Kal responded one last time:

[Private to GM: "No, sir. That's it. I'll report again at my next opportunity."

OOC: At least I think that's it. I didn't omit anything, right?]

With that, Kal disconnected and started walking back to the room, whistling a merry tune as he meandered through the store. However, his keen senses detected a few items of interest, and with nothing but an "Oooooo...shiny...." he was momentarily diverted from returning.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:54, Mon 25 July 2011.

Once Kal walked off, Mirax regarded their new companion, Selis.  She was glad Kal hadn't outed her as a Jedi - until she had a measure of this woman, and made sure she knew what she'd be getting herself into, she would not reveal that little tidbit.

"Here's the deal, Selis," she said, leaning forward from her rather comfortable position.  "Kal gave you the summary of our situation, but I'm sure you realize he left out a few key details.  Standard for this sort of thing.  Now, if you want to help, and learn a few more things I'm sure you are wondering about, I need to know if I can trust you." She was, of course, completely sincere in that.  If she determined Selis was trustworthy, then she would get the information she wanted.  "So, if you don't mind, I'm going to ask a few questions myself, since you know far more about us than we know about you.  First of all... you aren't human.  What are you, then?" It was an observation she had made early on - humans didn't have antennae.  Knowing what species this woman was would give her a better idea of her capabilities, and personality tendencies.

She looked at the other woman in surprise and unconsciously lifted a hand to her hair where her antennae were currently hidden.  On Koshibal, she took great pains to make sure they didn't show, so it was quite a shock to have someone mention them.  Not about to deny their existence of something so easily verifiable, she allowed them to stretch upward to their fullest, experiencing a slight relief at not having them withdrawn.

"I'm a Balosar," she admitted, "but before you start asking me if I push death sticks or am involved in the drug trade, the answer is no.  Don't insult my intelligence by pretending to know me based on the proclivities of my race.  We're not all like that.  I try to make as honest a living as I can, given the present circumstances, and I don't stick my nose in the business of others.  I'm not looking for trouble."

"And my name is Seris," she corrected. "Or that's the name I go by here.  It isn't my real name, of course, but you don't need to know what that is unless we broker a deal."

Balosar, and her name wasn't really Seris.  At least she was honest about that.  That said, Mirax felt little need to question her about her true name.  It was enough that she admitted she had given a cover name.  Thus, she had passed the first test.

"All right.  By honest living, I take it you mean your work as a medic?  Do you have a permanent job in that field anywhere?  Or are you freelance?" she asked.  Seris had been correct earlier when she mentioned their little team would need a medic.  Plus, they were a man - or woman - short, considering Claire's condition.  Mirax was glad the bounty hunter would survive, but she knew Claire wouldn't be in any condition to continue the mission anytime soon.  Thus, they needed someone with knowledge of the underworld - and medical knowledge was nice to have alongside that.  So, this was like an interview of sorts.

"On this world?  Nothing is permanent.  I'm only here for as long as I can get off this rock.  I'm working to make connections and meet people.  I know my stuff and am good at what I do."  She shifted in her seat, obviously uncomfortable talking about herself.

Mirax nodded.  "Then I have a proposal for you.  As I'm sure you might have guessed, our team is a man down.  Or woman, to be more specific." Mirax grinned.  "So, how about you join us for the duration of the mission?  Not only will you get off this rock, but you'll get the other benefits of aiding RMI willingly, rather than suffering through what Ulu Teem has to deal with."

"Like I told Kal, I'm looking for information.  If he thinks his connections will come through, or even if he tries, I'm willing to come along and help.  Normally I head the other way when I see trouble coming, so this would be risky for me, but I think it will be worth it.  IF you can get reliable transport off Koshibal."

"You'll get the information you want, and we will be getting transport off this planet.  On that last point, I can guarantee it," Mirax replied, with a grin.  It wouldn't be very tough for her to 'persuade' a pilot to give them a lift off the planet. "Thing is, as you said, it will likely be a dangerous mission.  It would be made more dangerous for us if you were to lose your nerve partway through.  Privileged information getting out and all - not that I'm accusing you of anything.  So, either take the safe route and leave now, or remain for the duration and reap the rewards," she said, holding out a hand to shake.  Her tone implied that the decision would be final - rather, there would be consequences if she broke the deal later, after accepting now.

"When I start something, I do not quit.  When I set my mind to a task, I see it through.  I said that I don't look for trouble, but that doesn't mean I won't jump into the middle of it if I'm needed."  She patted the blaster at her hip.  "If I come along, I will not be left out of things.  If I'm a part of your crew, I'm a part of your crew, not just some stray you picked up along the way to patch up your wounds.  I expect to be included in everything because whatever you dig up, whatever contacts you speak to, and wherever we go, you're putting my life at risk the same as yours."

"Deal?"  She held out her arm for Mirax to take.

Kal finished looking through various shiny things that had caught his eye before he shrugged and moved back toward the room where he had left the two women. He knocked politely in case they were in some state of undress before realizing that would be as unlikely as it was welcome.

After the door swished open Kal nonchalantly walked in and closed it behind him. He raised both eyebrows as he waited to see how the women would complete their conversation.

"That's the plan, yes," Mirax replied, regarding her demands.  If she was to join the crew, she would of course be included in everything that the group knew and did, so long as it was relevant of course.  That was par for the course, and an essential part of keeping trust in the crew.  So, Mirax reached out, and shook Seris' hand, just as Kal walked back in.

"Deal." She smiled. "So, have any questions you'd like to ask while we have the time?" Mirax asked, now that she was open to giving straight answers, rather than dodging the questions as Kal had done before.

She glanced to Kal as she released Mirax's hand and then sat down.  She was tempted to retract her antennae as force of habit, but as he'd see them eventually, she left them extended.  They twitched as various sensations reached them. "Well, who are you all, really?  And what is this business about Skywalker?  Who sent you to find him and why?"

Mirax chuckled, and sat back in her chair, a little more comfortable now.  "Well, Kal was pretty truthful about himself.  He's RMI.  I, on the other hand... am a Jedi - and I'm quite good.  Ulu Teem on the other hand was not, hence why it was so easy to get our way." She shrugged. "Anyway, Kal's superiors and my own, in the Jedi Order, are quite worried.  Master Skywalker has, as far as we know, gone rogue with a rather dangerous Sith artifact.  We don't know why.  Our mission was to check out a lead from Ulu Teem, to see if it was legit.  As you know, it was.  It also told us Skywalker has procured a second artifact... at least, that's what it looks like."

Mirax looked to Kal.  "That's really all there is.  Once we determined the validity of the lead, he was to call it in.  So, Kal, what are our orders now?"

She blinked at Mirax's confession. "So... the whole...," she waved a hand rapidly in the air from side to side and twirled her eyes, "...thing... is true, then.  Sith artifacts?"  Her brow furrowed, but as she knew absolutely nothing on the subject, she let it go, sure they'd discuss it more later.  Turning her attention to Kal, she listened patiently.

"Sith Holocrons.  We think.  Rather, one disappeared from the temple the same time Skywalker did.  That thing he bought - with the datapad - in the video looked a lot like one too.  So, either he has two, or this is a whole set of amazing coincidences."  Mirax shrugged. "The problem is that we don't know what Skywalker is up to.  Maybe he's gone rogue.  Maybe he's investigating something he deems to dangerous for others to be involved in."

Kal quietly walked over and plopped himself down on the sofa again while shooting an occasional look at the antennapalps now protruding from Zala's head, though obviously trying not to stare. He patiently waited through Mirax's explanation and question before he responded, "Our orders haven't really changed. Mostly it was a one-way conversation. However, I have been told I can hire Seris. RMI is also going to try to put some heat on Ulu to keep him from being trouble for us." Kal then turned all his attention to Seris, "I'll try to get you the information you need, though if you're looking for classified information that could get Republic officials killed, I might have to retract that offer. You'll also be getting some payment in addition to whatever information I can get you. Nice antennae, by the way."

Her antennae twitched at Kal's comment and she looked at him steadily as if trying to judge whether he was being sarcastic or not.  Evidently thinking him genuine, she spoke up, "I highly doubt anything I could want would be considered classified.  I'm not looking for secrets, just people.  The whereabouts of ordinary people."

"Anyhow, what sort of information do they think are contained in those holocrons that would make them so dangerous?"

Kal smiled back and nodded, "For ordinary people I will certainly do all that I can." Kal looked to Mirax for an answer about the holocrons, and wondered if these ordinary people she sought might also have antennae.

The question about the Holocrons was a difficult one.  That sort of information was the equivalent of the information Kal had just said he couldn't divulge.  The only problem was, Mirax herself wasn't of equivalent rank.

"The Holocrons are rather mysterious, really.  Holocrons have been made and used by both Jedi and Sith over the years, and they can be anything from data and information storage... to something like a tomb that can contain the spirit of a fallen Jedi Master... or Sith Lord, as may be the case.  As for the specific information contained within, I don't know.  Even the Masters are hesitant to access old Sith Holocrons, lest they release a powerful Sith Lord, or become corrupted by the power held within he Holocron.  I can say, however, that the Holocron could contain everything from a Sith Lord's diary, up to and including ancient Force secrets that could threaten the galaxy itself."

[Private to GM: 17:38, Today: Mirax Bey rolled 19 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 9. Knowledge: Force -> to see if she knows any specific examples, should the question come up, such as Sith Lords that might have entombed their spirits within Holocrons, or examples of the knowledge of a holocron threatening lives on a grand scale. ]

In reply to Mirax Bey (msg #486):

[Private to Mirax Bey:
You've heard that the temple has a Holocron which only reveals its teachings to the students that are ready, and otherwise you don't know of any other concrete examples.]

"Perhaps he's trying to round them all up to keep them from falling into the wrong hands?"  She didn't sound convinced, but then again, she really didn't care.  "So, see this Findos first and hope he has a lead.  Is that the plan?  And what if he doesn't know where Skywalker went after they did business?  Do you have any other leads to follow?"

"For now, we'll just worry about Findos," Mirax replied, nodding.  "Findos, as connected as he might be, would not be able to keep track of a Jedi Master on the level of Master Skywalker.  Though, we may get another lead to check out.  Anyway, we need to speak with him and find out two things primarily: if that was indeed a second holocron, and what was on that datapad.  Then, we can deal with Skywalker."  She sighed, considering the first question now. "I don't know what to think, really.  The Order already has several Holocrons in its possession, and many Masters that would be able to help in this endeavor.  It doesn't add up for Luke to go off on his own like this."

[Private to GM: You just gave me another idea, and another potential trigger for that twist that is still on the table for the future.  Course, it depends on how the story goes, but still.  Good to have around.]

"You would know better than I.  You're the first Jedi I've ever met," she admitted.

"So what is the plan regarding Findos?"  Her gaze shifted between Mirax and Kal.  "Are you going to use spice and slave labor to bribe him into giving you the information you want?"

"Spice will get us an audience with him.  I doubt we will need the dancers," Mirax replied, dodging the issue of slave labour.  "You might recall how accommodating Ulu Teem was.  Findos, fortunately enough, will not be immune to the same treatment - especially since what we want is likely of no consequence to him."  She then glanced to Kal, wondering if he had any input.

While the women were busy discussing things in a committee of two, Kal took the opportunity to change....into a blue skinned, scantily clad, female twi'lek. She brushed long, red fingernails daintily against the back of the couch as Mirax's attention returned to her. In a sultry voice she responded, "Like I said, I think we should take three shots at this. See which gets us in first."