You won't find me looking back

[demjiin]

WHO: Kaz, Ezra, Tony
WHERE: Near a Hangar Bay on Coruscant
WHAT: A holocron is seen as a gag since it refers to Agra-10, which obviously doesn't exist. But Kaz is still buying it
WHEN: During the Coruscant event
WARNINGS: None anticipated, TBD



The merchant Kaz was meeting with was a ferrety little man. Like he literally looked like a ferret with a tool belt and some sort of hoodlike hat. It was through a couple of different people Kaz had met that he had been told that Agra-10 was only mentioned once, supposedly in this 'Holocron thing. He had been warned that he wouldn't be able to open it, but since Kaz has been on Coruscant for a few days now he had already heard of the Jedi. And if the one he had spoken to was any indication, they were pretty similar to the grisha where he was from. Which is to say he already knew he'd need to cajole or manipulate a Jedi into opening it.

"Is just a glowing brick." The ferrety man insisted.

"All the same." replied Kaz in his rocksalt rasp.

The ferrety man squinted at Kaz, sensing a possible way to get more money.

"Is junk. But you want junk? Then 50."

Kaz tilted his head to one side. Then while saying nothing he used his cane as a hook and took hold of a sliding hoist. If grabbed from the end with the handles it was possible to slide freight weighing hundreds of pounds into spacecraft. At the moment the hoist slams the ferrety man's tale. The ferrety man squeals in pain and immediately drops the Holocron to grab his trapped tale.

"You're going to want to rethink that." Kaz says, still completely calm.

"4-40!" The ferrety man says quickly. Apparently, Kaz leaned on the hoist because the ferrety man squeals again.

"30! Take for 30!

Kaz says nothing, just unhooks his cane from the hoist's handles and puts it back at his side. The ferrety man whimpers and removes his injured tale to cradle it. Kaz takes one step forward and removes a small bag from the inner pocket of his suit jacket and tosses it to the ground. It clinks with (stolen) credits. He picks up the fallen Holocron. He would need to find a way to disguise it as soon as possible.

"I would say it's been a pleasure doing business with you, but I'm not that good of a liar."

Comments

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra feels...something in the Force, before he spots the person it seems to be emanating from - a person who looks familiar once he gets a good look at them. Familiar because now that he's realized that the twin facts that there are profile on the network for each 'hero' and that people drop on and off the list of profile as they (without warning) come and go, he's started looking the list over regularly.

So he walks up with a friendly smile. "Kaz Brekker? Am I saying that right? The Agrii don't exactly give a pronunciation guide, and I don't think I'd trust it, if they did."

Sorry so late, had a personal crisis to resolve

[demjiin]

Kaz turned his head at the sound of his name. Like Ezra, he had examined the names provided on Temba's network and recognized the face from it. He offered his best 'poor trusting cripple' smile in response.

"You are. And you are 'Ezra Bridger', though honestly yours is the easier name to pronounce."

no worries!

[ezra_of_lothal]

"That's me," Ezra agrees, easily. "How are you finding Coruscant? I'm not as local as some of the...Temba residents? Tembarians?" he tries, experimentally. "We could use a collective word. Still, I gotta wonder what people not even from this area of space think of it."

Re: no worries!

[demjiin]

"It's bigger." Understatement of the year. "But under that, it's still the same; it's a city."

And Kaz already had plenty of experience operating in a city so it seemed pretty straightforward to him. He also wondered if Ezra was just going to stick to a friendly chat or if he had stopped Kaz for a reason. If not, Kaz needed to end this conversation as soon as he could and get back to the Bloodsport.

"I take it that you are not from the area?"

[ezra_of_lothal]

And here Ezra was operating on the principle that most people don't like to be cornered and immediately questioned.

"Well, I'm from a different planet in this galaxy. So I know a little about Coruscant from the news and history. Except in my time, people sometimes call it Imperial Center."

[demjiin]

Oh Ezra was right about that but Kaz was preoccupied and didn't like feeling that his time was being wasted.

"Imperial says there is an empire. Seems to assume a lot when we're talking about whole planets."

[ezra_of_lothal]

"Here and now it's called a Republic. But it's definitely an Empire in my time, yeah," Ezra says with a shrug.

He's not sure what to make of that second statement. Empires are generally big, right?

[demjiin]

Kaz wasn't even used to the idea of space travel and one planet government. To him, even one government controlling two or more countries on one planet was a big deal. An empire controlling multiple planets was harder to grasp than even space travel had been.

"A republic? Doesn't that mean a whole bunch of leaders? Shit, it's a wonder anything gets done."

[ezra_of_lothal]

"Uh...a bunch of Senators and a Chancellor? I have no idea how stuff got done, really. But that's something to think about...decision making...theory?"

He doesn't know the academic terms. But now he's thinking about Temba, and accomplishing things.

[demjiin]

Kaz only gives a noncommittal hum. He's actually also thinking about Temba but starting to think about how probable it would be to build an organized crime empire.

"Well, I'm somewhat in the middle of something, so excuse me, but I need to get back to the Bloodsport."

Kaz kept hold of the Holocron in one hand, using his cane with the other.

[ezra_of_lothal]

"I actually had a question. Or maybe just an observation, so if you don't mind, I'll walk with you," Ezra says, turning to do so.

[demjiin]

Kaz raised an eyebrow but walked with Ezra.

"If you wish. Although I am very sure you aren't listed as part of the Bloodsport's crew."

[ezra_of_lothal]

What that has to do with continuing a conversation, Ezra isn't sure.

"I spotted you because I...felt something. In the Force. I guess it could have been you-" He squints vaguely in Kaz's direction, trying to pinpoint the feeling more. "But the last time I felt something singing quite like that it was a holocron. Geometric shape. Might look like a puzzle box?" He gestures to indicate a small size.

"Have you come across something like that?"

Onboard the Bloodsport

[in_extremis]

Voices overhead were unexpected enough that Tony's head jerked up in surprise, sending a ring vibrating through the pipe it collided with as he stumbled back and away from the box he had been crouched over, rubbing the new sore spot on his skull. Hopefully, whoever it was hadn't heard that, because it sounded a bit like they were trying to keep their voices down, too, which would explain what anyone would be doing on the ships at this point. They had a whole city-planet, not to mention much more comfortable beds to take advantage of. Everyone should have every reason to leave Tony alone on the ship, to sort through the scrap and components he had accumulated in the cargo bay thus far like there was any reason to do that and he definitely wasn't moping.

Carefully, he picked his way toward the sound of the voices, trying to listen for any further clues for this little meeting, somewhat relieved at the very distinct sound of Kaz and not an entirely alien invasion. When Tony made his appearance, it was casually leaning against a bulkhead, looking greasy from the scrap he pawed through where the black stains stood out brutally on the tight gold suit that covered him from his fingertips to his crossed ankles. The one that wasn't Kaz, Tony couldn't immediately place, but it was nice to see that he was making friends his own age and wasn't entirely committed to the mob boss thing he had going on, so Tony greeted easily, "Kids." With one finger ticking between them, tracing whatever conspiracy was going on here, he said, "Hope you're not getting into trouble," very seriously. Not that he was here to be some kind of authority figure, how horrid. "I mean, I'm right here, an invitation would have been polite."

[demjiin]

Well so much for attempting to keep things private. Also Tony was probably in for an unpleasant realization when he figured out that Kaz treated everybody as either an asset or a waste of time, regardless of their age. At the moment Kaz gave him a mock-innocent look.

"You can of course come right along into trouble, too. But you'll have to ask Ezra first."

Because of the two of them, Ezra was the one able to open the Holocron in the first place, which made it his show right now.

[ezra_of_lothal]

"Kaz found something. Might be useful - might not be. But you have to use the Force to open it," Ezra explains. "Hopefully it won't be trouble."

Then he refocuses properly on Tony. "You're...Tony Stark, right?"

[in_extremis]

Ezra, right, got it, Tony raised his eyebrows at him curiously, not pegging him for the ringleader in this tableau, then pushed away from the door to pad closer to the intrigue. "Something," he echoed, willing enough to play along on that much information as long as this was over fairly quickly.

"Famously," he accepted the title with a smile that was as dazzling as it was brief, before he was frowning thoughtfully as he glanced between them and their scheme again, arms crossed as though dubious of the few details he had been treated to thus far. "Do we need to call a Force user? Because I've got a 2 o'clock, you know, my time is not cheap," he said, though he was already scrolling through their network data to see how close Cal might have been.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra quirks an eyebrow, not sure how seriously to take that bit about fame. Or how impatient Mr. Stark seems to be, for that matter.

"No, that's ok. Force user, right here. Who's opened multiple holocrons before."

And with that, he closes his eyes and starts calming his thoughts and dropping into light meditation. Another Force sensitive nearby would feel his presence in the Force blooming and brightening.

The holocron starts moving, as if it too, is unfurling. It opens slowly, spreading out in the air before the faint, ghostly projection of a Jedi stands in the center. She is human and looks nervous as she stares forward toward whoever managed to open this and hear her words. Her voice is quick and desperate as she finally begins to speak.

*"This is a message to all Jedi. I am Master Taren Jid and for the past four years, I have been a prisoner in another universe. While this time has passed for me, all who knew me did not notice even a second of my departure; I was taken and returned to the same place in my timeline, as were others I knew. For reasons I cannot understand, I alone have retained some of my memories of this time so I alone can issue this warning to others. Although, I don’t know what good it will do.

The last thing I remember is being on a planet called Agra 10. The Agrii there were an intelligent, highly advanced race with a flourishing civilization.” Taren’s eyes shine with emotion. “For the four years, I and others from many other universes were held captive for the amusement of those holding us. They would move us from planet to planet at a whim. And then... they would make their show interesting. However they needed to.”

Taren moves closer to the item recording her, desperate to be understood. Desperate for this warning to be heeded. She still looks miserable and grieved but beneath it is determination.

“Our captors tortured that race. They installed strange technology to hurt them and forced us to evacuate the planet. I was returned here before I was able to see how it all ended but I can’t imagine it was well.” She shakes her head and stares forward, finally angry.

“I don’t know how I was taken and I don’t know how I was returned. All I can recall are bits and pieces of my time in the Fleet and the names of our captors. To all Jedi, beware the Atroma. Beware any and all who come to you with that name. I don’t know how to help you avoid capture and imprisonment yourself, but this at least I can provide.

And, if in your travels, you ever find Agra 10… please administer whatever aid they may still need. If there is indeed anything left there at all.

Good luck, brothers and sisters. May the Force be with us all."*

[demjiin]

"Well, that explains why everything on Agra-10 went to shit to begin with."

His voice was still perfectly calm. Kaz was not surprised. Intrigued and interested, but not surprised. Because in his experience everything was reduced to the worst-case scenario eventually. The idea of the Agrii being mostly benevolent watchers had never squared with things in his experience. At the moment he just raised an eyebrow.

[in_extremis]

Tony was starting to doubt that this Force thing was really all that rare, and cocked his head to watch Ezra focus curiously, not sure what to expect. There might have been a lot of them, but they all seemed to work a little differently. It was thus a surprise to him when the puzzle box looking thing bloomed, catching his wide-eyed attention at the imperceptible mechanism of it.

The message produced a catalogue of about 800 questions, but the first and most necessary were its context. "Where did you get this?" he directed at Kaz, which didn't exactly mean Tony wanted a description of whatever sewer it was found in. He had to direct his more specific target at Ezra, he thought, focus jumping back to him to elaborate, "Is there, like, a publishing date on these things? Where is it coming from?"

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra has opened his eyes to watch the message and was still frowning thoughtfully was Tony spoke in his direction.

"I..don't know how to pull that kind of information from it. Or authentication or anything like that. The archivists at the Jedi temple would know, if anyone does." He looks a little sheepish. "I am a Jedi, but from after the Order was mostly killed," he admits. "Most of my learning's been hands on."

[demjiin]

"Not through what you'd call 'respectable' means."

Kaz replied to Tony's question, but he gave Ezra an icy look.

"Then don't use the network to see if it's genuine. If it is then we can't let anybody or anything watching the network know that we have it. Only tell people in person or not at all."

[in_extremis]

"Okay." It was a start. And Tony's turn to close his eyes, because a start was not the time to start a squabble like Kaz's tone implied. They already seemed to be in a kind of agreement about the next steps, no need to get feisty about it. "No one shows it to anybody," Tony declared for them, there, end of discussion. "Not until we know what we have. Ezra, you'll go to the temple, ask about...archiving. Don't get too specific, but find out if there's any way to trace this. Kaz, you found it, does that mean you can follow the papertrail? The holo...thing.." Whatever they had called it, Tony held out his hand expectantly. It wasn't going with either of them, that was for sure. "It'll be here. It takes a force of nature to get on these ships. I promise I won't drop it."

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra glances between both of them with a frown. He understands need to know, really he does, but he doesn't quite get the leap to secrecy in this instance.

"I can go ask questions about holocrons, sure. If you're worried about keeping the information...among Tembarians, in particular, and not making people inside or outside the group paranoid, Master Kenobi's the next person to bring into the loop. He's way more experienced than I am."

[demjiin]

Kaz turned that icy look on Tony. It did not escape his attention that Tony was attempting to take control of the situation and trying to tell both Kaz and Ezra what to do. In silence at the moment, Kaz plucked the Holocron from Ezra's hand. It closed again the moment his hand touched it, but he only put it into a pocket inside his jacket.

"I know neither you nor Kenobi, so I think I'm going to hang onto this right now."

He wouldn't be able to stop Ezra or Tony from talking about it, though.

"I was planning to look into the origins of this thing, anyway. And since I'm not a Jedi, I'm more likely to get certain merchants to talk."

He looked at Ezra again. This time less icy but with those dark brown eyes gone as flat and black as a shark.

"Kenobi already doesn't much like talking to me, so you'll have to tell him in person. If he agrees to keep any mention of it or its contents off the network, then we show him. But keeping mention of it off the network is the important part."