Reunion

[Jack Starbuck]

Jack and Nathan stepped off the Wayfarer transport to see the massive structure that was the trade center. "Hope you find what your looking for sirs, this place I can say has only declined over the years." The farmer from Concord Dawn in charge of the transport walked up to them. "It'll decline even more if people don't keep their promises." Jack reached into his cloak. "Of course, I wasn't going to forget you." "Much obliged, see ya fellows around." Jack and Nathan pulled up the hoods on their cloaks and made their way to the elevators leading to the undercity. There they could at least stay out of the security cameras, but it didn't mean they would get a breather either. The undercity was known for its gangs and crime rates.

"We'll lay low in the undercity for a couple of hours, then we'll head to the imperial archives to catch up on some lost time." "Lead the way." Jack padded his DL-44 blaster pistol under his cloak and then made his way to the elevators

[Xeones]

Xeones strode through the corridor of the Imperial diplomatic center. He glanced at his assignment noting the calm look. Xeones drew a deep breath and calmed himself. This was not a war zone. For once, Xeones was assigned to guard a diplomat, not take one out. Xeones ran his hand over the Westar-35 beneath his robes unconciously running drills through his head. He was made to look like the diplomats assistant, having to wear a robe, it was extremely discomforting. Xeones felt naked without his typical battle loadout.
The diplomat turned to Xeones, "I need to go to the Imperial Archives" "There is something I need to find..." the man seemed to trail off into thought.
Xeones admired Tarkin, the man had insisted to be called by his first name. Tarkin had been a 1st SGT. in the Battle of Kashyyk before retiring to become a diplomat. Xeones was upset at first about his assignment but was relieved when he learned it was to protect a former soldier, someone he could relate too.

[Xeones]

The two entered a transport shuttle designated for diplomats. Xeones and Tarkin took their seats next to another Imperial diplomat and his guard.
" Did you hear what the meeting is about?" said the diplomat in a low tone. When neither Xeones or Tarkin responded the diplomat continued," Rumor is a rebellion may be on the rise," "We are voting on new laws that will make it easier for the Empire to prosecute criminals. Rumor has it we may even be voting on a martial law," "But you didn't get that info from me,"
They were not supposed to know about the meeting until the meeting actually began, but no secret is ever safe between senators and diplomats. Xeones was surprised by the news and looked to Tarkin to see his reaction.
"I was afraid this was coming," He whispered. "The empire could not sustain it's dictatorship over an entire galaxy for too long, it does not work over such an expanse,"
Xeones wondered which side Tarkin was on, he wondered which side he was on himself. He had seen things over the last two years, done things, things he was not proud of.

The transport glided through the busy air ways effortlessly. Finally it pulled up to a marble building no more than 30stories high. Xeones and Tarkin departed onto the landing pad about halfway up the building. Xeones scanned the pad for threats and felt calm as he saw two imperial guards waiting at the entrance. They entered the building and were immediately shuttled into a hallway were 100's of diplomats were waiting. They were chatting outside two large black doors that led to the conference room. Some diplomats researched information in the holo-libraries strewn about the hallway. No one at this point was discussing what was about to take place behind the black doors.

[Jack Starbuck]

Jack and Nathan walked into the imperial archives lobby, with hoods down but Jack had a hat on just to shade what appearance he made. "Good evening sirs how may I help you?" An artificial intelligence hologram appeared before the two. "Would you mind pointing us to the military personnel records?" "Of course sir, you will take the elevator to floor 16B." "Thanks" The two made their way up the elevator and through the shelves. "Were going to need to look into the special operations personnel section." "Jack thats classified." Jack gave a chuckle "Sure is."

Before they made their way to the archives, Jack stopped by Janto's new bar in the undercity, turns out a lot of people left the empire according to him but the one Jack was after was still employed. Tarkin, Janto said he became an imperial diplomat when the Gloom Walkers disbanded, Jack didn't know what to think of it. Was he helping end the oppressive rule? or too increase it? Jack hoped it was the former. Before they left Jack gained a counterfeit access card that should Janto swore would give him to the Special Operations Records.

"He hasn't let me down before." Jack swiped the card, opening the door "Damn we owe that Hutt a drink." Both entered and made their way to the disavowed units records. Finding the Gloom Walkers was no problem since it was a recently expired unit. Jack pulled out a data chip and downloaded the updated resumes of his battalion, including Tarkin. "Were allowed to pull data from these files?" "Anyone with access to this room can download whatever they please." "Huh, I was gonna say lets hope not a lot of people can access this, otherwise there may be a lot more plots afoot." "My thoughts exactly." "You get what you need?" "Not yet." Jack pulled the data from the Gloom Walker files and made his way over to the Fire Battalion records to look up one more name. Xeones. Jack looked up his file and found he left the battalion and was now apart of a security detail for....Tarkin "Huh." "You find anything?" "Possibly... well Nathan looks like were gonna hit two birds with one stone." "I don't think I get your point." "You'll see soon enough, in the mean time head down to the current affairs office and see if you can find any meetings the senate will have concerning 'Diplomat Tarkin' I'll meet you at the exit." "I'm on it"

The two left the Special Operations Records hall into one of the more conventional halls. Nathan made his way to the current affairs office while Jack walked out onto the balcony to smoke a cigarra. He contemplated coming face to face with his 1st Sergeant, his best friend in whom he hasn't seen in two years. Who was he now? Did he change his views? Jack had no clue to be certain. After several minutes Jack made his way to the center lobby and ran into Nathan on the way up. "If you want to meet with your Tarkin buddy your going the wrong way." "Been told that my whole life what makes you special?" "Well, your pal is in the middle of meeting right now at the top of the archives." "Well damn." "Damn is right, should we go?" Jack thought for a minute "We may not get a chance like this... looks like were going up." Jack took off his hat and pressed the upward arrow on the elevator.

[Xeones]

The black doors opened into a medium sized room. The diplomats filed into the room, moving to their respect places. The seats sat around a single table reserved for the leaders of the meeting. Today's leader was a Moff. The meeting began with a formal introduction of Moff Balfour and two other Imperial representatives. They then activated a holovid showing civil unrest throughout the galaxy. There were news reports of over 20 terrorist attacks within three months. They were all linked to the same group whom the Empire was calling the Rebel Alliance. There was no known leader at the time but it seemed to have military orginization. Moff Balfour adressed the diplomats," Several sectors have already voted in Martial Law, it is now time for the entire Empire to make a decision. We must not let this great rule to be torn apart by a handle full of terrorists. We must act now to squash this uprising before it is too big to control. We cannot make the same mistakes the last Empire did, they did not act quick enough, we have the advantage of foresight and can end it now."
There was a stir in the meeting, the holo-vids were emotional, children were shown crying over dead parents. But, it didn't seem right to Xeones. He didn't believe the attacks were by the Rebel Alliance, he knew right then that the Alliance stood for something good. No, the Empire did these attacks, Martial Law was already happening, these attacks were on the Rebel's families by Imperial troopers. Xeones knew first hand because he had friends serving in those areas. They had told him how bad things were getting. And the orders they were receiving... to kill innocent people if necessary. Xeones looked to Tarkin, the man seemed uncomfortable, he had to know as well. But, what would they do? How would they even find the Rebel Alliance or it's leader. Xeones' stomach dropped at the thought of defecting. Theres no way he thought, but this just isn't right.

[Jack Starbuck]

"Nathan, you wouldn't happen to know if there is a gift shop here is there?" "... are you kidding me sir?""Uh, no" Nathan gave Jack an exaggerated glance. "Yea, on floor 15" "Perfect, we'll go there."

When the elevator reached floor 15 both men stepped out, Jack seeming to having a more spring in his step. "So um it looks like you have a plan Cap." "Indeed I do my good man." Jack strode confidently into the gift shop while Nathan stood outside. Jack walked out of the store with a cheap handheld camera and a grin on his face. "Jack?" "My dear Fillion, I am no longer the man you knew as Jack, but I am now Tom Brokejaw! Ace reporter of imperial affairs!" "Sir? How much did you have to drink at the archive bar?" "A litt..lot." Jack just continued to grin. "That explains a lot." "Not really" Jack shoved the handheld into Nathans chest "So you will be my camera man, Gary.. Poorboy." "Gary Poorboy?" "Yes... your and orphan and I saved you from a burning building." "Thanks" "Your welcome, we can use these aliases to get close to Tarkin. Hopefully he will recognize me"

Jack and Nathan took the elevator up too top floor to be stopped by a guard at the door to the cancel. Jack lightened his tone "Excuse me sir but I believe I have a meeting to record." "With that piece of kriff?" he motioned to the camera "I don't think so." "But I am Tom Brokejaw! and this is my cameraman Gary Poorboy!" "Gary Poorboy?" Nathan gave a shrug "Its an irony really, I love my life." "Only because I saved you from a burning building my boy." The guard stepped forward making the ace reporters take a step backward. "You two can wait out here until the meetings over." And so Jack and Nathan sat waiting for their good ole buddy

(I apologize for Jack acting weird, I am tippsy so therefore Jack is tippsy. He'll be back to his good soulless self in the next post)

[Jack Starbuck]

And so therefore Jack thought this idea was stupid and he left the meeting to go back to to the outer rim but there is a speeder chase (watch star wars episode II for a general idea of it) and he gets away gets back to the outer rim.

OOC: another tipsy post, and topher is not posting so I am going back to the outer rim to continue his venture against the imperial scientific community hazah!!! KATIE LETS FIGHT!!) AHAHAHAHKLSDJFLSKJLDSJFSDLKJFDLSKJFADFDASHKLFLFHDLVNDSLKNVDSLKNVDS

[Jack Starbuck]

OOC: Alright sorry for last night but I posted in rage of Topher not posting so I will be continuing from where Jack and Nathan are waiting outside the conference hall. Any NPC's are welcome

Hours past and Jack and Nathan were still sitting in a small lobby outside of the main hall. Nathan was starting to drift off to sleep and Jack was fed up with the wait.

OCC: *wink at Topher Norling

Jack sat up "Alright time to go to plan B" Nathan woke up fumbling his newspaper "We have a plan B?"
"Six actually but I'd prefer not to use them."
Jack pulled out some gum he acquired at the giftshop and started chewing as he disassembled the camera. After a few minutes Jack realigned the camera to look more like a small baton with some wiring sticking out. He pulled out the gum and placed it near the flashing mechanism. "Hello makeshift grenade." Jack's voice was incredibly high pitched and Nathan stood up startled "What the hell?" Jack gave a high pitched chipmunk laugh. "It's helium infused gum, made to make your voice high, it's more of a gag gift but if you place it next to the flash and re-wire it to enhance the flashing power you got yourself one hell of a bargaining tool."
"Okay tell me how you learned that but in a deeper voice please"
Jack replied with his chipmunk squeal. "Tarkin taught a class on it a while back, his ex-wife was a mechanic and attempted to use it on him first when she was in her anger stages." "Lord bless the women" "Yup"

Jack walked up to the guard infront of the door "Good evening officer" "What the hell? What happened to your- agh!" Jack grabbed the guard by his shoulders and kneed him in the stomach while Nathan came in with a right cross across his face knocking him out. "Any plan for getting us out of this Jack?" Nathan asked while shaking out his hand "Working on it" Jack replied. Nathan picked up the guards blaster while Jack pulled the key card and held it up to the lock on the door.

The door to the assembly opened. Nathan walked in first with blaster raised and Jack followed. "Good afternoon gentlemen, it looks like you have been busy." Jack started with his high voice. The crowd of delegates were stunned and all stood while a couple of guards within the room drew their blasters. "Ah ah ah, I wouldn't do that if I were you." Jack held up his makeshift bomb. "It may not look it but this baby has the power of a thermal detonator, it can clear this whole room if it has too, all I have to do is press the flash." The guards lowered their weapons as an imperial delegate stepped forward "What the hell do you want? We don't give in to demands of... chipmunk terrorists." Jack cracked a smile. "Do you know who I am." He took a step forward so everyone could see his face. "I am the monster you tell your children about at night, I gnaw on your imperial bones for every meal, I am the fire to wipe you all clean from this wretched galaxy." "Jack Starbuck" a female twi'lek whispered. Jack smiled again, Sothis is what if feels like to be a sith? To be feared, to be in control, to let my rage influence my actions? I am a monster Jack walked up to the delegate who spoke up earlier and pushed the baton into the his chest. "Exactly, so, now that I have your attention I would like to know why you have specific research teams in the outer rim researching old viruses and epidemics that have long been put away for the sake of the galaxy?" The delegate raised his chin. "I could ask the same thing, why do you have a grenade ready to blow in our pressence?"
"At least I am going to blow up the right people"
"And yourself?"
"Don't worry, I am just as guilty as you." His thoughts returned to the apprentice he killed on Kashyyyk

Jack wished he had his blaster on him than this grenade, but in order to gain access to the archives he needed to leave his blaster outside in a small garbage trench which he intended to come back for later. He scanned the room of terrified delegates until he found the man he was looking for, Tarkin. He also saw a familiar face standing by his old friend, one whom he hand seen covered in blood and dirt years before, Xeones. Well this just got complicated.

Jack returned his focus to the delegate, his voice was finally coming back to a lower pitch. "I have shut down half of your facilities in the outer rim and I intend to do so for the other half, but if you are willing to save me the trouble you could just shut them down now." "We need those facilities.. for.. for" "For ending the lives of billions of loyal citizens just so you could reassert your control?" Jack paused for an answer but he ended it with "you sick fracks." Jacks gaze went to Tarkin. "I would appreciate it if you would let Mr. Tarkin come with me as well as his escort." Tarkin stood and gave Jack a hard look, Jack was surprised thinking that Tarkin would be glad to at least see him alive. "Fine." Tarkin strode toward Jack, Xeones followed. "Take him" One of the delegates spoke up "He has been going against our ideals and laws from the day he was initiated, how he got this job we will never know." "Perfect." Jack replied "Well it looks like we will be on our way now." Another delegate spoke up "Your not going to kill us now?" Jack gave another smirk. "I never intended too, if I was going to kill you, you would be awake, facing me with a weapon in hand."

Jack, steped out of the conference room followed by Tarkin, Xeones and then finally Nathan closing the door behind him.

[Jack Starbuck]

OOC: Topher gave me permission to use Xeones.

"So I'm pretty sure the alarm is going off... Just sayin"
Filion motioned to a small red stobe going off in the corner of the hallway.
"Yea, about that."
Jack's voice was back to normal as he turned to face his new companions. Tarkins expression was still as hard as a rock and Xeones had at least a smirk showing he was in a better position than he was before. Jack strode past them to a large window at one end of the hallway and placed his head against it. He didn't plan this far ahead and his poor planing could have just cost them their lives.

And then he saw it. He placed his makeshift grenade onto one of the panes on the window and backed up.
"You mind shooting that for me Nathan?"
"We planning on jumping out?... Sir?"
This was Tarkins first response, and it was no where near as happy of a tone Jack had hoped for.
"Exactly, Nathan go!"
after everyone was sure to be clear of the blast Nathan leveled his blaster and fired blowing the whole window into the blue sky of Coruscant. The wind blew through the opening violently as well as the loud sounds of air traffic. Jack stared at the open space frozen to the ground Damn I forgot how much I hate heights.

Motivation came soon enough as a mass of imperial guards came from around the corner and raised their rifles at the four of them.
"Halt!"
Nathan turned
"Wow do you guys practice that in a mirrior?"
Jack grabbed Nate and Xeones by their jackets.
"Jump!"
all four jumped out of the window and fell.

CRASH! The four of them landed on a painting platform about 10 feet from the window. " Jack landed on the painting robot himself and rolled around in blinding pain and disorientation.
"My kriffing back!"
Tarkin grabbed him and stopped him from rolling over the edge. Then the firefight ensued. The guards aimed out of the window and fired down while Xeones hit the lever lowering the platform while shooting upward with Nathan. Jack regained his composure after Tarkin cracked his back. He was in pain but his adrenaline was up enabling him to deal with it. A bolt blew away part of the railing near Jack's head.
"Frack!"

Jack looked to the ground level and saw a formation of imperial guard speeders setting up a perimeter and guardsman running to and fro from different blocks to find cover. Nathan and Xeones aimed down and fired at the guardsman since they had higher ground for a limited time while Jack and Tarkin laid low avoiding blaster bolts fly over their head.

The platform hit the ground hard. Jack and his crew ran for cover under durasteel decorative blocks holding plants atop of them. Jack pulled them in.
"Nathan and Xeones, you guys need to give Tarkin and I some cover fire, I spotted a speeder with a turret on top close to our right. Distract them long enough for us to get close for hand to hand. Once we take the turret we will cover you and you bound to us, got it?"
Both responded with a brief nod.
"Alright give em hell! Don't shoot for accuracy, just shoot for the sake of shooting, and shoot a lot!"
Nathan and Xeones switched their blasters to burst and raised them over the durasteel and unleashed a unrelenting volley of blaster bolts. Jack and Tarkin bolted to the right rolling and sprinting from cover to cover. Till they were close enough to see the two guards near the speeder.
"Go!"
Jack jumped up onto the block and sprinted toward the speeder. The guard on the turret turned at the last instance and looked on in horror as Jack lept onto him throwing him off the speeder. Both Jack and the guard fell hard on the ground. Jack looked up to see the guard below him with a broken neck, he turned and saw Tarkin lowering the other guard to the ground, picking up his rifle and firing from the cover of the speeder. Jack hopped up into the turret and aimed for the perimeter of other speeders and opened fire. The sound of the turret was thunderous and the flash from the muzzle was blinding but Jack saw the guards fall, run, trip, or blow up into red mist. From his peripheral vision he saw Nathan and Xeones sprinting toward their speeder. Both jumped in and Xeones took the controls and roared the speeder to life. Jack leaned from the turrent. "Swing around the buildings opposite side!"
The speeder roared around the building and Jack jumped from the moving vehicle and landed in a somersault. He ran to one of the gutters by the side of his building and picked up his DL-44 and at the moment another speeder came around. Nathan leapt up onto the turret and opened fire. Jack ran to his crew firing his blaster at the opposing speeder while doing a running leap into his own.
"GO GO GO!"
Xeones hit the throttle so hard the jump nearly threw Jack from the vehicle.

A chase ensued but it was short lived. Jack and his crew managed to sneak into a sub sect of Coruscants underworld and ditch the speeder while taking valuable blasters and equipment for their journey on foot. After a couple of hours of running and hastily walking they found themselves in a sewer system. Jack stopped signaling the group to do the same. "Well, just like the old days huh?" Jack gave a chuckle but was abruptly stopped as a black fist flew into his face sending him reeling into the sewage.

[Jack Starbuck]

"You sleemo!"
Jack pushed himself out of gunk of sewage coughing out all the refuse, piss, and blood out his mouth.
Tarkins fist came down hard on the back of his neck sending Jack face first back into the sewage water. The stench and gunk shot up his nose. A boot pressed lightly on his head, forcing his face in the sewage water. Suffocating Jack struggled for air but gained nothing.
He's suffocating me, my best friend is going to kill me right here and now where all of the waste of the empire has been left to fester... a fitting end.
Just as his body was going numb a hand pulled him out sewage. Tarkin stared at him intensely, no sign of gratitude or excitement, just pure rage. Tarkin sent another fist right into Jack's stomach sending him flying back spewing vomit, blood, and sewage. He laid there in his waste. Thoughts racing through his head.
What is he doing?! He owes me from getting him out of that hell whole... We just scared the poodoo out of the delegates... where did I go wrong? He gave another sickening cough, the dim lights of the tunnels were spinning around him.
Everything was wrong... this is the academy... here, like there I am lying in my own vomit... here, like there I am not good enough... I never was
Since the start of the rebellion Jack pushed aside his feelings of failure about the academy, but here in his moment of weakness it all came out. Jack attempted a wail but was only met with a girdle, minutes later he blacked out.

Jack came to, sever hours later with Xeones shaking him awake.
"Sir? We gotta get moving."
He had a searing headache, and he could taste the caked blood within his mouth, as well as smell the vomit covering his body. Looking up Jack did not see any sign of Tarkin or Nathan.
"Where did they go?"
"To get us some transpo, they said follow the tunnel down, that they would leave markings on the walls."
"Fankarkingtastic."
Jack spat out. They followed the tunnel for what seemed miles, ensuring they would see a white mark on the concrete walls from what could simply have been steel racking against the rock. They reached a ladder leading up to a porthole with a white arrow marked "up". They made their ascent, slower thanks to Jack's weakened state.

It was nighttime but the lights of the city gave Jack a roaring headache.
"lord damn"
"Sergeant hit you pretty hard huh?"
"He was always good with that right cross."
They were still technically in the underworld, but there were slits in the ceiling revealing Coruscants skyline. They passed through homeless and sick person alike, with no sense of direction. Jack was worried about not blending in until he realized he was covered sewage, and that among the poor of Coruscant he was ok. He kept his hand on his blaster just in-case.

"Well well well look at what we have here." It was spoken in a heavy basic. Jack didn't have time to cipher the accent. As slow as he was he spun around, Xeones as well both with blasters raised.
"Nathan you sleemo."
"Haha got ya good Cap, I thought my accident was bad, looks like I'm improvin."
"How the hell did you find us?"
"Your covered in vomit sir... I suppose you can guess."
"Dick... did you guys find transpo?"
"Same one we rode in on, hope you don't mind I took your com to call that nice farmer back?"
"Yea, yea just get us home."

Nathan led Jack and Xeones to the Concord Dawn. Tarkin was already aboard, paying the farmer/pilot. After a couple of minutes the Wayfarer transport lifted off into the Couscanti night sky.

Admin edit: language; use Star Wars expletives in the future