[D5ME] ... and Friends (Karath Apartment)

[13th Sister]

The Inquisitor rounds up three more 'dissidents' and unless stopped marches them off.

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus grit his teeth, his gaze dropping helplessly. There wasn't anything he could do. It was the same thing he'd felt dozens of times in the last four years, the inability to stop evil, until he finally stopped even trying. Nothing new, this.

Except, what would Xanna do?

He remembered when Liua had been pushed down by that brutal Imperial Captain. Petrus had wanted to help, but let his fear overwhelm his better nature. He'd started to turn away. Until a wonderful brave woman stood up, and reminded him how to be a hero. Petrus started to breath more easily, fear leaving his body.

Of course, in a situation like that, the action was clear. Standing up saved Liua, but all it would do here would get him thrown in with the rest of them. Or killed. It was a muddy situation, with no clear right or wrong, where either choice would just seem to lead to pain. So I need a third choice, one not on the menu.

What would Dove do? An idea came to him in a moment. Which was good, because they wouldn't have a lot of time.

Petrus stepped forward. "Vaya. Can you spoof a call to them, before they get their prisoners loaded in the transport? I've got stormie comms if that'd help." At least, the armor he'd taken earlier did.

[Vaya Mer'darrow]

Vaya found herself snorting in disbelief, a familiar gesture of skepticism that helped ground her. Her head felt less floaty, and her antennapalps, which had gone from quivering half-hidden to a sort of drunken bobbing when the 13 Sister left, steadied and focus on Petrus.

"And I'm sure you'll tell me why, later." She rose, her voice steadier than her legs. "Or maybe not. But sure," she said, "I can do that." Probably. Maybe. First time for everything. "What's the plan?" Without the woman's unfathomable power in the same room, Vaya went from having her brain hijacked by animalistic fear to being able to rationally weigh the risks of getting torn in half by a plasma blade versus the rewards of action. She walked into Petrus' apartment, not wanting to handicap whatever Petrus was thinking by putting off doing with talking.

ooc: Computers difficulty to use Stormtrooper helmet comms to transmit to the 13th and crew as if DX-3344 (and does it count as "decryption")? And Deception difficulty to do whatever thing Petrus is about to suggest to me?

[Dapper Dog]

OOC: Average with the helmet and Deception will be 2 red and a purple.

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus quickly led the way to where he'd stashed the armor, helmet included. "Tell them..." Petrus frowned as he constructed the lie in his head. "Tell them there's been a Jedi spotted, a medium distance away, and they need immediate backup with secure transport." His lips quirked. "Tell 'em that the Jedi is a tall Zabrak woman. I bet that'll get the Inquisitor's attention."

He took a deep breath. "That should get them to dump their prisoners and head there immediately. Should."

[Vaya Mer'darrow]

Vaya didn't waste any time at reaching for the interior of the helmet and starting to futz with the helmet commlink. "Stormtrooper armor under the floorboards? Next thing you know you'll be telling me you have a schutta on the side." Her eyes stayed on her work, but her antennapalps watched him for a reaction to that one.

D5ME Hijack helmet comms (average computers): 1eP+3eA+2eD 4 successes, 1 advantage


ooc: 1 advantage to notice anything there is to notice? Is this a widespread sweep? Any other useful tidbits to pick up from Imperial comms?

"Got it!" she said, then stopped and looked at Petrus.

"'The Empire is Sith.'" Quoting Siser Hulia to Petrus once again. "They thrive on fear. They might kill those people before they let them go, unless we play this just right."

D5ME "Fun" Sith Facts (Lore): 1eP+3eA+2eD 1 success, 5 advantage


ooc: A hanging Triumph, and +2 advantages to the next "round" of rolls (assuming this applies to Deception). 4 advantages to boost Deception, 1 left for ???

She held the helmet close to her face, like speaking into a well, and pinched her nose with her free hand to give her voice a nasally quality.

"Sir? Sir. This is DX-3344 reporting. We have a possible Jedi sighting in subsector Leth-32, that's Leth as in Lothal. The suspect is Devaronian, female, brown robes, moving south-south... She's spotted us! We need backup, immediately!" She released the transmit button halfway through the last word, leaving the fate of DX-3344 ambiguous, and held her breath for a response.

D5ME 'We're *NOT* all fine here!' (Deception vs 13th, 2 boosts from previous roll, +2 adv from Improved Researcher): 1eP+3eA+2eB+2eC+1eD 0 successes, 4+2=6 advantage


ooc: Suggestion for advantage -- they buy the story but are going to execute the prisoners, unless Petrus (taking over the comm and pretending to be my superior) urges them to skip it and just run. However many advantages it takes to give him that opening, the rest to boost him? Also, does he benefit from the +2 advantages from Improved Researcher on his roll?

[Dapper Dog]

OOC: It is a widespread sweep across the region.He can get the +2 Advantages for his roll and yes they probably will just kill the people, so she can buy them some time.

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus frowned. "What's a schutta?

But the answer would have to wait. Petrus took the comms. "This is trooper sergeant PD-3634." He said, imitating Dacen Stormheart's voice. "The Jedi is here! Requesting immediate..." He paused, waiting a long moment.

He activated the transmitter again. "This is trooper sergeant PD-3634." Petrus spoke in a subdued voice. "There is no Jedi here. We can go about our business. I'm going to assist this civilian."

Turning off the comm transmitter, he gave Vaya a grin. "Let's see if they go for that.

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D5ME, so much lying, +1eB, flipping Destiny, +1 triumph facts: 2eP+1eA+2eC+1eD+1eB 1 success, 2 advantage


+1 triumph valuable facts for 2 sux, 2 adv, 1 triumph
Hopefully that gets them to spare the prisoners and rush off?

[Dapper Dog]

There is a brief reply from the Inquisitor, "Idiots."

"Leave these gutter trash we must find that Jedi... now!" she added and then the comms are filled with chatter of hunting this Jedi.

For the moment those people are safe.

[Petrus Karath]

"C'mon." Petrus said, jerking his head. "Let's go make sure they're okay. It's not enough to be safe, it's important to feel safe, too. And maybe we can help with that."

"Oh, and Vaya." Smiling, Petrus held out his hand. "Great job. Like, really great job."

After that, Petrus would lead the way out to the prisoners.

[Dapper Dog]

They were making their way up the stars, a bit bruised, shocked, and surprised at everything that happened. They looked overwhelmed.

[Vaya Mer'darrow]

"Oh, and Vaya." Smiling, Petrus held out his hand. "Great job. Like, really great job."

Vaya smiled back and briefly grasped Petrus' hand, face and arm alike going slack once he had turned around. She followed after a short pause to recover herself, helping pop the binders off the former captives and asking them careful questions to help figure out if they needed to vanish, like, permanently, or if the caprice of their arrest was likely to have been temporary.

[Petrus Karath]

"Hey, you guys are okay now." Petrus said, helping them, and watching Vaya help them. "Just remember, if we all look out for each other, and do what we can to help, we can."

He cleared his throat. "Do you think you think you'll be safe here? If you need a place to hide out, we can help you find something." He gestured to Vaya to translate for the Duros.

[Vaya Mer'darrow]

Vaya translated, and added, "You wouldn't be the first people I helped after they nearly got grabbed by Imperials." She thought about Trion, and hoped the singer was doing okay.

[Dapper Dog]

They are a bit shaken but some don't want to leave while others are grateful for the idea of escape.

[Vaya Mer'darrow]

Vaya asked them questions, about what resources they had that weren't too traceable to their lives now. Hard credits were good, close family less so. There were places even within the bounds of Rygor that weren't too tightly attached to the grid yet...

ooc: Knowledge of some kind? Streetwise?

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus nodded slowly. "I need to make some calls."

He would step back into his room before reaching out to the Resistance to see if anything could be arranged.

[Dapper Dog]

OOC: Between the two of you, you can help them get to where they need to be.

[Petrus Karath]

After taking a moment to make sure those who stayed behind knew they could ask him if they needed more help, Petrus brought Vaya back to his apartment.

"Well, that was something, huh?" He asked, giving her a smile. "Want something a bit stronger than water?"

[Vaya Mer'darrow]

Vaya left the last newly-minted refugee with the opposite advice Petrus gave to those who chose to stay: "Don't tell me where you're going from here and don't contact me. The less anyone knows, the better."

Her response to Petrus' question was an inarticulate "Ugh," a repeat of her flop on to his couch, and a hand extended upwards as if waiting for a glass.

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus laughed softly. "No problem. Be right back."

It actually took him a few moments, as his hand was shaking, just a little. He'd been calm in the moment, but coming face to face with an Inquisitor like that... but I did it. I helped those people. I didn't let fear win. He poured a glass for himself, although less full.

He came back, setting a glass of white wine in her outstretched hand. "There. Drink up." Petrus said as he flopped into a chair.

[Vaya Mer'darrow]

She looked at it, made a grunt that might have been thanks or might have been what, nothing stronger? and pushed herself up enough to take a gulp. After a moment, she spoke.

"Quick thinking there."

[Petrus Karath]

"Thanks." Petrus said, taking a sip. "Quick acting, yourself."

He sighed, lowering his glass. "This stuff is getting worse. Seems like everyone's getting involved, whether they want to or not, huh?"

[Vaya Mer'darrow]

"You can say that again. Poor Petrus, minding his own business with a slightly banged set of trooper armor in his underwear drawer, suddenly caught up in the events of the day." She was still looking mostly at the ceiling, so she only faked out Petrus like she was going to throw a pillow at him. She didn't want to spill his wine. "So much for the soup kitchen."

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus chuckled, raising a hand to ward off the pillow that was never thrown. "Hey, I'm not just talking about me. Although in my case, I'm kinda glad. I was thinking of you, actually."

Petrus nodded. "Yeah... wait, what?" He gave Vaya a curious look.