Ceren smiles and waves you into the house.
It's small and cramped inside, many farming tools and equipment are stored there as well as ripe vegetables.
She leads you through to a homely living room and motions you to sit down on some old couches.
As she pours you some fresh tea, she asks:
So, would you care to tell me why you are here actually? You seem to search something from the blue towers, but you came to my house?
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“Someone got past all the security at Bluerise Towers and copied some data. The tracks led here. We are from the Starfinder Society and were asked to find the person who did this and ask for a copy of the data.”
“Since the clues led here and our person couldn’t completely erase them, we suspect that Bluerise Security will also come here soon.” Zeyram pauses to take another sip of the tea. “They are not the type to discuss things over a cup of tea, regardless of how pleasant the host or how fine the tea.”
“Could you explain why there was a data trail leading us here?”
Mh let me examine my neural implants a bit...
Cerens eyes become glassy for a moment, then her face becomes concerned and serious.
It seems i indeed have such data files.
What? How could you! I'm shocked Ceren! exclaims Jubair.
Ceren remains calm though.
Don't be shocked, you know my past.
She turns to you: You must know, i have been a hacker in my earlier years - one of the best in my field. She sighs thinking of the past.
Unfortunately old age brought a degenrative brain disease to me, which forced me into retirement. Augmentations in my brain halted the damage and keep me functional, but i still have large lapses in my memory and i'm no longer capable as i once was. I must have slipped into a younger mindeset, performed the hack and then have forgotten about it. I don't recall the circumstances, but i would be happy to give you the files in exchange for your aid. Let's make a deal. Help me fake my death to get me out of this hot waters and place Jubair under Society protection, then i will give you the data!
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Knows follows the tale, his face growing serious as Ceren admits to committing the crime. He stares at her over the rim of his teacup, studying her body language as she tells the story.
"How terrible for you! I am much sorry for your situation. We must protect this fine young man," he gestures towards Jubair.
"But what about you? If it is as you say, could this not happen again? And maybe next time there will be no handsome Starfinder agents bursting in to save you."
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Zeyram listens to her tale with interest, but watches Lightfoot as well. Even with a disease ravaging her mind, she got through security of computers that Hawthorne couldn’t get into. Quite impressive!
“I don’t think it would be a problem getting the young man somewhere safe.” Looking to others in the group, he asks “How does one fake a death? Once again it seems my training has not properly prepared me for the challenges ahead.”
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Hearing the women's explanation of the manner in which she obtained the data weighs heavily upon Lightfoot's heart. "I cannot imagine what you must be going through as a result of your disease. Starting a new life after one marked by misdeeds is no easy thing. Certainly not something that one can do easily on one's own." the ysoki says quietly, as if speaking from experience. "Finding one's way in the light can be quite difficult for one who has grown accustomed to living in darkness. Yet, it is when grace is most needed that, through divine providence, it is afforded in greatest abundance ."
The ysoki quietly thinks for a moment, taking in the words of the woman and his companions. "My companions and I will do all within our power to prevent harm to you and the boy. Have we given you reason to doubt our sincerity or ability? If so, please tell us how. If not, then please reconsider your request. Even without regard for the legality of the method you propose to avoid consequence, were the scheme to be born out I fear it would also inflict undue grief, pain, and sorrow upon those whose souls are regularly touched by your own. For it is, unfortunately, through loss that we most often come to realize the value of those placed within our lives. You likely to not realize just how many souls are intertwined with your own. To cut those strings by means of your death, whether actual or fabricated, would almost certainly affect those souls around you. Is there reason to think that the authorities will not provide you protection or afford you leniency for any crimes due to your illness and lack of criminal intent?"
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...he asks “How does one fake a death? Once again it seems my training has not properly prepared me for the challenges ahead.”
"To start with, a new set of identification documents would be needed. These would be within my means to fabricate."
Argon-42 turns to Ceren.
"We are willing to do this for you. It would be helpful for you to give us your existing identification so that we may use those as a basis for new papers. Is that acceptable?"
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Looking to Lightfoot, Zeyram asks "How much pain and loss will there be if a gang from downlow comes here with guns? I don't think you understand the type of people that do business in Bluerise Towers. Kidnapping and murder are part of how they do hostile takeovers."
Looking to Ceren, Zeyram says "Yes, we will do our best. Since this is something you used to do, could you point us to where your existing records are, in case we need to alter them?"
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Looking to Lightfoot, Zeyram asks "How much pain and loss will there be if a gang from downlow comes here with guns? I don't think you understand the type of people that do business in Bluerise Towers. Kidnapping and murder are part of how they do hostile takeovers."
"I do not wish pain or loss on anyone and, if it is within my power to minimize such, then I will endeavor to do so." Lightfoot responds. "However, if Ceren were to submit herself to the authorities, would there be any need for threats to the denizens of Downlow? Would not an arrest and trial, not only exhonorate an innocent, but also expose the crimes of this Bluerise Towers corporation and thus, more likely, bring an end to their misdeeds? Such is certainly more likely than a ruse to fake the woman's death and allow criminals to carry on their activities and threats."
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"This Bluerise Towers seems to be quite the threat, Friend Zeyram, though if I am typical of many in the Pact Worlds, its misdeeds remain largely in secret." responds Lightfoot. "I suppose such it is often the way for criminals to operate in darkness. All the greater, then, is the night for bearers of light."
The ysoki scratches his head, then politely excuses himself from the conversation and heads outside to light a candle. He quietly sits next to it and peers at the flame, then at the light reflected off of the holy symbol around his neck. When he returns, he says, "Admittedly, divine guidance is not always as direct or as clear as I would like it to be. I will not interfere in your efforts should you proceed with your desire to fake the death of this woman, but I cannot actively engage in such activity. If asked about the affair, I will remain silent, but please do not ask me to bear a falsehood. And may Sarenrae forgive me if I have transgressed her blessed law or otherwise brought greater harm through my willful omission. I trust that her grace is sufficient for me."
If i were to submit to official authorities, the blue tower grunts would eventually find and kill me. Same is true for getting into the Starfinder Societys protection. It's fine for Ceren, but not for me, since i am the culprit. When you did something once, chanes are you can do it twice and they don_t want that.
You need to manipulate data to convince the station systems that i am dead. Needs a body probably. You also need to provide a new identity for me to take over. Jubair, go gather our most important things! We will meet you in 6 hours under the Sunarch bridge in Jatembe Park. You need to manage everything untill then. Ah this reminds me of my younger days.
With these words she scrambles up and goes help Jubair.
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Looking somewhat embarrassed, Zeyram says “Although I’m not very skilled in it, I have basic training in medicine and computers. I could probably help someone else with either of those tasks.”
In a much more confident manner, he suggests “As for finding a likely body, there are a few places we could check. The vat gardens here will sometimes take bodies as organic material to recycle.” As he says the word recycle, he makes air quotes with his upper hands. “I could also try to find hecking a mortician or someone like that who might help fake the records for the right price.”
“We should probably check around, see if we can’t find friends or people we have worked with who would be willing to help get Ceren a new job. That would help make the new identify more believeable. There are always people coming and going, so it wouldn’t be all that strange for a new person to the station to be seeking a job,”
Looking around, he asks “What skills do the rest of you have that may help with this?”
You will need a body you can pass as mine. Do you know how to get one? Perhaps you should talk to some morticians or coroners. Ceren adds quickly.
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"Say, Lightfoot. Shall we go sniff out a body? Legally, of course."
"Though I find the task you propose distasteful, I am fond of your company, Good Knows!". Lightfoot speaks with sincerity, but nevertheless seems pleased with the cleverness of his own pun.
"I can offer you my conversation along with any wisdom that the blessed goddess may have deemed fit to impart to me, should you desire it. And, should you need protection, my blade is also by your side. However, I think I have little else to offer, due to limitations of my body and mind, if not already my heart, to the task you propose."
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Knows looks to Zeyram, a foolish look creeping across his scaly features: "You are right. Food is work, and plenty of it. Some even involves computers, though perhaps that would be dangerous with her past life. Can ask, no harm in that."
"Ah, friend Lightfood: you bring honesty, goodness, and many words. Together we can be sure to smile our way through many bargains. I think these vat gardens could be more helpful than a crooked mortician: am wanting to 'recycle' a body after all."
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"Ah, friend Lightfood: you bring honesty, goodness, and many words. Together we can be sure to smile our way through many bargains. I think these vat gardens could be more helpful than a crooked mortician: am wanting to 'recycle' a body after all."
"Admittedly, faking the death of a sentient being is neither a task that I wish to undertake nor one that I know much about." Lightfoot responds with a chuckle. "Please pardon me for laughing, for I do not mean any disrespect. However, a worshipper of the sun, such as I, has at least a rudimentary knowledge of some of the chief recipients of its rays--that is to say, plants."
"You and Zeyram keep talking about obtaining a body from the garden, but I do not see how anyone would be likely to mistake such a body for a deceased human, no matter how withered that person may look. I dare say that you may be in for quite the surprise when we get to the garden." The small Starfinder and infrequent visitor to Absalom Station, holds back a hearty laugh as he imagines the look on Knows-No-Bounds face as he examines the rich plant-life that Lightfoot expects them to find at a garden tended by his fellow ysoki.
"Shall we be leaf-ing then?" Lightfoot adds, which allows for the escape of a high-pitched snicker.
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"I will begin working on new identification for Ceren," says Argon-42. She activates her spell cache and begins working.
"If Ceren has experience with computers, I can probably get her a job in that field. I work as a computer engineer when not on assignment for the Starfinders." Argon-42 calls a few people from Initech, her former employer, inquiring about temporary positions.
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Seeing that Argon-42 is more than capable of handling the various computer checks, Zeyram decides to work on finding an appropriate body.
First he will check with the Ysoki family who he met before to see if they have anything that would work.
Once he has a corpse, either by way of Knows finding one or himself, he will make the medical records match the corpse.
Once Blibdoolpoolp found the community, you got all you need to set up Ceren's fake death and make yourselves on the way to meet her in Jatembe Park.
Open to all citizens, Jatembe Park occupies a wide portion of the Eye of Absalom Station. Filled with lush trees and open grass fields, the park offers some natural terrain to the otherwise metalclad station. Ceren’s meeting point is one such forested portion of the park, specifically a spot often ignored by citizens due to the winding path required to reach it.
You can see Ceren awaiting your arrival at the bridge as you come close, but also a
group of thugs lurking in the nearby trees, just about to move onto Ceren.
The group of thugs notices you and one shouts over:
Move on! None of your business here! Don't want to have to spank your sorry bottoms for sticking your tentacles into other peoples matters!
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As they make their way to Jatembe Park, Knows grins at Lightfoot: "You think we were going to use a plant disguised as body? No, no: recycle spare bodies as fertiliser. Their souls are gone, body best to return to earth. Is most useful this way. But do not frown: I am sure we will make fools of ourself in a most entertaining way at some point. Is inevitable."
Once the reach the park and spot the thugs, Knows cries out: "Begone, you unpalatable bullies. Outnumbered and outgunned. Flee, while we still let you!" he slings his old hunting rifle off his shoulder to emphasise his point.