Umgul City

23rd Precinct

As per her customs, Mace reverted back to her silent state and she was also fixating that board where the detectives had gathered some information and put together, although right now as far as she was concerned, the more time they spent brainstorming, the more time she was thinking that this was an absolute waste of time. She understood that they would never probably get along with the law officers, Mace also understood that their methods differed greatly and if it actually weren’t for Andros, because that was the most important but also for that taunting darksider who had the audacity to impersonate the younger Vyridian, Mace would have probably split and tell them to deal with them on their own because she had other things to think about and deal with.

The fact remained, the two women weren’t aware of what Andros was capable of and as far as she was concerned, she had tagged along to begin with because Atlantis did ask her to last night. Now she really had to prioritize one way or another. . . When Atlantis did call out for her attention, Mace still had that placid expression on her figure, even throughout his spoken and unspoken statements. From what she could recall perfectly, there had been many bystanders that was a fact, but one thing did pop out the most.

“Andros while speaking with the assistant engineer. . .” Glancing at Atlantis meaningfully, unless he really had been out of it because he had been taken by his girlfriend on the dancefloor or even busy talking with the Ranger back then at the balcony, but she clearly remembered that those were one of the moments that Andros had exhibited anger in a public place so to speak. If Atlantis really wanted her to spell it out for him, then she’d do so but, that was one event that really popped out besides that Echani riling up Crystal, besides again the presence of the couple there and several others. . .

And that was probably the only thing she was going to say despite the fact that she was sure that Atlantis would have his own thoughts about the matter, despite the fact that things did end up going south, and even though there were many Force sensitive that evening, no one struck out as Andros being the odd one considering where his core powers laid. Who factually really would feel Andros exhibiting anger and use that against him?

Therein all laid their assumptions and maybe they really were going at it by ear, but Lyov being a prominent duelist back then, Helaine being at the height of the perp? Two times were enough for Mace for alarms to ring and even with Atlantis’ explanation to the others about the Vice-Governor of this planet, she wasn’t even sure that they would comprehend entirely and that was something she wasn’t about to tell, at all. . .

Mace waved her hand to say no when asked if she or anyone else was hungry, she wasn’t at all, and she had spent enough moments in her life barely eating anyways, so another day or less, it did not matter to her, she just wasn’t hungry at all. . . Currently though, she preferred not even speaking because she had nothing to say really and she returned her gaze onto the board staring intently at it. . .

The witnesses of the murders at Sike's estate are brought into the UPD station, each being taken to a separate interview room. Eekeb Orainn, the red Nikto that had suffered severe facial trauma, a dislocated shoulder, and a minor concussion from being thrown face first into an outside wall after being slashed across the chest, sits with his arms across his chest and an irritated expression. Orainn was not told why he was being asked to accompany the UPD officers that arrived at his home back to the station for additional questioning, and does not understand why the holonet reports concerning the attack on Sike's estate made no mention of the Vice Governor's involvement. It is Orainn's belief that the UPD is participating in a cover up, and he also suspects that he is here to be strongarmed into recanting his testimony rather than clarify anything. Strago, the green Nikto that had been pushed through a wall outside of Sike's office before he was stabbed in the left side with a lightsaber, is still somewhat out of it from the concussion he suffered and the painkillers he has been prescribed, and sits at the table resting his head on his arms with a dull expression wanting nothing more than to be back home in bed.

The organized crime unit officers that Nemes speaks with will be able to tell him the most about the small organization that operates out of Furgan. Comprised of a group of twenty beings of predominantly human origin, and led by a male Rodian named Orus Denive, the group owns and operates five taverns and one run down hotel out of which they operate illegal gambling games ranging from high stakes sabacc to bookmaking on sports events throughout the galaxy. The group is also involved in loansharking, but has gained little ground since the UPD has often raided their gambling dens or successfully prosecuted members proven to participate in the loansharking operation. Denive himself has been incarcerated multiple times, but is believed to have recently found new venues for his operations that the UPD has not uncovered. Of the organization suspected of operating out of the city center, much less is known. What is widely suspected in the UPD and other law enforcement agencies is that the organization is led by a Hutt named Strilath, who owns a high end nightclub catering to the wealthy, several hotels ranging from luxurious to more low end, and no less than eight restaurants. The UPD's OC unit suspects that the business holdings of the Hutt are involved somehow in the smuggling and narcotics trade attributed to the organization, but have yet to prove any allegations. Strilath's organization is believed to have been expanding, yet the OC unit believes it is not yet of a size to challenge Sike's position as head of the predominant criminal empire on Umgul.

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At the Enchanted Florist, the gold plated SE4 servant droid Helaine had dispatched with the credits Svana had asked for arrives and approaches the counter. Good afternoon, the old but heavily modified droid tells whomever is behind the counter, I am here to pick up the floral arrangement ordered by Miss Orlov. Turning and extending its left arm so the satchel containing the credits slides down towards the counter top, the droid says, Your payment, and then waits for the floral arrangement to be given to it.

23rd Precinct

Mace wasn’t exactly looking at Atlantis after she had told him about one event that occurred during Crystal’s birthday party. She clearly did not need to since she after all knew where Atlantis’ most fortes resided. He could always manage to go back and forth to events that had occurred a long time ago and he always retained many things, either said or briefly seen. He had been trained to observe and that wasn’t a given to everyone. . .

For Atlantis though, Mace had no doubt that he would get her point. Glancing briefly at the sole man currently with all of them, Mace sighed softly. “I do remember, and one thing did stand out. . .” It wasn’t really about words that were said, no not at all. . . It was more of Horsea’s ability that was going on a frizz; Mace had noticed that, Ayla as well.

Someone was tampering with the potential outcome of a very volatile situation, Mace knew that, even Horsea had been left confused and it wasn’t until they were finally all together, just the five of them that they started to really talk about it. Although that situation had been momentarily shelved considering the other issues that they had to deal with.

For now though, Mace did not get into that considering that it looked like they were no longer needed after all right here, well that was a relief in a sense especially when there were two parties with divergent opinions. Mace wasn’t probably the easiest person to get along with when people around barely knew her. She was also very guarded and she rarely gave details about her own life, about the life of the others and particularly she never gave her own analysis to people upfront because unfortunately she wasn’t that trusting kind.

Maybe it was the paranoid side of her and maybe it was the cynical part of her too, but if there were really darksiders at play here, then she preferred to keep things close to her chest and not reveal anything further. Eyes and ears were everywhere after all. . .

Slightly inclining her head, Mace turned around without saying anything further, hoping that the interrogation was going to be a success, she just ended up following Atlantis outside after hearing Madieke’s suggestions. When she finally stepped outside of the precinct and back into the city, Mace took a deep breath and nodded slightly to indicate that she was thinking the same thing.

Which is why we can't just go barge in there per se. . . At least not without being prepared. Said Mace to Atlantis privately as a response, she glanced briefly at him and wondered if he had everything he actually needed to remain focused and not be distracted by either subtle telepathic suggestions or even those pheromones. You do have all of your sabers on you right now, don’t you?

TaSpa!

Elikapeka nods when, after Franz has attempted to claim that he sings only in the shower in an obvious ploy to try and prevent Lily from somehow arranging for him to sing - as though Lily would be deterred by so simple an obstacle - Crystal, who has also been targeted by Lily for singing at some point, she raises her hand when asked, by Lily of course, who wants to hear Crystal and Franz sing, looking over at her friends apologetically as she says, "You both may as well just accept that you will find yourselves singing. She always gets her way, remember?" and then smiles with a shrug of her shoulders, sure that both Franz and Crystal will forgive her for siding with Lily since they know as well as she that it is almost always the safest thing to do.

Smiling with a shake of her head when Lily works in a question about when Atlantis will propose to Crystal, Elika is sitting up to take a sip of water when Franz points out that the person Crystal had mentioned not needing to be commed is one that he and she met, pausing with the bottle halfway to her mouth as she realizes who is being discussed just as Lily confirms it. "Oh, Elika says, probably not nearly as calmly and coolly as she would like, taking a sip of water as she starts mentally bemoaning the fact that, if they do run into Delaana, she is currently sweaty, her hair is still wet from the shower, and she is wearing only a bathrobe. Telling herself not to worry, it is not like they will run into Delaana any time soon since she must have just arrived, Elika reminds herself that she should have plenty of time to finish her treatments and get dressed and everything before they run into Crystal's PA. Crystal's PA, Elika repeats to herself in her head, settling down more as she remembers that she had told herself earlier that it would probably be for the best if she did not think about the possibility of anything happening between her and Delaana since it could be awkward for them and for Crystal. Not to mention, Elika tells herself and feels even more calm afterwards, the fact that she doesn't even know if anything would be possible anyway since she doesn't know anything about Delaana anyway. Leaning back against the wall comfortably, Elika says, Maybe we'll run into her at lunch then, smiling as, having convinced herself that there is absolutely nothing to be even the least bit nervous about since she now feels quite sure that she has definitely come to her decision about whether anything would be possible if it somehow came about that it looked like anything was possible; and is feeling equally sure that she will stick to her decision too; and also telling herself that she is certainly not fooling herself at all about anything; and also that she is definitely not protesting too much in her own head, definitely not that; she tells Lily, Lucky break for you, huh? Saving you a comm and all."