Umgul City

The benefit is still in full swing when Helaine slips away from it, dropping unseen from a balcony overlooking the back of the estate. Helaine has accomplished what she was tasked with so far as the benefit was concerned, subtly planting a suggestion rendered imperative with a deft bit of telepathic manipulation for Doran Healy to write an editorial soon on the lengthy and conspicuous absence of Senator Jade in Umgul’s political scene, and just as subtly planting another suggestion for a police commissioner to name Lyov as a potential senatorial candidate when the time comes. The benefit will also serve as an alibi on the exceedingly remote possibility that Helaine needs one after her evening’s play, as she plans on returning before the affair comes to an end and had been visible enough throughout the night that their guests are not likely to recall what she intends to be only a brief absence.

Stopping only to change into the dark clothing and hooded cloak she had left by the pool in the backyard, and to collect her lightfoil, Helaine makes her way to her target on foot. Having scouted her route in advance, she is able to avoid what surveillance cameras lay between her and the palatial estate of her quarry, a well-connected criminal that has been able to elude prosecution by careful compartmentalization and concealment within legitimate business ventures of his true enterprise. The estate is, naturally, patrolled by armed guards and protected by electronic security measures. Disabling the power supplying the estate renders the electronic security measure useless and, while alerting the guards to potential danger, also impairs their efforts to protect their charge during their brief, futile effort to do so. Helaine leaves two of the eight guards alive, dispatching the others with her lightfoil. The two left battered and unconscious yet alive will have, when questioned, an interesting tale to tell, as would her quarry were he to survive.

Trained in the art of dominate mind, an ability enhanced by her natural telepathic gifts, Helaine is able to tear the information she has come for from her quarry’s mind with relative ease without the need to waste time or energy with torture or other forms of persuasion, and she smiles savagely at the Bothan as she ignites the lightfoil held in her gloved hand. It is not Helaine that the Bothan sees, however, just as the two guards left alive will not report that the intruder was a female Zeltron. The Bothan and the guards saw, due to Helaine’s command of alter image, Andros Vyridian. The Bothan does not see Vyridian for long, the lightfoil that pierces his chest and heart the last thing he will ever see.

The entire operation takes less than fifteen minutes from beginning to end, and Helaine makes it back to her and Lyov’s home well before their guests begin to depart. It amuses Helaine, as she mingles with their guests, to wonder whether Vyidian will have anyone to account for his whereabouts for the evening when the authorities question him after hearing the statements of the guards she left alive just for that purpose. The testimony of criminals such as the guards is unlikely to prove anything more than an inconvenience or annoyance to the Vice Governor, of course, but this evening is but the first step in a much larger plan.

Leaning back in his chair when the female detective continues her shouting routine, Orainn looks nonplussed until she reveals that he was not the only survivor of the attack. Not able to maintain his calm composure due to the shock of hearing that he is not the only witness, Orainn's surprise gives way to panic when the detective threatens to release him after making sure the press has his name and is made aware of the fact he cooperated with the police. Torn between his innate distrust of police, compounded by the fact he believes Andros Vyridian is the culprit, Orainn hesitates before responding because a part of him cannot help thinking that this is all an elaborate set up designed to allow Vyridan to finish what he started. Everyone knows the police wanted Sike, why not let Vyridian take care of the problem and turn a blind eye to his methods.

Even though the Rodian is obviously playing the good cop role, his assurances sway Orainn that his conspiracy theory is unlikely. Taking a deep breath, Orainn nods his head, hoping his mistrust of the police will prove unfounded as he says, "It was Vyridian who do this. The one that always look ready to kill someone. Vice Governor." Emitting a hoarse, nervous laugh, Orainn says, "Good luck bringing him in." Crossing his arms over his chest with a wince, Orainn concludes by saying, "I say no more until I have proof you do what you say you do."

As good as his word, Orainn will say nothing more if pressed, though there is little more he could add since he was rendered unconscious after being attacked. Should the detectives speak with Strago, they will find him less composed than his compatriot. The green Nikto is less certain that the police can or will protect him, but every bit as sure as Orainn that his assailant was Andros Vyridian. More willing to talk initially than Orainn, Strago is willing to explain that his identification of the specific Vyridian twin is based on having seen the difference in the way the two carry themselves, though he will admit that he could be wrong about which of the twins was responsible if pressed hard enough.

Shortly after the detectives conclude their interrogations, the report from the forensic investigation of the house and grounds is sent to them. The condition of the grounds did not allow for any footprints to be observed, and the fact that lightsaber wounds are bloodless prevented any footprints inside the house. No hairs that might be used for analysis were found in or out of the house, but some foreign fibers were found on the carpet near Sike's body. The fibers were black, analysis revealing them to be natural origin rather than manufactured. Microscopic examination gave the analyst the shape and size of the fibers, allowing them to conclude the fibers were most likely from an article of clothing. The fibers are, unfortunately, not unique, though they could be used to tentatively match an article of clothing to the crime if one is found during the investigation. The techs reviewing security camera footage from the areas near Sike's home that may have been used to approach the house find nothing that leaps out to them. The suspicion that nothing was taken from Sike's home is confirmed, forensic technicians finding no evidence that anything was removed or searched. The initial report from the coroner confirms that all of the victims died of lightsaber inflicted wounds, with no additional trace evidence having been recovered from the bodies.

Conversation. Pertaining. Legit.


Everyone has things that really get under their skin. Comms that come in the middle of the night, any conversation that begins with the words 'I hate to do this', and being indebted to anyone are among the things that get under Madieke’s skin the most.

When her comlink chimes at eleven fifteen in the evening, Madieke is fairly sure that nothing good will come of it, and when the first words that are spoken after she answers the comm are 'I hate to do this', she is even more certain of it. Her ex-commanding officer in the Corps of Rangers calling in an old marker means that Madieke, who always pays her debts, has no choice but to do as he asks.

After asking to be sent the details of the case she is now officially in charge of investigating, Madieke ends the comm, tossing her comlink onto her nightstand with a muttered curse. Sitting at the edge of her bed, running a hand through her wild, unruly mane of dark brown curls with a sigh, Madieke takes a moment to absorb the fact that while she began the day as a simple private investigator, she is now a Special Enforcement Officer once more. “With the rights, privileges, and honors thereto pertaining . . .” Madieke mutters, standing and grabbing her packet of cigarettes, lighter, and comlink from her nightstand as she runs down the list of things she needs to do before heading to the precinct where the detectives that originally caught the case are waiting.

Having chosen to wear a dark suit and trench coat rather than trying to find her old uniform, Madieke meets Nuala, sitting astride her swoop bike, outside of the precinct twenty minutes after the comm. Nuala, a pale, thin Kuati slicer with a tiny blonde and orange hued Mohawk, hops off her swoop with her laptop dataterminal tucked beneath an arm. Taking an ear bud from a multi-pierced ear, Nuala falls into step beside Madieke and asks, “Was that over-the-comm deputization legit?”

“Of course,” Madieke answers, opening the door and entering the precinct.

“Cool,” says Nuala, returning the ear bud to her ear.

After meeting briefly with the DCI to introduce herself and Nuala, Madieke follows his instructions to the room the detectives that handled the initial investigation have been assigned as their CC and knocks before stepping inside. “SEO Aninh,” Madieke introduces herself without preamble, nodding towards Nuala and introducing her, “Ranger Durnin. We’re here to assist in your investigation.” Walking around the room and taking in any timelines or other data the detectives may have displayed while Nuala sits at the table with her head bobbing to the beat of the Scrak music that can be heard thumping faintly from her ear buds and sets up her laptop, Madieke concludes the preliminary chitty-chat, “We’ve been given the broad strokes, detectives, so why don’t you start by letting us know any of the details you’ve filled in since your interviews with the witnesses.”

Up to speed. Off base. Sake of formality. Shake up. Reaching out. Arrangements.


It was her understanding that Umgul’s PD was anxious to hand the case off, so Madieke finds Pakchoian’s resentment of the Corps of Rangers stepping in more amusing than anything. Ignoring Pakchoian’s comments, Madieke shakes Nemes’s hand when the Rodian offers it and then just listens without interrupting while the detectives bring her and Nuala up to speed.

Unable to find fault with the majority of the duo’s thinking or actions, Madieke’s gut tells her that they are, however, off base where the perpetrator’s use of Vyridian’s visage during the assault is concerned. Pakchoain’s observation that the choice of target is wrong if the intention was to frame Vyridian is, on the other hand, a keen one.  Madieke also does not agree with the contention that the only possibilities for involving Vyridian are a frame-up or a distraction. The choice to impersonate Vyridian, Madieke feels, must have been based on something other than selecting a well-known figure to muddy the investigative waters. What that something may be, at the moment, remains unknowable, and so Madieke sets it aside.

Nemes is correct in asserting that they will need to eliminate both of the Vyridian’s as suspects for the sake of formality if nothing else, and so Madieke looks over her shoulder and asks Nuala, “Can you access the biometric . . .”

Hands already dancing over her keyboard, correctly guessing what Madieke will ask, Nuala says, “On it.”

Addressing Nemes, Madieke tells him, “Stay on the breakdown of Sike’s organization. Try and find out who would naturally assume his position now that he’s gone.  Someone may have gotten impatient.  Get with the OC unit and find out which of the other outfits benefit most from Sike’s organization being in disarray. There’s a chance someone felt it was time to shake up the status quo.”

“Got it, Nuala interrupts, having successfully hacked into the Mist Government Building’s biometric and comm records using a program of her own design that allows her to get in and out without setting off any alarms or leaving any trace of her presence. Vyridian was on site at the time of the attack. No unusual comm activity before, during, or after the attack.”

Nodding, Madieke turns back to Nemes and says, “Kick the witnesses loose. Get surveillance teams on them, see where they go, whether they meet with anyone, and trace and monitor any comm activity. There’s an off chance one or both are involved somehow, and even if they aren't who they contact could give us an indication of who they think will be taking over for Sike. Turning her attention to Pakchoain, Madieke tells her, Durnin and I will handle reaching out to the Mist Order, and you’re welcome to come along unless you think you’d be more productive here with your partner.”

Once Pakchoain has made her decision, Madieke and Nuala make their way outside to their vehicles. Nuala refuses to join Madieke in her speeder, preferring to ride her swoop bike. Madieke offers Pakchoain the option of riding with her or taking her own vehicle, and once those arrangements have been made gets into her speeder and sets out for the Mist Order’s academy.

Umgul City - 23rd Precinct

Nodding that he understands Aninh's orders, Conall starts with arranging for surveillance teams to tail the witnesses so that they have time to set up before they are released. Breaking it to Strago and Orainn that they are not going to be in protective custody or granted material witness status based on the findings of the investigation is not the high point of his already trying evening, but Conall makes it through the task eventually, trying to explain to the Nikto's that what they saw was not really what they think they saw but something else entirely proving to be the most difficult part.

Once Strago and Oriann are dealt with, the surveillance teams and tails are in place and waiting for them to arrive at their homes or to go where ever else they might head as the case may be, Conall reaches out to to his contact in the OC unit, requesting that they grab a caf so they can discuss the case he is working on. From what he learns, Conall initially thinks it sounds as though Arezou and Klivian should be added to the suspect list, given that they stand to gain the most from Sike's death, but the first reports from the surveillance teams make it probable that only Arezou needs to be looked at since Klivian seems to have been unaware of what had transpired until Strago contacted him. As he is updating the board, Conall remembers the two minions of Klivian that bought it earlier in the week, wondering if that case - which had gone cold - is related to their current one. The MOs are different, and there is no indication that a Forcie was involved in the earlier killings, but Conall adds the case to the board under tangental happenings; thinking that they may be able to tie it in somewhere down the line, or not, depending on what shakes loose. After recommending to the chief that they up the uni presence and patrols in certain areas in anticipation of the possible increase in OC related crimes that could result from Sike's death, Conall sends a summary of what he has learned to Nazani so that the Rangers can be looped in.

Keeping that stoic expression on her features when Detective Pakchoain asked her to confirm the handling body business, Mace only replied by a, “Mhmm. . .” It stopped there, no further explanation, although she wasn’t going to handle the body per se, or maybe she would if she counted the fact that maybe she would have to potentially reactivate the brain with an electrical surge. Again it was a potentially and like Mace had said before, it all depended on what Atlantis saw or did not see. . .

Mace was sitting at the back of the airspeeder because she preferred it there, and also because she liked to think without eyes behind her back. If there was one thing she despised the most it was having stares behind her, it was a pet peeve of hers, granted that she more often than not snuck in on people at any random given time and also granted more often than not, she watched people from afar. . .

But tonight, just tonight she had adopted her usual policy of not talking too much because she was clearly thinking. Even if she was lost in her thoughts, it did not stop her from hearing loud and clear the exchanges between Atlantis and Madieke and as if on cue, when Atlantis spoke the name of Mace’s cousin, she turned to look at the only man right now and blinked once to confirm that statement of his.

Ayla was in fact headed to wherever the Vice-Governor was currently to apprise him of this messy situation. It had been a while since she last worked with people that weren't attuned to the Force, come to think of it, she always avoided to work with them, only as a last resort of course, but this was a different matter. . .

The younger Vyridian was clearly branded as the killer and she wondered why? Was it because whoever committed those crimes knew that for the time being as long as Andros was the current Vice-Governor of the planet, he had diplomatic immunity so to speak so he couldn’t be put on the stand of the accused until he stepped down from his function and therefore it would make it difficult for every enforcement of this planet to pull away from a certain scandal, that maybe they were all corrupt, or maybe. . .

Mace’s eyes widened and she turned to look at Atlantis with a thoughtful expression, remembering a conversation the two of them had about something Crystal had mentioned that morning. “Didn’t Crystal say something about the newly appointed editor? That she had a bad feeling about that?” Asked Mace thoughtfully before shaking her head. Obviously she did not know about the details or the reasoning that might have caused the make to suicide but Mace remembered Atlantis’ words to her earlier that day.

Crystal had qualified that as fast. . . For better or for worst, Crystal was now a Force user and one that Mace knew might surpass her brothers at some point if it weren’t for the fact that she was still refusing to embrace her sensitivity fully. But she also knew that Crystal was a Solaris and that by itself was enough for her.

Looking over at the Detective, Mace took a deep breath and said. “If you can spare some men from your precinct, I need you to also keep an eye on Doran Healy.” Mace was hoping that Detective Pakchoain knew who she was talking about, at least she was sure, right? Considering that he was the newest editor of a prominent paper on Umgul here, and that he replaced the former one that apparently had committed suicide.

Mace glanced at Atlantis and shook her head briefly. “I hope that I am wrong, Atlantis, but if I am not, tomorrow your brother’s name might be splattered all over the front page of the news. And that, all by itself, is going to turn into a scandal even if he does have the support of most of the unfortunate here on this planet by making their lives better and raising their purchasing power. . .”