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The Hunt for Information
Part 1
Written by Sailor Bothawui
A silent figure settled on its stomach in the ducts, looking down through the grate. Eyes darted around, surveying. It couldn't see the farthest corners, but was able to see most of the room below.
A knowing smile formed across a man's features. He bowed his head slightly to give the impression he was concentrating on the papers in front of him. His blue hand spun the writing utensil that he held.
The aloft being carefully shifted its weight to open the grate. Black arms pushed at the covering, which gave off a terrible grating sound that echoed off the walls as the opening swung down and open. The being groaned as she lightly smacked her face and covered her eyes in her paw.
A chuckle was heard from below, "Don't worry. I made sure that noise would be produced, even if you had thought to oil it before you opened it."
The furred girl shook her head and sighed as she swung her legs over and dangled them in the entrance she made. A dark shadow fell to the floor and gracefully stood up, giving a mock bow to the figure seated in the chair behind the desk.
The blue figure rose as he slightly nodded back to the black clad girl in front of him. He then snapped his fingers, which sent two guards from the darkened corners toward the double doors in the back of the room, weapons drawn. A grinding sound made the girl look up as another guard closed the noisy grate.
"I answered your request." The hunter turned back to face the well groomed man.
"Like always." Amusement was seen in his glowing red eyes. "Always up for a dance, as I am."
"You always seem to be the lead." Blue eyes reflected the amusement back.
A chuckle. "That I am. Though, you don't really seem to mind."
The girl shrugged, holding her palms up. She watched as he shifted where he stood; his smile faded, but didn't go away.
"Tell me this, little Shadow. Do you like myths and legends?" He stared calmly at the black clad figure in front of him.
Inga tiled her head in puzzlement. "Yeah, why?"
"Care to listen to one?" Cilek raised his right hand and inspected his nails.
The Bothan looked over her shoulder to the door behind her. The two guards still held their position with their weapons drawn. "Do I have a choice?" she asked dryly as her eyes darted back to the Chiss.
A rumble of a chuckle was heard. "It goes like this...
"A man was curious about the outside worlds. He knew they were there and wanted to explore. But the girl was fearful, knowing he might become lost in the ways of the outside. He soon could stand it no longer and needed to go forth. The girl understood and told him to go forth to learn but not to forget. He promised and set forth. But as the years past, he did indeed forget. Explored he did, and found wonders of technology so fascinating and hard to pass up that he had to start using them. After years of gathering and learning, he came back to what he viewed as a 'backwards' world. No one understood this technology so it seemed all his work was lost. He found he really wanted to share his years of research, so he decided to spend his next years redoing his work so he could share with his people. He soon realized that no matter how they moved forward, they should never forget where they came from and how it was for it will be hard to remember even when things progress."
Inga nibbled her lip thoughtfully as she pondered the legend. It was a unique story and her thoughts soon came back to... why?
The blue figure soon saw the questioning look in her eyes and he smiled. "Intriguing, isn't it? And I do hope that recorder of yours worked as I am not repeating the tale." He then held up a hand to stop the incoming questions. "You're a smart little Shadow, you can figure it out."
The furred girl scoffed. *One step ahead of me, is he?* She placed her paws on her hips and asked, "Why?"
Cilek chuckled as he reached into his inner breast pocket. "A puzzle, a game, a riddle, whatever you want to call it." He retrieved what he was after then swiftly tossed the item across the space.
The item was snatched from the air with a furred paw. Blue eyes looked at what she caught and took in a braided length of cord, her eyes then quickly flicked back up to the calm figure.
"Seek the treasure." He then slowly turned around and looked out the view window.
The Bothan knew when she was dismissed. She tucked the braid in a pouch as she turned to leave. The click of weapons was heard as the guards tucked their blasters to their side and stood at attention to let her pass. As she opened the door, she paused and looked over her shoulder toward the silhouetted figure. The clean cut suit, his black tailed hair, and his blue hands clasped behind his back would stay in her mind for some time.
Inga crossed her arms over her chest as she stared at the wall in front of her. She soon shifted her weight to her back foot as her eyes darted over the clues that she had tacked up for easy viewing. The furred girl huffed as she collapsed onto her bed and propped her head in her paw that she rested on her knee.
"I keep circling around..." She tilted her head, hoping that would solve the puzzle for her, but got nothing more.
"Treasure... legend... Cilek... Csilla... multi-colored cord, military? Honors?" The bounty hunter sighed as her blue eyes lazily moved from the words to the rough sketch and to trinket the Chiss gave her and back again. "What is it Suri?"
A shapely figure slinked around the corner and into the Bothan's room. "Aww, I hoped I would sneak up on you." She pursed her lips as she pouted.
"Might have... your heels gave you away." Inga slightly turned her head to look at the dancer. "What is it?"
"Nothing." The purple haired girl clicked across the room and plopped down next to the furred girl. She started to stroke the brown fur. "You're so soft."
Blue eyes rolled from the Berchii back to the wall. "I need more," she decided as she looked at the scant pieces.
"What?" The girl turned to look at her friend.
A furred finger flicked toward the wall. Grey eyes followed the gesture and looked at the collage of items. She squinted at the collection and wrinkled her nose up. "What are you doing? What is all that? Are you doing your hunting stuff again?"
Inga smirked and nodded. "It's a puzzle, a game, a riddle, whatever you want to call it." She quoted the Chiss as she picked up her recorder. "Want to hear a story?" She clicked it on and let Suri listen to the tale; it also let her see if she could glean any more information from it. "I gathered it's a legend from Csilla."
"Csilla?" The slightly tanned girl picked at her short skirt before she looked up into blue eyes.
"It's in the space known as the Unknown Regions." She looked questioning toward the nimble girl beside her. "Know where I'm talking about?"
"I've heard of it... somewhere." She tapped a slender finger against her chin. "Uh... maybe." The Bothan remained silent as she gave the dancer time to think it out. "Would I be wrong if I said Nagi was in that space too?" She twirled her fingers into brown fur.
Inga thoughtfully glanced up at the ceiling as she called a mental galaxy map to mind. "No, you're right. Nagi is in that part of space. Why?" She looked back over to the fidgety girl.
"Well..." She bit her lip and looked away from the bounty hunter.
"What? For Sith's sake, tell me!" Her ears perked up as she gave her full attention to Suri.
"I kinda know this guy..." She started playing with her purple hair.
Inga groaned and massaged between her eyes. "You know a lot of guys, Suri."
"Well, this one is Nagai..." Purple hair laced around her fingers.
The bounty hunter grabbed the slender shoulders and spun her around to face her. "Suri... tell me." She searched the grey eyes.
She dropped the hair as she took a deep breath. "His name is Saafir."
Inga sat back and released her grip. "Anything you can tell me about him?"
The dancer thoughtfully scratched her head. "Umm...I think he might have been a criminal of some sort..." she trailed off as she slightly shrugged her shoulders.
Furred paws rubbed between her eyes once again. "Ok, what does he look like?"
Her eyes lit up and a grin formed on her red lips. "He's really, really tall! And he's handsome!" She gestured wildly, happy to help out her friend. "He's got really wonderful black hair, gorgeous black eyes, and his skin is white that totally enhances his black tattoos." She paused a moment as she cast her eyes downward toward the floor and continued in a hushed voice, "he also looks very dangerous."
The Bothan's ears perked up to catch the change of tones and emotion. She wanted to push further, but knew when not to pursue topics. Besides, she knew she could always ask her later. Inga nodded, taking mental notes about what Suri gave her. "Know where I can find him?"
"Uhh...." Suri's slid over to gaze at her manicured nails that she had laced in her lap. "Not really..."
The Bothan tilted her head and then grabbed the girl in a big hug. "Thanks, Suri! You're a big help!"
"I am?" The Berchii's face brightened again. "I am!" She hugged the furred girl back tightly and snuggled into her fur. "Kitty!"
Cheers rang out as a scanty clad female sauntered out on stage from behind thick dusty green curtains. The girl broadly grinned as she walked toward the crowd and the awaiting pole.
*She's no Suri,* Inga thought to herself as she half-heartedly watched the performance.
A few beings passed through the double doors into the club. One stopped to look around and his gaze soon locked onto a table. He smiled as he walked over to the table that held a furred girl and two drinks.
The girl looked up at the sudden light change and smiled. "Glad you could make it. Please, have a seat."
"Vinue isss glad to be here, and glad you chossse thisss placce." He showed his sharp teeth as he lowered himself into his seat. He adjusted himself so that he could also watch the performance.
"Thought you might like it, I remember you mentioning it before in passing." The Bothan smiled.
His eyes soon looked over and studied Inga. "Thisss iss not jusst an informal meeting isss it?" He chuckled slightly. "Who are you looking for?"
"I'm looking for a Nagai male named Saafir." Inga pushed the ordered drink toward the scaly creature.
"Nagai? Vinue knowsss not of thiss 'Nagai.'" He raised his head and tilted it as he thought. "But, Vinue knowsss of ssomeone who might know." He took a sip of the offered glass. He sighed happily, as he found his favorite drink sliding down his throat.
"Oh?" The furred girl raised an eyebrow and spoke in a sweet voice. "Do tell."
The creature chuckled. "You amusse Vinue."
"I aim to please." She smiled pleasantly at her acquaintance which received a hearty laugh.
"Ahh, yesss." He shook his head slightly as he lifted up his glass. "You ssseek Ssava Der'Igassh. Sshe isss a Balossar." He took a sip of his favored drink and sighed pleasantly.
"Sava Der'Igash? I bet she roams these parts, doesn't she?" Inga took a sip of her paid liquor then looked at the Barabel sitting across from her.
He nodded his head as his eyes followed the scantly clad female dancing on stage. "Sshe frequentsss the joint called 'Dopa Killee' and it'ss quite the hot ssspot." His eyes slid over to the furred girl beside him. "Heard of the place?"
Inga nodded as she watched the dancer remove her top. "I've been there a couple of times, not often. When will she be there?" She let the rest of the bittersweet liquor slid down her throat.
The green creature downed the last of his drink and slammed his empty glass back on the table. "Vinue will take you to her, much better that way. You have been good to Vinue on numerousss occassionsss, Viune wantsss to help." He stood up, scrapping the chair against the floor, and gestured with his hand toward the exit. "Ssshall we?"
The bounty hunter smiled as she placed her paws against the table to push herself up. "Why, yes. Lead the way." She followed the scaly creature out into the darkening evening.