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greyias · 4 years

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FIC: Smoke and Mirrors - Chapter 17

Title: Smoke and Mirrors Fandom: SWTOR Pairing: Theron Shan/f!Jedi Knight Rating: T Genre: Pre-Relationship, Slow Burn Synopsis: Something’s rotten on Carrick Station, and Theron won’t rest until he finds out what. But picking at the frayed threads of suspicion quickly unravels a conspiracy much larger than even the Republic’s top spy can handle on his own. (A mostly canon-compliant retelling of the Forged Alliances storyline, as seen through the eyes of Theron Shan.) Author’s Notes and Spoilers: See Chapter 1.

Chapter Index: 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Crossposted to AO3

As soon as he was inside the door of his apartment, Theron had the chip out of his pocket and inserted it into his datapad. The first file on it wasn’t any official SIS document at all but apparently a note, written especially for him:

So here I am, minding my own business, when this intel request comes across my desk from none other than your old buddy, Rian Darok. I pulled it, but then I asked myself, what does a SpecOps officer need with this information? From what I can tell, cracking down on cargo smuggling isn’t the highest of priorities for him and his team. I pulled a copy for you too, since you’re so interested in “oddities” right now. I don’t know what you think is going on, but you know this guy has clout right? And not just in SpecOps. Watch yourself. — JB

Theron tried not to roll his eyes as he paged to the next file on the chip. Jonas was a good man to have along on a mission, but sometimes he could get hung up on something. Apparently in this case it was the havoc that Rian Darok could cause for an unsuspecting SIS Agent. Which wouldn’t be a problem, because Theron was suspecting everything right now. Which was probably good for his survival chances in the short term, but would probably give him hypertension if he ever lived long enough to see old age.

He scanned over the pulled file, but as Jonas said it was… just odd.

"Known Smugglers: Inner Rim" was just what it said. A giant list of cargo smugglers that operated in the Inner Rim. And by giant, he meant several thousands names. It would take far too long for him to cross-reference every name by hand. He was going to need to get creative on this.

He sat down at the terminal in his apartment, and began to start typing. The programming required to cross-reference the names against what he knew about the Korriban and Tython ops was complex, and he had to be very careful to hide his trail in case it dinged anything classified. The SIS didn’t keep it’s data on the HoloNet, but it definitely had its own hooks into the system. If he needed to do a deeper search on any of the names of the list, he could do that manually, but he needed to narrow this down to something manageable, otherwise he could be chasing a dead lead for months.

The chronometer had already ticked well past midnight, and he was nearing the end of his coding efforts when his implants alerted him to a new message in his inbox. He finished his train of thought, then pulled away from the data terminal, feeling his muscles protest at the motion after being hunched into one position for so long. Scooping up his forgotten datapad, he opened up his inbox to see who had written.

To: Theron Shan From: Greyias Highwind Subject: Late Reply

I must apologize for the delayed reply. Our latest mission hit a slight snag, and I only now have had time to catch up on my correspondence. Barnaba is a very lovely travel spot, as long as you don’t mind the occasional internal spat between royal houses. Kira wants to buy a timeshare here. She says that it would be a fun vacation spot. I tried to remind her we don’t collect a salary (as you accurately pointed out), but Doc nixed the idea before I could, saying this visit gave him too much work already and doesn’t want any more gray hairs. He can be a bit vain at times but is probably right in this case.

It sounds like you have been keeping yourself busy as well, even if it was perhaps less exciting work. Did you ever find what you were looking for in all of that data? I don’t know if it helps, but in a letter about the ongoing reconstruction efforts at the temple, the Grand Master mentioned a missing Rakata artifact. I unfortunately didn’t have much time to spend in the archives during our initial reconstruction efforts, but I didn’t see any artifacts tucked under anyone’s arm while they were leaving. Perhaps it was extracted during the original raid? I must confess, if the Council was hiding a piece of Rakata technology, then they did not want it falling into the wrong hands. In my own experience it is rarely used for benevolent purposes.

If the artifact was included in the SIS’s reports, I wonder if it is mentioned there the exact nature of the device. I could enquire further with Master Satele regarding it, but I am afraid I am not very good at concealing the truth from her in matters such as these. It is probably best if I don’t attempt it unless you think it’s necessary.

I think I hear my self-appointed keeper returning. I must wrap this up before he confiscates this datapad as well. I will continue to wait to see if you discover anything considered “noteworthy”.

I have a feeling you will know exactly where to find me.

As he finished the letter, Theron couldn’t help the frown. A missing piece of Rakata tech definitely could have been among the missing items. He’d have to check into the official report, but it would take a few extra steps to keep his name from showing up on the logs since they’d closed out the investigation. Surely the Empire wouldn’t have conducted an entire raid in the heart of the Republic for just one artifact. Surely their resources would have been better directed elsewhere. The more he tried to fit the pieces of all of this together, the less this made sense. There was something else going on here, he just wasn’t connecting the right dots.

He glanced back at the data terminal, his back screaming in protest at the thought of returning to the hunched over position so soon. He began to perform a series of exercises to try and stretch out the kinks, carefully balancing the datapad so he could re-read the contents of the letter again as if it might magically answer any of the questions it raised. As he focused on the details to see if he missed anything regarding the artifact, the reason for the delay in reply started to prickle at him. The letter had definitely been written with far more reserve than the previous ones.

As he finally worked free the knot in his lower back, he pulled up the HoloNet and ran a search on news articles for the Tapani sector. He didn’t need to look far to find the buzz about a daring rescue of an entire orphanage from the nefarious plot of a rogue minor house trying to curry favor with the losing house in the Barnabas succession. They apparently took the building as a hideout concealing a hidden stash of weapons and had planted dentonite around the perimeter. All orphans had safely been pulled from the exploding building and while the article didn’t say there was going to be a statue erected in a certain Jedi’s honor, Theron half expected it to. He was already scrubbing a hand across his face by the time he got to the end. Beyond being possibly the most disgustingly cliched do-gooder he’d ever met, the woman was a giant flashing neon sign that attracted attention wherever she went. What the hell had he been thinking bringing her in on this? There was no way they were going to remain under the radar if she stopped what she was doing every five seconds to rescue kath pups and nexu kittens.

He opened up a new message, and stared at it for a few moments before he began writing out his reply:

To: Greyias Highwind From: Theron Shan Subject: Interesting

I’m sure the life of a Jedi Knight is very busy, especially one that seems to wind up on the top of the HoloNet News feed as often as you do. It’s understandable that you can’t always reply to every piece of mail you get right away. Although I do admit I was thinking I’d hear back sooner than a week.

But your reply, even delayed, is appreciated. I hadn’t gotten far sifting through the data, but I’m going to double-check the report when I get in tomorrow to see if I can find the piece of tech you mentioned in the log. If the Council had it locked up, I doubt they were willing to share with the SIS the exact nature of the device. But hey, maybe we’ll get lucky and everyone will have been in a sharing mood. Hope springs eternal right?

Speaking of the Council, I think you’re right in that we should probably not share anything with the Grand Master right now. All I have right now are threads and suspicions, but nothing concrete. We need to figure out what’s going on before anyone’s going to take us seriously. I’m getting there, but it’s slow going. I’ve gotten some leads on Darok, but they’re just… odd. He’s started requesting intel, like on the weaponization of the Iso-5 on Tython. That makes sense. My other lead is just confusing, and I’ve got no idea what it means. I was actually working on it when your message came. If anything comes from it, I’ll let you know.

Theron stared at the blinking cursor, trying decide if he should end it there, but something was still nagging at him. Rescued orphans aside, there was nothing in the report that indicated why it took her an entire week to check her inbox, seeing as that incident had occurred almost five days ago. It was none of his damn business and he didn’t care. He really didn’t. Not beyond keeping an eye on a potentially valuable asset for his operation. Still, it felt as if he didn’t quite have control over his fingers typing out the last portion of his reply.

Now, it’s not my business or anything, but in my line of work I’m used to reading between the lines. I couldn’t help but notice you mentioning everything but exactly what delayed your reply. If I do find something, are you going to be up to joining my investigation? Or do I need to write your medic for permission first? Hopefully you managed to hide that datapad from him successfully enough so you don’t have to smuggle another one just to check your mail.

I’ve got to finish running down this other lead before I call it a night. If I find anything new, I’ll be in touch. Try not to blow yourself up rescuing another orphanage in the meantime.

#swtor fanfiction #theron shan x jedi knight #Theron Shan #Female Jedi Knight/Hero of Tython #oc: greyias highwind #otp: adorkable #smoke and mirrors #SoR Fic O Doom #swtor #fanfic #greyfic

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cap1tattoos · 7 years

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This is a design I visualized a few years ago and I'm happy we found the opportunity to finish it. #religioustattoos #jesusrosetattoo #dentontattoo #dallastattoo #darkagetattoo #dentonite #dentonart #jesussaves #tattoos #tattooart #cap1tattoos #tattoosbycapone (at Dark Age Tattoo Studio)

#tattoosbycapone #dentontattoo #jesusrosetattoo #tattooart #tattoos #jesussaves #religioustattoos #cap1tattoos #darkagetattoo #dallastattoo #dentonite #dentonart

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brandona1123-blog · 4 years

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Been spending the last few days learning old tunes I haven’t played in years it seems • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • #leobrouwer #guitarist #multiinstrumentalist #coronavirus #stuckathome #fingerstyle #messyhairdontcare #classicalguitar #oldtunes #prettypiece #staysafe #studytime #keepinbusy #dentontexas #dentonite #denton #lild #dfw #dallas #texaslife #musicianslife #dadlife # (at Denton, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-D33GBnE-P/?igshid=1xvb6ktlfkedp

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bzalez · 7 years

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Made a hell of a lot of great memories in this little city. 6 years I definitely won't be forgetting. I'll see you around, Denton. ✌🏽#dentontx #dentonite #squadforever (at Denton, Texas)

#squadforever #dentonite #dentontx

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dentoninformation · 3 years

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A Review of Denton and North Richmond Area

If you're looking for the best things to do in Denton, you've come to the right place. Denton is a fast-growing city in southern Texas inside the Dallas Ft. Worth metropolitan area. In its core, the imposing Denton County Courthouse-square Museum explores local history. Also nearby, the historic Bayless Selby House Museum is an elegant Queen Anne-style residence with vintage interiors.

Denton is also known for its booming music scene. In the past few years, Denton has attracted a number of world-class musicians and recording artists who call this North Texas town their home. Denton's love of music has manifested not only in the city's thriving live music scene but also in its burgeoning recording industry. Several recording studios have been established in the city to cater to the needs of both recording professionals and fans of live music.

Another reason to visit downtown Denton is the many theaters it has to offer. The historic courthouse museum has a world-class performing arts theater that attracts hundreds of visitors every week. The theater features a number of different venues that showcase local and national talent. Most shows are free. Some are covered by a concessionaire that provides tickets to the event.

Next in the list of things to do in Denton are a few Historic Sandstone facades and buildings to tour. One of the most striking pieces of old western architecture is the Sandstone Building, a two-story brick structure that was built in the mid-1800s as a courthouse. A rare glimpse into the past of the law courts of the past century, the Sandstone Building reveals the spirit of the past law courts through its ornate design and beautiful details of carvings and brickwork. Dentonites can view the inside of the building during the summer months from a location on the courthouse lawn.

Another reason to visit Denton is the two-year-old Museum of Texas History & Texas Folklore. Established in 2020, the Museum features a wide range of displays of art, history and culture that showcase the state's rich history and diverse culture. One of the highlights of the museum is the Bedroom Historic Site, a display of authentic nineteenth-century clothing, including one-of-a-kind dress made by women from the time period. The entire exhibit is free for visitors.

For a unique experience that allows visitors to interact with the performers front and center, take in the Denton Arts Festival. Each August, Dentonites celebrate the Performing Arts Festival. The festival includes performances by several prominent area actors and musicians, along with workshops, lectures, dances, food events, and comedy shows for all ages. During the main performance day, a specially staged "Million Dollar Spectacular" pulls in celebrities and locals to take in the show from top to bottom as it captures the thrill and excitement of the evening along with a spectacular light and sound effects throughout the night.

In addition to the "Million Dollar Spectacular," the Denton Arts Festival also features workshops, lectures, literature talks, musical acts and performances by some of the area's finest artists and musicians. On the weekend before the festival, enjoy the Denton Art Walks. A tradition started in 1998, the walk showcases Denton's visual and performing arts talent while walking the streets of downtown Denton. Along the way, you'll see several art galleries, museums and historic landmarks that have been featured in the film "Downtown." The Denton Opera House is also one of the stops on the world-class walking tour.

For a day of relaxation and entertainment, vacationers are invited to visit the world-class Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Here, visitors can indulge in baseball, tennis, softball, golf, swimming, horseback riding, miniature golf, and go on one-hour guided tours of Dick's Sporting Goods Park. A number of the participating stores offer an array of consumer products, including sporting equipment, electronics, jewelry, clothing, and toys. The annual Dick's Sporting Goods Park Event draws hundreds of people to Dick's, and the neighboring counties of Wake, Putnam and Putnamshire each host their own versions of the event.

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creativinn · 4 years

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Aurora Kicks Off With a Drive-In Art Exhibition | Dallas Observer

There’s something satisfyingly clandestine about looking for art in a dark downtown parking garage.

Inevitably, dark parking lots conjure a sinister image of suspenseful possibilities; they recall Bob Woodward’s meetings with Deep Throat, any bad-guy scene in a suspense movie and a number of real life attacks. Venturing into a downtown building to find an immersive art event greeting you on the third story of its garage is a solid metaphor for the year: We can find happiness in the darkest corners.

Aurora, the biennial art exhibition that has dazzled Dallasites since 2010, has become a local must-see tradition where families walk around in the fall evenings, admiring and interacting with the high-tech installations in the open streets.

David' Stout's The Chamber is another standout at Aurora's Area 3.

courtesy Aurora

After reaching the third floor, visitors will drive through Dentonite Alicia Eggert’s installation: a colorful fringe of streamers with messages projected in lights, such as “There is no beginning” and “There is no end” (Like a car wash, but a fabulously existential one), to be met on the other end by a noise installation by Blake Weld, a group of washing machines filled with wood and other heavy items not meant for a “delicate” wash cycle.

As dictated by their tradition, the Aurora event is full of heavy conceptual thinking, high tech and sensory installations.

Local participants, such as Brandy Michele Adams’ collaboration with Robert Anthony and Michael Moore; Tramaine Townsend; and Eric Trich and Taylor Cleveland, offer 11 stunning installations that bathe visitors with sound and showers of colored laser lights.

Taking careful turns with the car lights off, one finds a clever surprise at every corner. Two works find us confronted by human faces onscreen; making eye contact with unmasked strangers is an experience many of us have not had in months. Townsend’s piece consists of red screens showing darkened faces with eyes piercing through the viewer, as singer and performer Francine Thirteen sits in a Dia de Muertos-type altar a few turns away.

Another standout is Zuvya Sevilla’s cluster of monitors, which form small mounts surrounding both sides of visitors’ vehicles with an explosive visual of rings of light — apropos of the six months-worth of watching the world burn through our screens.

Each installation is meant to be taken in with some time to make sense of it from the comfort of your car. But, at least in the press preview we attended, there was no designated time allotted for each car, which perhaps caused each viewer to move along faster than they would’ve liked as we observed courteous driving practices.

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The exhibition, we were told, was to take place over 30-45 minutes, but most vehicles seemed to be clocking in at the 20-minute mark. Hopefully, crowds will be better directed during busy days.

Ultimately, Aurora tried its best with the pandemic hand it was dealt, and remains an unmissable experience offering a brief-yet-sweet escape from artless isolation. With a glimpse into the masterminds of the makers of local culture, we are forced into a state of hope as we remember that the city will find ways to offer a world of wonders, no matter how small or (seemingly) clandestine.

Area 3 takes place at Dal Park Dallas, at 1600 Commerce St. Tickets for Aurora are $30 per vehicle.

Eva Raggio is the Dallas Observer's music and arts editor, a job she took after several years of writing about local culture and music for the paper. Eva supports the arts by rarely asking to be put on "the list" and always replies to emails, unless the word "pimp" makes up part of the artist's name.

This content was originally published here.

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