| Owner | Pose |
|---|---|
| Athena | Within minutes after Cayde has discovered that the clone has once again disappeared, Rykard goes looking for Cayde to see what they'd been up to while he'd been talking to the Mandalorians. Upon arriving, he frowns, seeing that the clone is gone. "What happened?" he asks Cayde, and Zetha, who had likely arrived at the clone's room shortly after Cayde. "Cayde, you said the baron had been here earlier?" Neither of them may get to reply, though, within seconds of Rykard arriving, the elder of the two Mondrians arrives, his face contorted with rage and worry. "Where's my sister?" he demands, his fists clenched. Wherever Navi might be, she might have glimpsed him running through the hospital, pushing nurse droids and hospital staff aside rudely. |
| Cayde Alexis | Cayde was looking at that note on the berth that Jasper had left when Rykard enters, frowning pensively at it. Well, he supposed he'd already helped as much as he could. The padawan nods toward his master, then tries to focus his efforts on locating the baron again. He can't have gone far, right? That's what he's doing when the elder Mondrian arrives, and thus does not acknowledge the much grumpier officer's presence. |
| Navi | Navi, in the meantime, is looking for Zetha. The Twi'lek girl's cries for help were good motivation to find her. But her progress is briefly halted by a different noise; the thuds, clatters, protests, and beeps of hospital staff and medical droids being pushed aside by none other than Mondrian The Menace. She pauses, shaking her head slowly, watching him bulldoze his way down the hall. "And to think he wonders why I keep him out of my investigations," she grumbles, before pelting off after Zetha. |
| Zetha Rumir | Zetha glances to Rykard and then to Cayde before looking back. "Baron? What Baron?" She seems to have a confused look on her face. "There was a Mandalorian named Jasper who found me in Soren's office. Said he wanted to see someone in this room but needed a distraction. I tried to call for help, chased after Jasper when he bolted, and that's when Cayde caught up to me...we followed him here and...." She trails off at this point. Looking to the other man who's demanding to know where his sister is. "This is getting so weird." She looks around again before putting pieces together. "Is Jasper a Baron?" Yes. Ignoring Mondrian (M) for the time being, especially since she doesn't know where his sister is and is more concerned with other issues at the moment. |
| Athena | Indeed, he isn't far, but his presence is quickly fading, heading vaguely in the direction of the outskirts of town. But Rykard is reaching out to him via the Force. <Cayde, answer me. What happened here? Do you know where the clone went?> "I'm not sure," the elder Jedi replies to Mondrian (M). "She left a little while ago. Navi was able to heal her, through the Force. You might want to try asking her." Growling angrily, the other Mondrian storms off, now in search of Navi. "Well," Rykard says to Zetha. "In all likelihood, the man you saw in the doctor's office was the Baron, the host of the clone who was being held in the trauma unit previously. He seems to have been frightened and run off, however." "I think he's a Mandalorian noble, but Cayde would know better..." Navi's pursuit of Zetha will be interrupted by the young Tholothian man who goes by at least three names. "Navi!" He touches her arm gently. <There's something important I need to tell you. About the laboratory> |
| Navi | Navi pauses as 'Crane' approaches. "Okay, but I'm looking for Zetha. She seemed to be in trouble not too long ago. Do you know where she is?" she asks. "Talk while we walk," she suggests, walking in the general direction she had been going. |
| Cayde Alexis | Cayde frowns, concentrating on trying to narrow down the baron's location. <I don't know...he left...he does not want to be found> He tells his master, and hands him the note that Jasper had left. He shakes his head at Zetha. [That is not his name] he tells her. [Not his real name...] |
| Zetha Rumir | Zetha shakes her head, knowing she's in too deep now but a lot of her is screaming that she should get out of all this while she can. "He'll come looking for me. Jasper I mean...to fulfill a promise he made since I did him the favor of distraction. Which wasn't what I was going for...I was hoping someone would be close enough to hear me and catch him quicker." Then she shifts and begins to walk away, but Cayde's hand movements catch her. She laughs, but it's not like haha laughing...more like...realizations and disbelief. "Because of course it's not. That makes more sense...I don't want to know his real name. And if it's all the same to you both...I am not staying a moment more in this hospital." A look to Cayde. "You know how to contact me if I'm needed..." Then she turns and continues to exit stage left, to go downstairs and towards the big hold in the wall exit... |
| Athena | 'Crane' nods eagerly. "Let's find her together," he says. He looks around furtively then takes Navi's hand as they walk, letting her take the lead. <Did Cayde get my message? Perhaps you have at least a vague idea about where the laboratory is. I still don't know exactly where it is, but I'm hoping that the bird was able to help Cayde get a clearer picture of where it is, and how to get in. Recently, I learned that none of the possible entry points are on a timed schedule. That means Zetha getting in through the baron's graces is our only hope. I've charted a path towards the laboratory that I believe will be safe. You'll be able to use it to follow Zetha from a distance up until a point. After that, I cannot help you. There are zones I'm not familiar with> he projects to her gently. <I fear the worst, Navi. The Arkanians keep secrets even from the baron, and he grows restless. I don't know what it could mean. But it can't mean anything good> Rykard studies the note carefully frowning. "This behavior seems natural to me," he says, "he fears the other Mandalorians." he sighs. "I know of it," Rykard says to Zetha. "Mondrian told me. I know you're scared, but you need not be. You won't be alone, and we'll take precautions," He reassures her as she starts to leave. |
| Navi | "I don't know. I wasn't with him at the time, given his tendency to wander. I was trying to keep an already-out fire between Mondrian and some Mandalorians from flaring back up again," Navi says, scowling a little. "It probably means /another/ crisis... the very dirt from the ground of this rotten planet seems to breed them," the Sethi adds resignedly. "I can't get back to the Core soon enough..." |
| Cayde Alexis | Cayde shifts a bit uneasily. Why did it have to be her, again? [Maybe he has helped as much he can] he offers, once Rykard comments about the note. [We can find the gate] Then, he starts following Zetha out. |
| Zetha Rumir | With Zetha and Navi practically being on the same path - both going towards the other - when she crosses the Sethi's path and sees Crane with her, she gives a smile. "Finally. More friendly faces..." She offers, shifting enough so that's she's heading towards the pair. |
| Athena | "I'm sorry," 'Crane' offers. "I heard you all were going to Coruscant soon?" He pats her arm. <Look, I love you and trust you in this matter. You'll do the right thing, I'm sure. And even if it doesn't turn out well, your good deed will still count towards you.> He squeezes her hand reassuringly. When 'Crane' sees Zetha, he leaves Navi's side and hurries over to her. "Zetha," he says, taking her by the shoulders and squeezing them gently. "I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner," he says, "are you feeling alright now?" Rykard frowns. "The gate...?" He follows Cayde as he exits the room, looking puzzled. |
| Navi | "Not yet, but I'm hopeful," Navi replies to 'Crane', in reply to both his spoken and unspoken comments. "Oh, Zetha... there you are. I heard you calling for help earlier and was trying to find you. Looks like Cayde and Master Rykard found you first." She watches 'Crane' move to reassure Zetha, and feels a pang of guilt for mistrusting him. Never mind that she has /very good/ reason for it... |
| Zetha Rumir | Zetha smiles at Crane as he approaches her. "I'm fine..." She offers, though that's never really a true statement from her. "Pieces are coming together that I don't like. But...I have our way in. Even if what I had hoped when calling for help didn't work out the way I intended...I think I'll still be given access to the laboratory from Jasper. Who I now know what I didn't before, and maybe others knew but didn't tell me...that this Jasper guy is really some Mandalorian Baron?" Which is really all broken pieces of information based on what happened earlier." |
| Cayde Alexis | [Yes the clone showed us] Cayde replies, nodding. Master had seen the same memories he had, right? He eyes 'Crane' as he squeezes Zetha's shoulders affectionately. So, now they were seeing each other or something? Well, that was a bit awkward. But it didn't bother Amarik, apparently. Another nod toward Zetha's question. [He has done something] he signs to her. [Volken know more] |
| Navi | "Jasper and that Mandalorian baron are two different people. I can understand the confusion, since I'm not real clear on just who or what this Mandalorian noble's title is, or even if he's a real baron or whatever," Navi adds, to clarify. "But they're different people. The baron has some kind of interest in the clone. Again, not sure what that is." |
| Athena | He gazes at her fondly and then embraces her gently, looking relieved afterwards. "You're really brave for doing this," he says, "and the Jedi are going to accompany you, right?" "Hmm, yes," Rykard says, but Cayde will be able to tell that Rykard is internally criticizing his use of words. He nods at 'Crane's' question. "Yes, we'll accompany her," he says, "and we'll be ready to follow discreetly once she lets us know she's ready to go," he says, looking over at Zetha. "The baron considers the clone his property," Rykard tells Navi, "I can understand his desire to be free." He then motions for the group to follow him out of the hospital. As they're walking, Navi may glimpse Mondrian (F) outside in the hospital garden, still sulking. She still has Navi's jacket too. |
| Navi | "Thank you for clearing that up, Master," Navi says to Rykard. "Pardon me just a moment." She jogs over to speak to Mondrian (F). "Don't worry about the jacket. Just return it whenever you can. But I thought you'd want to know that your brother's inside the hospital looking for you, stomping and pushing people and droids around. You might want to find him before he plows into an operating theater and creates a PR nightmare for Republic Security." |
| Zetha Rumir | Zetha returns the gentle embrace from Crane but her expression after is one of confusion. "Wait. Rykard had mentioned the word Baron just a moment ago. That the man I saw in Soren's office -was- the baron, and the host of the clones. Which makes sense because when we found the two clones in the gorge I made a comment that they -looked- like Jasper..." Did no one hear her when she said this? "I am now sorely confused, and I feel like information is being kept from me. Whether by accident or intentionally no longer matters. If someone doesn't give me the whole of it soon then I'll march right up to Big Bad and Scary myself and ask him point blank. No more secrets or run arounds or games. You all seem to know things that I don't and that's going to make it much more dangerous for me in the long run if I am going to be doing anything more for any of you. So out with it. Or I'm walking away until someone decides the stupid little junkyard orphan can hold her own well enough and deserves the full truth." |
| Cayde Alexis | Cayde stares at his master, wondering what word he'd used wrongly. Ugh...he sighs. [Slavery is not right or legal] he remarks about the baron considering the clone to be his property. At Zetha's outburst that she isn't being told everything, he again shifts uncomfortably, glancing at 'Crane'. [It is complicated...you are not stupid] |
| Athena | Mondrian (F) looks up. She gives Navi a contorted expression, one full of confusion, regret, and anxiety. "Sorry," she blurts. "It's just that --" But then before she can finish her sentence, the other Mondrian (M) does barge onto the scene. "What the kriff, Co-Deputy, where have -- dammit! What the hell! There you are!" He narrows his eyes at Navi. "What. Happened. Why did you let her get hurt?" 'Crane' looks genuinely confused. "I.. I don't know, what do you mean?" Rykard nods at Cayde. "You are right," he says to the young padawan. "I wished there was more we could do for the clone," he says, "but at this point, all we can do is hope that the Force is with him, and that the other Mandalorians do not wrongly put him behind bars." Then his brows arch. "You make a compelling point," he says to Zetha. "Perhaps there's more than one clone? Or, the baron has a twin brother..." It is something to consider, but Zetha may not get to comment on it, as she'll notice that suddenly, they're being approached by the local constabulary and the mayor himself, Hedge Niklas. "Ah.. Marshal, and hello to you too, Cayde. I.. have some bad news for you." |
| Navi | Navi rests a hand sympathetically on Mondrian's (F's) shoulder. She doesn't have the chance to offer any sympathetic words before Mondrian (M) stomps into view in a cloud of bluster. "And I bet you wonder why I don't include you in my investigations," she says, evenly but irritably. "You can calm down, right now, or I'm gone. I've got other business to take care of, and it doesn't begin to include your noise." |
| Zetha Rumir | Zetha's glance shifts to Rykard and she seems to slump a little. "Perhaps. Who knows at this point..." There's not much more she wants to say about the matter as a whole and she might see if she can find Volken herself if he's still on the planet and ask him questions without the Jedi or Republic people around. Since no one is really forthcoming with much more information, the Twi'lek turns to make her leave just as the mayor is approaching the lot. "Any chance I can skip the bad news?" She asks, perhaps cheekily, but with a point of wanting to just bolt for home at this rate. |
| Cayde Alexis | Cayde shrugs. [I think twin maybe] he conjectures. [Looking the same but is different] he answers as best he can. When Zetha starts to leave, he touches her shoulder gently to try to get her attention. <Wait...I can show you everything> he offers. The padawan glances at the mayor. [What is wrong] he asks. |
| Athena | "I -am- calm!" Mondrian (M) fumes, fists clenched, a vein in his neck bulging like it's going to burst. But beneath the angry lines stretched taut across his expression there's an undercurrent of real concern. "What happened. What happened?!" Mondrian (F) won't look at her brother. She looks upset again. "Oh, hello there, Zetha! Congrats," Niklas says, glancing at 'Crane'. "The bad news isn't for you. How, er, is your mother?" Rykard frowns. "This doesn't come as a surprise to you padawan?" Rykard says. Then he turns his attention to the local constables. They step aside, and Cayde will espy a few familiar faces - Tommy, who is in tears, Peeka, the rascal little teenage Chadra Fan, and then perhaps to his surprise, Binny. There are a couple other teens but Cayde won't recognize them. "We caught them shoplifting from the local grocer," the constabulary says, "and they're from Aklyrr Bend. But we asked Thaarin about their records, and he says admin doesn't have them. Our folk don't know them, so they must have been stowaways." |
| Navi | "If that's your definition of calm, you need to get a new dictionary. Stop and consider what this is doing to your blood pressure, okay?" Navi replies, a bit testily. "She got into a confrontation with some Mandalorians inside the hospital, and she and a Mandalorian woman drew pistols and shot each other. That's why she's wearing /my/ jacket... half the front of her uniform above the waist is gone. I healed both her and the Mandalorian woman, and there wasn't any more shooting after. Got it?" |
| Zetha Rumir | There's a glance given back to Cayde just as Niklas begins to speak. She nods to Cayde, as if accepting his proposal to tell her everything. Seems like right now isn't the time though. "Mom's angry as always. I actually should go check in on her...otherwise I'm bound to get another earful..." Offering this as she looks to Crane. "We'll meet up again soon, I'm sure." And then she politely excuses herself and walks away from the adults and the children who are all teary and upset. Nope. Not touching THAT with a ten foot pole. She will likely make her way to wherever Wiis is staying at the moment. The hotel, wasn't it? |
| Cayde Alexis | [I saw them in the gorge] Cayde replies to his master, nodding. He watches Zetha leave, looking a little confused. When would the baron take her to the lab? Again, he questions whether she needed to be involved...it could be rather dangerous. He turns to the other teens. Stowaways....right. The padawan gives them a long, hard look. [They return to Coruscant with us...and stay] |
| Athena | Mondrian's (M) expression glazes over. "I'm going to find that woman and gut her," he says, with an alarming calm that's uncharacteristic for him. Then without further comment, he turns on his heel and makes a hasty exit. Mondrian (F) is staring at the ground. "..." 'Crane' bids Zetha goodbye and then goes to find Navi and Mondrian (F). He frowns, noticing Mondrian's downcast expression. "Are you guys okay?" he asks innocuously. "Right, so that we can continue doing the same damn thing, in the Lower Levels, except that it doesn't matter there because the Jedi don't care about what happens to the people who live down there," he sneers. He jerks his arm away the local constable who's restraining him. "At least the colonists have plenty of food and shelter. But they won't share with us because it's against the -rules-," he says. "I'm just trying to survive. I was in the system, but I got out because I had to. Those families aren't really family, and don't give a shit about anyone or anything." |
| Navi | "For your sister's sake, I'm going to give you some advice; /don't even think about doing that/. She has some very skilled and powerful friends, and that's before I add that I'm sure she could take you on all by herself. Don't ask for trouble. I don't want your sister to have to bury you," Navi says coldly to Mondrian (M) before he turns to leave. "Her brother's off to do something as ass-stupid as pick a fight with a Mandalorian woman in front of her friends. I'm worried that she'll have to bury his remains," she says to 'Crane'. "I just know I'm going to regret this, but I'm going after the brain donor. Maybe I can at least convince the Mandalorians to set for Stun." |
| Cayde Alexis | Cayde sighs as Mondrian (M) storms off. He considers trying to enter his mind and dissuade him from doing anything rash, but maybe that would only make matters worse. He turns back to the stowaways, his expression still unreadable. [I care] he signs, because at least he actually went down there on a regular basis. It wasn't just empty words. [But that is what will happen] They weren't supposed to be here, and that was that. |
| Athena | 'Crane' sighs. "Good luck," he says, "Seems their best form of persuasion is violence. I would very much not like to see you return black and blue," he says, offering her a flower from a nearby tree. "Or you could just... not," Mondrian (F) says. "You could just let them deal with their own problems, as long as they don't concern us." There's a lengthy pause. "I could... I could use some company. Thanks for letting me use your jacket. But maybe you get it now. I hate that my brother is always like this." "Sure, and have you actually made a difference by going down there all the time? Everything seems pretty much the same to me." Binny sneers at Cayde, but Rykard interjects, "We'll have to look into it," Rykard says to the mayor, "we will not take them back to Coruscant if there's nowhere decent to place them where they will be treated well and can get an education." The mayor pauses. "I mean, yes. In all honesty, I was hoping that they would not be sent back, actually. I'd like for them to stay. I'd meant to talk to you and the co-deputies about my proposition to buy the convent from the Disciples and convert it into a space where both education and religion can co-exist and even collaborate. The education bit would involve a boarding school tailored for towards orphans and transitional youth." Rykard nods. "We'll discuss, but I need to have a chat with the other co-deputies." He then frowns at Cayde. "But before we bring Navi into this, you and I need to have a talk..." |
| Navi | Navi pauses long enough to hug Mondrian (F). "Ordinarily, I'd let things take their course. He's not my favorite person. To be kind. But he's your brother, and letting him get killed just doesn't feel right," she says softly. She accepts the flower from 'Crane'. "I'm not interested in getting beaten up, either. But I've got to do something to keep him from getting killed." She hugs Mondrian (F) for a moment more, though. And maybe another. |
| Cayde Alexis | Oh....Cayde listens to the proposition from the mayor, and nods. Right, he'd mentioned that before. He deflates when Rykard mentions they need to talk with that frown. [Yes master...] he signs, staring at the ground. |