[center][color=808B96][h2][b]C a s   E e l e n[/b][/h2]Nar Shaddaa [b]-[/b] Refugee Sector
[i]The Refuge[/i] Cantina[/color][/center]
[center][hider=Atmoshpere][youtube]https://youtu.be/xsx05iGapR8?t=377[/youtube][/hider][/center][hr]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/IY1IoeP.jpg[/img][/center]

Cas barely had time to respond to the question posed to him by the man who would later identify himself as Captain Del'Quinjorra of [i]The Quillwing[/i], which Cas assumed must have been some ship outfitted for his own purposes. Not that he'd ever heard of it. Gesturing to a seat at the table, he went to respond though was interrupted by the sudden arrival of the latest member in their growing group, one Lroné Eronoss. He didn't know her, either. 

[color=a2d39c]"Somebody has to keep you alive. You should count yourself lucky, usually I'd charge a premium."[/color] Pausing for a brief moment of thought, the Nautolan continued, [color=a2d39c]"Though in this case, freedom from this overcrowded and disease-ridden sector will have to do."[/color]

The two didn't have much time for more idle chatter, the bar erupting into noise at the sight of a fight between two patrons. Cas remained seated, trying unsuccessfully to see past the crowds for a look. Suddenly the crowd fell silent, no doubt a surprise victor had emerged in the admittedly short-lived fight beyond his own view. Even the band had fallen silent for a short while, captivated by the events, allowing an eerie silence to fill the warm air. "I'm here on a job for the Exchange", echoed a voice throughout the cantina, which only fueled the silence further.

[i]Oh, great. A trouble-maker, and most likely one that was about to join their team on a [b]discreet[/b] mission[/i]. [color=a2d39c]"I have a feeling things just got more complicated."[/color], said the Nautolan, airing his thoughts to the group. Soon enough, a hooded figure broke free from the crowd and began to make his way over to their table. The chatter in the cantina began to normalize as the band began playing once more, and things returned more-or-less to normality, though Cas noticed the latest arrival to their table attracting more than a few bad looks.

Eyeing the man as he spoke of being a scholar, Cas couldn't help but feel somewhat unsettled by the calm in his voice. [i]Either he was especially naive, or he was somebody to worry about. Probably both.[/i] Identifying himself as a 'Seeker' going by the name of Dasaen, apparently the member of an organisation whose name Cas had already forgotten, Cas couldn't help but wonder what exactly he was actually seeking. [i]Was it a meaningless and self-righteous title? Probably[/i], he wagered. [i]Everybody's seeking something, anyway. What makes what this 'Seeker' is seeking, so special?[/i] Only managing to confuse himself by thinking about it, Cas decided he'd have to find out more about this man of mystery later on. Oddly, the 'Seeker' made a final comment about being fooled by another and mentioned a Kel'Dorian. [i]He's well-and-truly mad[/i], Cas thought. [i]Now he'd have to worry about this laserbrain, as if he didn't already have enough to worry about.[/i]

Cas didn't have much longer to muse over Dasaen, with another man approaching their group. [color=f26522]"So, this is the chumps anonymous meeting?"[/color]

Returning a slight grin of his own, he looked the man up and down before replying, [color=a2d39c]"It's increasingly looking that way."[/color] Before their conversation progressed any further, yet another joined their group. A Zeltron, this time. Making herself comfortable in the empty seat beside Cas, she slid a tray of drinks into the middle of the table and offered them up, though Cas opted not to take a drink for himself. Indeed, even as the Nautolan went to introduce himself to the newest arrival, [i]yet another[/i] began to introduce themselves. Or, at least, attempt to. Having been momentarily looking toward the Zeltron to introduce himself, he hadn't caught the Kel'Dorian approaching the table, and simply assumed he must have missed him. A sort of anxious frustration beginning to fill his mind, he wondered how many the Exchange had actually contacted for this job. Indeed, the Kel'Dorian did not fill the Nautolan with confidence. [i]Another laserbrain? Loth-cat got his tongue? Surely, not [b]two[/b] simpletons?[/i] Cas began to feel more tempted to take the drink that was on offer.

Sitting silently for a while as the group made slight conversation about the locals, he eventually interjected. [color=a2d39c]"If this is all of us, we ought to get down to business before our resident 'Seeker' beats anymore karking refugees."[/color] Cas made sure to shoot the man a look of disapproval as he spoke, if he [i]could[/i] even see it through that his covered eyes. [color=a2d39c]"So, anyway. Mol gave me some information to relay to you all."[/color] Quickly scouring the area around their table, Cas checked to see for anybody else approaching the table. With the rate members of their team had been arriving, he wouldn't be surprised if another turned up midway through his explanations. After a few seconds, and happy that they were all accounted for, he continued.

[color=a2d39c]"Right, so. First there's Taan the Twi'lek. You've probably heard of him since he's the 'Head Refugee' around here. I think he's held up in some empty and re-purposed cargo container, like most of the refugees in the sector. Suppose we'll have to ask around. Shouldn't be too hard."[/color] Out of instinct he spoke in a slight hushed tone, though he doubted anybody else in the bar cared what they were discussing, or that they could even hear over the combined noise of the patrons and the music. There was a reason the Exchange had chosen their particular spot, after all. [color=a2d39c]"Then there's the Scoundrels Sanctum. You know the one. Favorite spot of any Bounty Hunters lingering in the sector. Mol said we should check there, and I figure he's probably right. [abbr=vague/general star wars curse]Kriff[/abbr], some of those Bounty Hunters might even be after the same person as us. Finally, there's the famously short-tempered Dr. Zane who runs the aid center here."[/color] Shrugging, he commented, [color=a2d39c]"Not that it's much good."[/color]

Reclining against the backrest of his chair for a moment, he knew it would be a better idea to split up and tackle the various areas at once. Besides, a giant group wasn't going to be discreet in anything. [color=a2d39c]"So, I was thinking we should go off into pairs or something. Handle the different areas at once, and meet back here or something. I know Dr. Zane at least, and I can take our resident Seeker. Not like we're likely to get into any trouble around cripples, anyway, regardless of how scathing the comments from Dr. Zane can be."[/color] If you want something done right, do it yourself, as the age-old saying goes. Cas wasn't about to let the volatile 'Seeker' run off and cause them any more trouble. Taking him along meant that he'd have the opportunity to find out more about the mysterious Miraluka, too, which wasn't likely to be a bad thing.

[color=a2d39c]"I don't really know the rest of you, so. I suppose it doesn't really matter, we're not looking to start trouble."[/color] Pausing for a second, he rethought his words as he darted his gaze toward the Miraluka briefly, but decided not to make another comment. [color=a2d39c]"How about... Well, you and your friend."[/color] Cas gestured toward the Captain of the Quillwing, [b]Del Quin'jorra[/b] and his [b]Kel'Dorian friend[/b]. [color=a2d39c]"Maybe you, too, Faryn was it? We're an odd number, so we'll need a three."[/color] Finally, he turned his attention to the other female of the group. [color=a2d39c]"That leaves you two, Lroné and... I don't think I caught your name."[/color] he said in the direction of [b]Hamlin Teth[/b].

[color=a2d39c]"That makes sense to me, anyway. The quicker we can get out of here, the better."[/color]

Having made his suggestion, Cas hoped the group would simply follow along. It didn't especially matter who was paired with who, he reassured himself. They were only going to be gathering information. [i]What could possibly go wrong?[/i]