Player Goals

[Faily]

Adrienna
Not long after the heist on Hapes, Adrienna meets up with Nok Drayen at an undisclosed location. Nok gives her a solid membership in the Drayen Syndicate, but in truth the meeting also confirms her committment to join with Nok's real interests. The crimelord plays his cards close to the chest, but promises Addy that more will be revealed once she shows her full commitment to joining - by stealing the Black Book from Olon. Now that the job is done, and Addy has shown herself to be trusted by Olon and Syneisha, they both consider it easier to steal it from them now as their guards should be lowered.
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Armed with some knowledge from the Black Book, Addy is able to dig deeper into her past than she'd ever managed before. Piecing together that information with bits and pieces from what she does remember, she is able to determine that it is not a criminal organization that lead to her life being so disrupted, but a Sith. A rogue Sith is somewhat a redundancy in terms, as Sith tend to do what they like, but it was at least a lone Sith and his minions. Lord Destrus.
The why of it is less clear; as much knowledge as the Black Book contains, the inner workings of the minds of Sith are not typically in it. Still, it seems that his goal was not anything that they had, but perhaps something that they were. Enough information is present on Lord Destrus to determine that he performs a great many unethical experiments, many of them biological in nature. It seems likely that he'd singled the team out as containing good... subjects.
What the experiment was, or how it ended, is not clear.
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Addy succeeds in seeking out the location of Olon's gang on the world of Makeb, where the group is currently laying low while also getting in contact with potential interested parties look to buy information from the Black Book. Using Syneisha's trust, Addy sets up the lethan twi'lek to be in another location as she slips into the private estate to speak with Olon. However, what Addy isn't prepared for is that Olon sees right through her guise and attempt, causing a sudden confrontation as the very upset wookie bodyguard storms in. The altercation is brief, and Addy is forced to retreat, but not after managing to grab two pages from the book before successfully getting out as reinforcements in the form of Kaurin Vizla shows up.
It is fortunately not a complete loss, as the two pages paired with some of the stolen datapads from the Hapes vault still gives Nok Drayen a solid chunk on information to act on. Adrienna earns her place among the secret Star Cabal, who seek to manipulate the fall of the Republic and the Empire.


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Alsten
After the heist on Hapes, Alsten is contacted by Hylo Visz. Hylo checks in to see how Alsten is doing, and after some casual chit-chat she lets him know that she and her crew have been checking the routes that Alsten managed to snag from Nok Drayen's ship. They have checked the locations that are on contested worlds without much luck, and are now considering a bigger operation to one of the Imperial-controlled planets to see if they'll have more luck in finding results. Perhaps against his better judgement, Alsten agrees to help out, and he gets to fly with Hylo's personal crew aboard the Vanguard.
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Arriving on the planet Khar Delba in Sith space, Alsten is stowed away in shipment crates as part of the plan for him to get unseen planet-side by any patrols or Sith officials. Hylo and the crew are merely delivering "luxury goods" (off-the-records) to interested buyers on the cold planet, and the crew is forced to stay in the hangar for a day as the Empire doesn't want outsiders to wander around as they please. Alsten on the other hand finds his chance to slip out of the shipping crates before they leave the starport and is able to sneak around there until he finds some data-terminals to slice.
Checking the starport's logs to compare with the data Hylo had acquired in their own research, it seems that Nok Drayen did indeed visit the planet here half a year ago. It takes Alsten some time, and lots of dodging of security during the night, but he also manages to get his hands on some security footage that shows Nok meeting with an Imperial officer. From what he can get from the footage before he has to scamper to safety, it would seem that the meeting was private and very much off-the-books as the Imperial officer shares sensitive information to Nok that could prove disastrous to Imperial Intelligence, such as knowledge on special operatives and some things that sound like codewords.
Successfully, Alsten manages to make it back to the hangar where Hylo and the others are waiting, and they leave Khar Delba in the morning without incident. The information gained will prove useful to the Republic, and Alsten can tell he could have a place with Hylo's crew if he wants it.
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Ever the wanderer, Alsten takes some time to use the money he gained from the heist to see some of the galaxy... and engage in various opportunistic crime where he goes which certainly makes his sizeable fund last much longer.
On the core world of Corellia, he encounters Risha again by chance, as she seems to be doing some travelling herself. And she offers him to join her on a little stunt, which turns out to be quite the thrill-ride of sneaking and bluffing their way into one of the more lucrative corporate buildings where they steal both data and valuables, before stealing a limited edition luxury speeder that belongs to one of the CEOs and take it on a joy ride around Coronet city before dumping it off somewhere for CorSec to pick it up.
Risha, clearly a bit less altruistic than Hylo and more interested in her own agendas, suggests to Alsten that they could get a ship and travel the galaxy to commit more shenanigans.
What Alsten chooses will remain to be seen...


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Ava
Leaving the rendezvous point, Ava meets up with Nok Drayen right afterward. Coyly, the Zeltron sells Nok some half-truths/half-lies that they looted some sensitive information from the vault along with other valuables, and that she wasn't able to get her hands on the best stuff for him. Much to her surprise, Nok seems to take the news with an unusual calm and even more unusual forgiveness. He treats Ava to a luxurious getaway dinner and dance on a small name planet that has great entertainment, and lets her go after she spills the beans on some of the datapads that were stolen.
Ava can't shake the feeling that she's gotten off the hook *too* easily...
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In an effort to clean up her act and to cut herself off from the crime that's taken a strong hold on her life, Ava reaches out to the Republic in hopes of earning some good favor there. Through some informants and middlemen, Ava is set up for an off-the-record meeting with a representative on the neutral ground of Nar Shaddaa.
It is probably a big surprise for Ava to see the Pantoran Jedi she briefly encountered on Hapes during the heist, whom introduces herself as Jedi Knight Farissa Kho. Farissa explains to Ava that it will take some time to build a good trust with the Republic, given her track record, but that the Republic won't turn away helpful individuals who also wish to better themselves. Ava is offered the chance to work with Farissa and some members of the Republic Strategic Information Service (SIS) as an independant asset. For the moment that means that Ava will be working for the Republic and she will be compensated for her work, in addition to giving her very loose reigns in how she might choose to accomplish tasks given to her, granted they're not breaking *too* many laws. The downside is that the Republic can cut their losses if she gets caught or oversteps, basically giving them complete deniability that she has been working for them.
Farissa is sympathetic that the conditions might seem rough now, but is confident that they can improve once Ava shows her worth.
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As part of the deal, an SIS operation pulls Natalie out of Drayen's organization. They thoroughly scrub her identity, providing her with a new name, a new background, and a new life. With the Republic's blessing, she is relocated to Naboo, a properly quiet planet.
She disappears not long after that. Republic intelligence tries to find her, but fails. Her fate is unknown... except that Ava receives an anonymous message. It is a picture of a younger Jules and and even younger Nat, both smiling and happy. The text just says "be seeing you".


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Chomaron
After the heist, Chomaron takes a break from things with the Salky Hound crew as he hooks up with the former Imperial Tenar Ahra. Likewise, Tenar considers it a good opportunity to take a break from her own little gang with the Fantastic Force, and decides to use the time to focus her attention on her neglected research into Rakatan technology.
The Karkarodon proves a very useful companion for the Sith, as the search for ancient Rakatan ruins often leads the pair into danger, be it from environment or old defense mechanisms that are still operational. While Tenar is a trained Sith and is certainly no slouch on her own, it's quite handy to have a skilled blaster and combatant at her side, as well as Chomps' big muscle to lift or force open doors that are too risky for a lightsaber.
Seeing lightsaber techniques up front in action, it gives Chomaron some good ideas on how to counter such weapons in close-quarters and how to possibly develop techniques that could work for those fighting unarmed against lightsaber-wielding opponents.
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Exploring near-forgotten worlds on the Outer Rim does provide fruitful for the pair, as they eventually manage to find the location to an old Rakatan research installation on an undisclosed planet.
Judging by the remnant security there, it would seem that the Rakata protected the installation and its secrets fiercely as it becomes quite the difficult ordeal for the pair to push through, but in the end, wounded and exhausted, they manage to plunge into the sealed off parts of the station.
It takes them some days to slice through the computers and files, but it seems that the research was mostly focused on "improving the physique of the slave races" (as per the Rakatans' own words in the files). The research seems to blend cybernetics and the Force, as expected of Rakatan technology, but it would seem that the Enhancement Chamber on the station is unoperational.
With Chomaron's recent "loot", funds isn't the problem as such to get it operational, but they both realise it will take a lot of time and effort to get it working again. And they decide for the moment to put it on hold as Tenar will research more into how it can be repaired, and more importantly, how it can be used
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Travelling with Tenar also provides Chomaron with different opportunities as well, as she assists him in turn with matters that require a bit more brainpower. Working together, one of their major achievments is trawling through the Black Sun data that Chomps had gotten his webbed hands on some time ago to uncover info on the Black Sun's slavery operations. Shipments, routes, sales, the works... and it gives them a good indicator on how to put a considerable bulk into that part of the Black Sun's profits.
After some planning, the duo storm a hangar on Nar Shaddaa where a sale is taking place between the Black Sun and the Hutts. They beat up some of the security and sufficiently threaten everyone gathered with some show of lightning and an activated thermal detonator, causing them to stand down. Now with the situation in their control, Chomaron and Tenar free sixty-two slaves from the Black Sun and the Hutts, and hijacks the Black Sun's ship to escort the freed slaves to safety.
Surely, the Black Sun will remember this insult...


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HK-51
True to the efficiency of an HK-unit, HK-51 wastes no time in deciding how to apply his newly acquired funds after parting ways with Olon's crew.
Scouring the blacket markets, the Holonet, and using various contacts in the DX Annihilator group, HK is able to use his money to purchase several "used droids" for sale as well as recruit stray and rogue droids around the galaxy. This move causes a great influx of membership in the DX Annihilator organization, though perhaps at a reduced quality as the droids HK recruited and liberated are not all combat droids.
HK finds himself saddled with a lot of new responsibility for the newcomers, as DX Annihilator simply refuses to accept a reduction in efficiency and quality. Though some simpler droids do find a purpose within the organization doing menial tasks such as seeing to repairs and paperwork.
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In the next year, a new fad swoops the various droids of the galaxy; droid poetry. While puzzling to the meatbags, many droids around the galaxy seem to find a great enjoyment in the philosophical poetry of an HK-51 unit.
The collected works of HK-51, as the droids call it, is not published in a traditional sense, but is shared through the Holonet and requires the reader to first go through some questions in binary to confirm that they are not an Organic.
The fad gives rise to several other droid-philosopher-poets trying to emulate the style, but purists maintain that these works don't compare to the original.
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When not composing philosophic poetry, HK-51 finds most of his free time occupied by being a trainer to the droids he saved and recruited into the DX Annhilator organization. Much to his frustration, it takes a lot of time to undo a lot of programming on these non-combat units. Who knew it was this hard to make protocol-droids into proper murder-machines?
Still, the pay-off eventually comes as they all manage to adapt to his teachings, and it warms his circuits in a fuzzy way when they destroy their first target.



Isond Vaal
Isond doesn't leave Olon's crew right away after the heist, as they now find opportunity to engage more in interaction with VIRGO as they are both now no longer busy with planning for such a big operation.
VIRGO proves an interesting enigma in many ways, but also one who has an understanding of Isond's own situation, giving the two the basis of a beginning friendship that will grow more as they begin to work more together in trying to delve into the mystery of VIRGO's being.
The more Isond and VIRGO search around the galaxy's holonet, the more it becomes obvious to them that VIRGO as a sentient AI is an unheard of technology, and it becomes more evident to them too that they need to expand their search into either ancient civilizations or unknown technology outside of known space. Or most likely both.
Together they return to the abandoned space station where Olon found VIRGO, and through combined efforts of research, their first clue leads to Wild Space.
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Through months of searching around in Wild Space, Isond and VIRGO stumbles upon the tale of a spacer who once ended up on a remote world that he describes as a "massive constructed artificial sphere" and all inhabitants he saw on the world were droids of some kind of a never-before-seen level of technology. He explains that the world, initially appearing friendly enough at first, soon proved to be very dangerous as the droid lifeforms tried to destroy his ship and capture him, and he escaped in time before they could damage his ship beyond flight-capability.
Following his coordinates, Isond and VIRGO find the planet Iokath out in the unknown regions. They realise that it is not technically a planet, but a massive artificial sphere that completely engulfs the star inside, absorbing all its energy for maximum solar efficiency. Much to their surprise, it has a breathable atmosphere, and even seems to have been overgrown with a lot of plant life, indicating that once there must have been non-droid beings there to have made it so.
The two manage to explore a little bit, and easily find data-ports to plug into to dvelve into the planet's system, but their stay is cut short as hostile droids show up in an attempt to terminate Isond. Possessing little combat capability, they hastily take their leave, but at least they are not empty-handed.
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The data acquired from Iokath sheds more light on VIRGO's origin, as they find similar coding within the data that matches her own though linked to other projects with names such as SCORPIO, GEMINI, and ARIES, though all with distinctively different roles and programming not fully disclosed in the data they acquired. VIRGO it seems from those records is designated as Virtual Interface Reconnaissance Gateway Operative.
But in addition to this, the data gives Isond a great deal of insight into how these ancient creators must've integrated themselves into computers to create such highly evolved AIs, blurring the lines between an organic's mind and a computer's memory.
If given time, as money is no problem now, Isond is certain that they can find a way to improve many of their cybernetics beyond what they are currently capable of... and maybe even how to overcome a body and mind's physical limitations to integrated cybernetics.


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Pirri
Feeling that she might as well keep the ball rolling now that she has stolen from the Hapes vault, Pirri sets her sights on other daring stunts that fit within her wheelhouse. The recently acquired funds make it easy for her to buy insider-information on passcodes, security-flaws, and the works on Alderaan, Korriban, Empress and Dubrillion.
On Alderaan, she successfully manages to sneak in to House Alde's historical museum, where she lifts several priceless art objects related to the founding of Alderaan's monarchy and its noble houses. While the Alderaanians remain clueless of the perpetrator, word circulates in the underworld of the galaxy about an acrophile Chiss named Pirri being responsible.
On Dubrillion, Pirri's actions sends the aristocracy into an uproar in an already tense situation as she quickly leaves the planet with the Crown of Dubrillion in her possession. The Drayen family had already been in a precarious position as a royal family-in-exile, but now that their allies no longer hold the Crown for their safekeeping, it sends the aristocracy into a proper civil war as usurpers try to maneuver themselves onto the throne.
Art dealers and black markets practically trip over themselves to buy the stolen goods from Pirri.
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As word of Pirri's exceptional acquisition-talents spread in the galaxy's underworld, she is approached by a representative of the Rescued Property Appriciation Society (RPAS for short). They are suitably impressed by her skill and appriciation for exclusive items, and offer her a partnership with them where they will act as her middlemen with potential buyers, which will also help preserve some anonymity in the galaxy at large to help her avoid law enforcers or bounty hunters, in return for them getting a cut of the sale.
There is fierce negotiation on the terms, but in the end, Pirri is given the prestige of being a Very Important Acquisition Asset in the RPAS, giving her access to their network and knowledge on other potential objects to acquire, and still having the majority of the cut on any purchase made of her acquired property.
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Now armed with more knowledge on how to infiltrate Korriban, Pirri manages to smuggle her way onto the restricted Imperial world in search for an ancient Sith artifact, called the Tablet of Tulak Hord. From the information given to her by the RPAS, the Tablet's exact whereabouts is unknown, except that it is within the tomb of Tulak Hord, and a Imperial scholar by the name of Ephran Zell has been researching something called the Red Engine that is supposed to unlock the key to obtain the tablet.
Pilfering Ephran's datapad to check through his notes proves an easy task for Pirri, but the greater challenge before her is that it's all about Force and mystical mumbo-jumbo that doesn't make much sense to her. However, she finds an opportunity when observing Ephran as he seems to be trying to recruit students of the temple to activate this Red Engine for him to unlock Tulak Hord's secrets. As luck would have it, he manages to convince one such acolyte to have a go at it.
Shadowing the young Sith as they brave through the tomb and its defenses, their path eventually leads to what Ephran's notes describes as the Machine Vault. In the center is a strange device hanging from the ceiling, pointed down towards a large object that must be the Red Engine. The young Sith kneels before the Red Engine, seemingly in some form of meditation until lightning begans to crackle around it, sending ripples through the room. K'lor'slugs crawl out from hidden crevasses, eager to attack this Sith that had drawn their attention. It is a sight to behold as the Sith carves through the beasts, and as their blood pools on the stone floor, it seems to send power to the Red Engine. It whines and lights up, until its facade cracks, revealing within a stone tablet. The Tablet of Tulak Hord.
Seeing her chance now before the Sith have turned to claim their prize, Pirri swoops in and picks up the tablet before the Sith has a chance to react. However, she is spotted, and is forced to dodge a hurled lightsaber and endure a slew of curse words as the Sith promises to inflict various amount of pain and suffering upon her once they get their hands on them. Not that Pirri gives them a chance to make good on their promise and quickly escapes the tomb and the planet before Imperial forces get wind of what's happening.
The RPAS are more than pleased with the results and of course offer to help set up a buyer if she desires, but Pirri has a feeling that she might not have seen the last of that very angry Sith student...


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Teffa
After parting ways with the others, Teffa first enjoys some days of luxury to herself before she seeks out her contact in the Hylo Visz's Smuggling Contingent. As she had met one of Hylo's trusted crew back on Port Nowhere, and had acquired one of their good luck charms, Hylo Visz and her crew have a friendly disposition to Teffa as they meet up on an undisclosed dive somewhere in the Core.
Teffa confesses to wanting to establish a closer working relationship with the Republic, but without going too official into it. Hylo, as a privateer herself, is quite understanding of the situation, and promises to set Teffa up with some of her connections in the Republic.
A few days later, Teffa is contacted by Zale Barrows, a human in the Republic who was once a smuggler himself but now holds the position of captain in the Republic's military, with a special duty of overseeing External Assets. Namely, privateers and smugglers. Barrows expresses some hesitancy at first, but agrees to giving Teffa a fair chance to prove herself for the Republic, tasking her to smuggle much needed supplies to the war-torn world of Balmorra. As the supplies can't come from the Republic directly, in case they're discovered by Imperial patrols, he provides her details of a pick-up point in the Outer Rim, where she'll be able to acquire the supplies from an unrelated third party.
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At least Teffa doesn't have to set off on her new privateer adventures on her own, as she finds herself joined by Dioras, Jonquil, and Akeria. The three explain to Teffa that they are looking for new ways to travel the galaxy, as Tenar wished to focus herself on her research again and the group agreed that she would need their ship the most.
Dioras proves himself to be an exceptional pilot with quick and almost unnatural reflexes, and manages to pull of stunts with The Trunk that Teffa didn't even know the ship could do (and don't want it to do again). On the other hand, he seems to have some of the absolute worst luck in card-games, almost supernaturally so.
Jonquil proves a very sensible partner to have along on business meetings alongside with Teffa, as her calm demeanor and insight makes it hard for others to try to lie to the group or otherwise decieve them. She never seems to be lacking in stories to tell either, seeming to have travelled far and wide through the galaxy on her own.
Akeria most of all proves to be the most sensible and the voice of reason, keeping her feet the most grounded out of everyone in the group, including Teffa. And that she is a skilled fighter does come in handy when situations might turn sour, and in their spare time she happily shares with Teffa details and traditions from her homeworld of Alderaan, including showing her some of the basics of traditional duelling.
But most importantly, the three provide Teffa with a feeling of companionship and friendship that she might have otherwise been lacking.
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With some small detours here and there, Teffa and her crew pick up the supplies on the remote world of Bespin and set out for Balmorra.
It is an intense experience, going through Imperial security and checkpoints, but Teffa's cool and charm holds up until they successfully drop off the supplies for one of the cells of freedom fighters that's standing up to the Imperial occupation.
As they prepare to leave the spaceport, Teffa's nerves are tested once more as a Chiss officer working with the Empire drops in for a "surprise inspection". Teffa and the crew manage to keep their cool, avoiding tipping off the Empire about the real reason they were here, but Teffa feels like this is a brush with the Empire she might not have seen the last of, as the Chiss had seemed exceptionally scrutinizing of her in particular.
After the nervous encounter, they leave Balmorra faster than you can say "Papers please" and head back into Republic space to report the success of the mission to Zale Barrows.
Barrows is pleased with the result and finishes the paperwork that lists Teffa as a Republic Privateer, and she is compensated for her efforts. Perhaps not as lucratively as she had hoped, but Barrows hopes she'll understand that some of the real reward is helping out people who need it.


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Virillo
While most of the crew either retired or kept on with their life of crime, Virillo went in another direction. Mainstream acting! With a little money in the right hands, some travel to the right location, and some extra cash, Virillo managed to catch the eye of a big name talent scout. It started off with a guest spot in the latest Rawrbacca action series, playing both Hissface and Hissface's twin brother, Snakeytail. All it takes is one big break, and that was Virillo's.
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Not long after that, Virillo landed himself a leading role, written specifically for him. No Relation, a sitcom about the trials and tribulations of a multi-species family, with each role played by Virillo. The show was a hit, both in the core worlds and farther out. Addy, the spunky, rebellious teen daughter, became an especially big hit. Of course, as everyone knows, merchandising is where the real money from the show is made. Pretty soon, Addy's mocking catchphrase, making fun of her wannabe swoopracer older brother, "Okay zoomer", can be found on kaf mugs and t-shirts throughout the Republic. Talks of a spinoff and a movie occur, but nothing is made official yet.
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Virillo also turns his newfound wealth to investments, specifically in Port Nowhere. What's a destination spot without tourism, after all? Using his vid program, Virillo airs a number of commercials in which the beset father tries to slink off, only to be stopped with a "Going Somewhere?" by one of the other family members. Port Nowhere: It's Somewhere, became the station's new motto, and a push started to officially change the station's name to match.
Initially, this lead to a tourism kiosk being installed in the hangar. Then it lead to an influx of tourists, both criminals, and vacationers. Then a Republic battlegroup showed up, and Port Somewhere was forced to make an emergency jump, ending up nowhere once more. This cycle repeated periodically; as a Duros, Delcan didn't have any hair to nervously lose, but he did have a lot of dandruff. Eventually, a sort of equilibrium settled, where it became Somewhere for high-end criminals, and Nowhere for everyone else.


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Vys
Despite their best efforts, the crew of the Salky Dog all had their own business to attend to. Before long, Vys found himself on his own, which gave him ample time to sort through business that would be of interest to his family back home. As so often happens, one bit of information leads to another, and what he'd gathered on the heist lead to a veritable trove of potential blackmail and leverages, even some that could be useful back home on Umbara.
It took a while to sort through it, but when he did, there was plenty to send back to his Umbaran family. They were very grateful, indeed, and in the future it might look like it could ease some of the shadows hanging over him as the black sheep of the family line.
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Of course, Vys wasn't always alone. More tracking led him to Matkina. She was pleased to see him, in her own dour and sassy way, and even more pleased when he gave her the necklace he'd recovered. She claimed she wasn't the type of girl to fawn over jewelry, but that didn't stop her from wearing it on occassion.
But in the morning, she was gone again. This happened another time, and again, as the two frequently found themselves at odds with each other, both after the same object, or trying to deliver the same goods. It was an exciting relationship at least, with their encounters often either starting or ending with blaster fire, but hey, criminal romance is like that sometimes, and it certainly kept them both on their toes for an exciting affair. After all, they both had jobs to do, and Matkina wouldn't betray Drayen...
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... Until he pushed just a little too far.
It was when both Vys and Matkina were retrieving the same thing, an Umbaran family heirloom. The intel was bad, and Matkina ended up trapped. She sent out a distress call to Drayen, but he told her she was on her own. Vys came in, and the two of them shot their way out together. Matkina sent Drayen one last message, in which the word 'kriff' appeared both prominently and often. After that, she and Vys were a team.

It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.