"I'm assuming you feel that as well." Alaric talks to the other Jedi without lifting his head, breathing calmly. "A faint stain on the Force. Not the master we sensed earlier, but perhaps an apprentice or simply a pawn used for their own ends? There are two, at the least." When Jal mentions his chat log, he asks to take a look. Assuming Jal says yes, Alaric just scoffs. "This is no Sith Lord, though perhaps they may be the tool of one." When Joran stands up with the bracelet, Alaric raises an eyebrow. "Joran, have you found something as well?"
Hugo nods in agreement with Alaric, "Ate least we know now there are two".
Emerging from the private room, Joran says, "There were two people on the bed in there a short while ago. Whether they were using it for its intended purpose or not, I also found this bracelet. They are currently quite popular among girls the age of the Senator's daughter. Tal, was she wearing this earlier?"
Tal Passik looks at Joran as he asks, and after a glance at the bracelet, he nods. "Yes, she was. It was a gift from her father, I think. She wore it just about everywhere." The twi'lek's eyes narrow and harden, like shards of crystal. "So she was here. Any idea where the kriffing Hutt-spawn took her?"
He pauses and cocks his head. "For that matter, do you need to report this in or something? Or can we skip the paperwork and just go get the girl?"
"They probably loaded her into a speeder through the window according to the logs. We can call in what we're doing, but we're pretty much on our own for this one. So we can get on their tail and run these waistoids to ground without worrying about approval or red tape." The grey-skinned gangster sighs. "I hate to say this, but any of you Jedi able to get a bead on that Dark Side feeling? We don't have a lot of other direction to go on right now."
Joran thinks for a moment - does Coruscant have any traffic cams this low?
"I can still feel its presence in The Force, yes." Alaric concentrates for just a second, then points in the direction of the strong presence he felt before. "In that direction. That's where we'll find whatever the source of the presence is, whether a true Sith or some sort of artifact. Whatever it is, it's much stronger than whatever was here." Alaric looks at the bed when Tal acknowledges that was her bracelet. "However, I think we should consider the possibility that this is not as it seems. Two people were in this bed, yes? The bracelet belongs to her, and we know there is a boyfriend that is... lacking the approval of her father, so to speak. Even if she was truly kidnapped—which I am not entirely certain is the case—I have a feeling the boyfriend is directly involved."
"I definitely agree with you on that one. Whoever was chatting on the computer was talking about payment, so if the boyfriend is the kidnapper, he's either a plant or opportunist kung."
"The boyfriend was definitely here - we have him greeting her on the security footage. The two of them were accosted outside the refreshers, where the boyfriend made a good show of defending her. I mean a literal show, he staged a shove of the Quarren before getting punched by the Feeorin with them. He's involved, alright, although whether he's the mastermind or a stooge, I can't say. He may also have been coerced into luring her here sans protection. There is definitely more to this kidnapping than at first glance."
When Jal mentions the possibility of a speeder being used, Joran considers whether this might offer another way to track the kidnappers. After a moment's thought, however, he realizes that probably won't work. At this level of Coruscant's undercity, only major speedways and intersections are likely to have traffic surveillance--and even then, the chances that they're in good repair and functioning order aren't great. Maintaining technological order in regions like this is an infrastructural nightmare, as criminals constantly tamper with or simply destroy the devices; add in how little most of the bureaucrats care about these districts, and it results in a saddening lack of surveillance.
As the team discusses the possibilities of who the real kidnappers may be, and what's going on here, they wonder what leads to follow. The Dark Side presence the Jedi felt earlier is certainly an option, but it feels like something's missing... After a moment, someone (or everyone) realizes. The chat log included a line that may have been directions: 5w 7s. This kidnapping already feels like it wasn't the most professional job in the Galaxy; maybe Jal's computer work already found the team the girl's location.
"Jal, Could I see that chat log?"
Joran looks over the chat log, and his eyes fixate on the line "go to 5w 7s backup rv". "This line here, rv could mean rendezvous. That means that 5w 7s is the backup rendezvous point. Which refers to..."
Joran gets out his data pad and consults a map of Coruscant for the correct sector designation for that.
"Be my guest." Jal nods as Joran goes over the logs.
"That's true, I didn't catch that. Could that be where the Dark Side presence is?" Alaric frowns. "If it isn't, what's such a powerful Dark Side aura doing on Coruscant? If the two are not connected, I..." Alaric sighs, then shakes his head. "I will need to look into it after we're finished here. You are welcome to join me, but these are duties beyond that of the SOE."
"I will of course join you in that endeavor Knight Quor'ran, after we rescue the girl of course as our path and that of this mystery Force user may well be on a collision course already".
"I think it goes without saying for me as well," Callum adds his voice to Hugo's. "Even were I not a Jedi, I would certainly be curious enough to see what this is about."
As the Jedi contemplate searching for the Sith presence later on, Jal and Joran reflect on 5w 7s. Comparing that data to a map of Coruscant, at first it doesn't make sense: there's no single district in that grid sector of Galactic City, and it's mostly in a busy and fairly upscale section of the planet. Thinking on everything that's happening now, though, with the kidnapping and the backup rendezvous...
On a hunch, they check for areas five grids west and seven south of the team's current position, and that's where it pays off. That lands right in the Dacho District, a factory district they both know as a common area for back alley dealings and underworld affairs, with plenty of abandoned and unclaimed warehouses--although the source of their knowledge differs. There's even such a building located at a 5W7S position in the grid layout of blocks in the district.
Meanwhile, Tal Passik turns to the trio of Jedi. "Wait, so the Sith aren't involved here? Damn." He scowls and fingers the hilt of his vibroblade. "And here I was hoping for a fight."
"Doesn't look like it. Can't say I'm that disappointed. Looks like it's just more troublemakers. Though I'm interested who exactly is behind it. I'm sure there's a great story to tell there."
"The Sith operate beneath levels upon levels of deception. I would not yet rule out their involvement. However, it seems our current lead is taking us in another direction." When Passik's hand strays to his blade, Alaric just shrugs. "Who says you won't find one? Let's get moving."
"Let's do one more sweep of the main room, as well as the alley outside, and then we'll head out."
Alaric opts to help Joran, even with his mind distracted by the mysterious Dark Side presence. Part of him wants to peel off from the team and investigate by himself, but he knows he ought to follow orders. Still, the nagging voice at the back of his mind eats at him as he continues to ignore it.
Another, more thorough sweep of the main room in the suite pulls up another small clue: hidden in the bottom of a cabinet, behind some liquor, are two small hypodermic needles. They look disposable, the kind you'd use for a single injection--often employed by doctors, as well as less scrupulous "professionals" of other fields. The syringes you'd attach to the needles aren't here, but there could be trace elements of whatever agent they delivered... if you care to find equipment to analyze it.
Joran takes care to wear gloves when he picks up the syringes. Looking at them, he sighs. "These may or may not be related to what happened. If so, the Senator's daughter may have been drugged. If we had the necessary equipment, I would analyze, but we may not have time to wait. Every hour delayed lessens our chance of finding her. Let's go investigate the alley, then head to those coordinates to see if we can catch them there."
Jal shrugs. "Bag it and we can examine it at base if it matters. It's probably a sedative to keep her compliant, but it's better to bring it just in case. But sure. Let's finish the search and get moving. Sooner we get to the site, she better chance she'll still be there." As they head outside, he gives the area a once over with the rest of the team.
Hugo is clearly ready to move to the next location, as the others sweep the room once more.
Noticing Alaric's preoccupation, something that more or less mirrors his own thoughts and feelings on the matter of the Sith presence, Callum simply offers his fellow Jedi a smile. Although the case of the kidnapped young woman takes precedence, he has no doubt that they will be looking into that other matter sooner or later. Sooner if it is connected with the abduction.
Having found everything they could in the suite, the team decides to head outside the building and around to the alleyway. Tal Passik comes along, although at the bar he mentions he'll catch up in a moment--he needs to pay what little tab he has from his time waiting here. This turns out to be good, because as the team leaves the club, a Duros in a constable's uniform approaches. "You left your IDs behind at the station," he comments. He holds out a small case, and as soon as someone takes it, he moves away again, off down the street as quickly as he came. Inside the case, sure enough, are security tags for the team, identifying them as members of the Coruscant Constabulary.
As the team finds the mouth of the alley, Tal Passik rejoins them, and they step into the narrow darkness between buildings. The alley is fairly long, though, and covers more than the space just behind the club. As the team moves down the corridor, they pick out a group of figures ahead--what looks like a half-dozen or so huddled shapes in the alley, some crouching, some standing. It doesn't take long to pick out some details and realize these are just undercity gangers or scum, and they don't look to have been waiting in ambush--although now that they notice the party, a couple of them seem interested.
Joran takes the badges from the Duros and passes them out to the team. Now that they have official documentation, their cover would hold up better. As they head into the alley, Joran notes the undercity gangers, and, using Republic Sign Code, flashes to the Jedi to see if they could learn anything from them before he begins to search the alley outside the window, looking for any further signs of their quarry.
Alaric approaches the strangers in the alleyway after responding to Joran, motioning with his head for one of them to come forward toward him. "I'm here on official business, and I wouldn't suggest trying anything you may live to regret." Once he's satisfied they won't be doing anything stupid, he continues. "Now, I don't care if you're up to something here. That's not my concern at the moment. What I want to know is, was there a group of men here who passed by not long ago? They would have had a young woman with then, she may not have been cooperating. Do you know anything about that, by chance?"
Hugo stands behind Alaric quietly watching for the reactions of these undercity denizens. He remains calm but of course a small part of him wishes to tear through them all.
There is no passion, there is serenity he tells himself to calm that rage that always simmers under the surface.
Jal fights the urge to roll his eyes. "He's sort of official," the gangster says as he approaches the group. "Yeah, yeah, I know he's swaggering around all big time. You know how the cloudheads up top get. Look, we're just looking for someone who got snatched." He pulls out a credit chip. "We can reward anyone who saw something that pans out."
When Alaric steps forward, a pair from the other group break off to meet him. It turns out to be a thuggish human with a scar across one cheek and a Rodian, both wearing the usual fashion for tough types in the Undercity, and each with a weapon on their hip--the Rodian has a blaster, while the human has a vibroblade. The human scoffs at Alaric's question, but he turns and listens to Jal when the crime lord steps forward--and eyes the credit chip with a sudden gleam of interest. "How 'bout you give us the chip first, then we talk what we seen or di'nt, eh?" The man's voice has the thick accent of the Undercity, but his interest is clear.
Joran, meanwhile, begins searching outside the window for more clues. Soon enough he is able to find two pairs of footprints in the grime, caused by heavy steps--or someone dropping from a window to the ground. Following those prints, he finds another scant sign of passage, scraping in the dirt, headed down the alley toward the other opening--which would, indeed, be the way toward the Dacho District.
Trevan wants to ignite his lightsaber and slice the humans head off to see if it makes the Rodian more cooperative, good think Hugo is the one in control.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
"We can also slap a citation on you, if you haven't seen anything. That sparking your memory?" Alaric stares the brigands down, but leaves it to Jal to take the lead.
With two of his peers backing up Jal, Callum feels that situation is well under control. Even so, his eyes do linger on Hugo; given the man's past, he cannot help but feel at least a hint of trepidation that he may react badly to the two men confronting him and the others. Still, he trusts him enough, so he opts to make his way to Joran.
"So, found anything, 'detective'?" The Corellian's tone is teasing, not mocking, and the mirth behind the rods is indication enough of that. Despite his apparent easy-going manner though, he keeps his eyes on the various hangers-on and his hand not far from his lightsaber.
"Not helping," Jal mutters out of the corner of his mouth. He tosses the cred stick to the lead man. "That's five hundred. If you want a credit more out of me, you had better know something I can use."
"Footprints, definitely heading towards the Dacho District. Looks like that rendezvous mentioned was correct."
The human thug makes a pfft noise in dismissal of Alaric's threat, but the Rodian is quick enough to catch Jal's tossed credstick. They share a look, and the Rodian turns and walks back to the others while the human nods and leans against a wall. "Yeah, we seen something strange. Even given present company." He gives the group an up-down lookover and shrugs. "We was in this alley all night hangin' round. Don't ask what we was doin', 'coz I'm not gonna self-incrimplicate, officer. But we seen a couple strange fellas come out a window here, just drop out like poodoo. Had a couple swoops parked down the end there, big trunks on the back, like for moving something?" He shrugs again. "They come up and loaded something in 'em. That's when we decided to have a look-see, ask what was going on. Figured they was robbing the place and wouldn't want anyone blabbing about it, pay a little to keep us quiet, eh?"
He pauses then, and looks back at his comrades. Callum follows his gaze and picks out what the human's probably looking at: one of the thugs in the alley has a nice bruise across half his face that was probably put there earlier in the day, judging by the color. The human turns back with a frown. "Hope you're gonna bring them druks in. Walks there got in their face, and the kriffing Feeorin just lays him out with a punch. We don't need trouble like that walkin' round our streets, officers. Hope the law works out this time, eh?"
"Couldn't care less what you were up to. Your business isn't my business right now. Just don't do anything that might make it out business." He runs a hand back over his bald head. "Did you catch anything about the swoops that might be recognizable?"
Hugo whispers to Alaric, "Hmmm, perhaps this was not a Sith operation. If I was the operator I'd have slain so many potential witnesses..."
Hugo then looks to the thugs, "You said they were strange, what about them was strange looking?"
"I would say you ought to refrain from musing on such a slaughter... but I agree. If the Sith are involved, they certainly weren't here when whoever it was passed through. We would have found their charred corpses and little else. Then why such a strong Dark Side presence? Could they be manipulating events from behind the scenes, using petty thugs as a proxy agent? I can't fathom that such an aura of the Dark Side couldn't be connected, but it would not be the strangest thing I've ever seen."
"What was strange? How about they dropped out the window of a kriffing nightclub?" The human seems bewildered by Hugo's question. "That and they had two big bags or something with 'em. Like I said, we thought they was robbing the place. Although they didn't exactly look like the robbing type. Feeorin was real big. Maybe that's the point, though."
The thug looks at Jal and thinks for a moment--he seems to be weighing something, probably whether to try and get more creds out of the "constables" or not. After a couple seconds he reaches a decision and exhales heavily. "Well, now you mention it, I think Trig mentioned something funny about them bikes. Trig, what was it?"
The Rodian turns back to the team. "They looked like Baron swoops. I think I saw a Baron riding one of the orange one the other day."
The human raises a hand, as if to say, There you go. "There you go," he says aloud. "Bright orange and a Baron's bike. Can't ask for more than that from upstanding citizens like ourselves." He points down the alley; the direction lines up with the footprints Joran found and leads roughly towards the probably rendezvous point. "They took of that way, swung into the next alley across the way. Seemed like they was in a hurry."
"Of course it was frakking Barons," Jal mutters under his breath. "You've been real 'upstanding' citizens today boys. Keep up the good work." He tosses another 500 credits to the leader. "I think that's everything I need to know."
"I don't know much of the gang activity on Coruscant, but I'm assuming from your response that this won't exactly be good news?" Alaric sighs, turning and letting his cloak billow out behind him as he heads toward the others. "Jal managed to figure out that whoever kidnapped them was riding a bike belonging to one of the local gangs that controls this territory. Jal, do you have any idea of those coordinates are still inside Baron territory?" He looks back at the gathered ne'er-do-wells and sighs. "Either way, it's time we went to check it out if you ask me."
"Barons are the local swoop gang. They're mostly crazy and don't like other people muscling in on their territory. They're also about as greedy as you'd expect gangers to be and occasionally very stupid. And they go through leaders like candy because they're more ambitious than they are intelligent, so their agenda can change on a weekly basis."
"We've got signs of them moving towards the aforementioned rendezvous. Let's get moving. If we have to deal with the Barons, so be it."
"You know what I always liked about gangs, swoop or otherwise? Their colorful names," Callum quips with a smile as they start to get moving. "Imagine if they would just put that imagination and creativity to some better use. Ah, what a world it would be!"
The human catches Jal's second credstick with a nod and a grin, and he quickly rejoins the other thugs while the team huddles to discuss things. Jal reflects on what he knows of the Barons and their turf in the area; he's been out of the loop for a little while, but HoloNet access is a wonderful thing for catching up. The warehouse is just beyond the edge of Loyal Barons territory, but that effectively puts it in a no-man's-land where the various nearby gangs muscle for control. The Barons are definitely the most dangerous gang in that mix, although the other two who might be eyeing the area--Kaul's Spikes and the Deader Crew--are nothing to sneeze at. It isn't open warfare in the streets, at least from what Jal's heard, but it's certainly the sort of environment where that could erupt at any moment.
For his part, Tal Passik listens in and nods as the team plans their moves, one hand resting on his blaster's grip. "Alright. We going by foot, or do you officers need a speeder?"
"Agreed. If I remember correctly, the warehouse that we're headed to is actually a little beyond Barons' territory in the disputed area where the gangs are always fighting each other. If the Barons took her there, they're either very confident, or they have a plan and it's probably not good for the girl. But we'll need to keep an eye out for the other local gangs in that area too, the Spikes and the Deaders."