good storytelling for these things? Damn!"

He steps forward, immediately moving to shove the bouncers out of the way to let him pass and block their attempts to drag the poor woman up the stairs to face Validus.

"Remember this." he says towards Anne, "Don't blow this distraction. I'm keepin' count of all the people who owe me!:"

WIth his helmet on, it's impossible to see the sarcastic smirk on his face but it doesnt take a Jedi to sense it in his tone.

WIth that, he starts talking up the steps, looking to give Anne a chance to do what she needs to do to get Cayde and anyone else out of there.