Snow business like Xho business [D8, LM]

[Zizzy Roosh]

"Oh wow, this is amazing Camlen." She thought about everything they knew about Master Xho. "I can't believe that he would only keep one copy of the real coordinates that he was working on just sitting there in his office. Not with all of these preparations that he'd made. He must have seen that Zash was coming for him."

Her eyes scanned the room for anything else that might be hidden away in this secret chamber.

"With all of these contingencies in place he must have had a plan. Why else get the other you to bring you to Coruscant and lead us back here?"

[Hatoful GM]

Camlen frowned thoughtfully. "Maybe... Master Xho was big into locks and keys if that makes sense. Like, he'd keep the info one place, and the means to access it another place. So you'd need both pieces; one of them wouldn't do any good."

[Zizzy Roosh]

Zizzy looked around the room. "The Jedi Investigator's report said that Master Xho was at peace when he died, right? That tells me he wasn't worried about the loss of the datapad. I think either he'd given other you a decryption key, or it's hidden in this room." She started to search for anything out of place. A truly paranoid person might well have a secret hiding place inside a secret hiding place.

[Hatoful GM]

There didn't seem to be anything else hidden in the room. The big research console did seem to have a non-standard input port, though; large and square.



Camlen frowned. "What if he's got them? The other Camlen, I mean?"

He sighed. "Wish he could have left it with me. I suppose it's not like I could just keep it in my pockets."

[Zizzy Roosh]

Zizzy waggled her tendrils at him in a gesture that all Mikkians and no members of any other species would understand. When he didn't respond she looked exasperated. "Maybe it is in your pockets..."

Taking the holocron she slotted it into the console port. "With any luck you've both got the key, but for now let's see if this works." She turned the console on again.

[Hatoful GM]

The holocron slid into place with an audible click. A route appeared, highlighted on the map, along with a collection of data; the analysis Master Xho had made.



Camlen shook his head in wonder. "I guess it was in my pockets. Master Xho's life work..."

[Zizzy Roosh]

"Yes! I knew we'd figure it out Camlen." She beamed at him and then focused on memorising the route. "See, he really did trust you with everything. I wonder where the other you is now? I guess that can be our next mystery. Holo lad."

It felt satisfying to have come this far. Of course now she had a lot of explaining to do. "Ossus. We've got the path to Ossus."

[Hatoful GM]

"Yeah. I guess so. Ossus. The other me." Camlen looked more than a little daunted. "I bet... if the other me knew this, he might have gone on ahead. That just feels like what I would do."

He shook his head. "This is a lot. Really, a lot. What... what happens next?" Poor guy was a bit overwhelmed, it seemed.

[Zizzy Roosh]

"I bet you took your elite piloting and lightsaber skills and set off across the galaxy! First stop Coruscant to drop you off with some Gree and leave a clue for me to follow. Then onwards to find Ossus. You're probably there waiting for us right now!" She gave him a happy smile.

"But next? We tell Master Chriala and Master Orgus about this. Clear up what happened. Then hopefully they'll let us go to look for other you once I've been assigned to a Master. Oh, and you'll become a legendary holocron of wisdom for future generations. After we've finished adventuring together obviously. I mean, I can't solve all the galaxy's mysteries without a plucky sidekick."

[Hatoful GM]

At first, Camlen smiled, but by the time she finished, he was laughing openly. "A legendary holocron of wisdom, huh? Sure, that sounds like a good retirement for Holoboy." He gave an exaggerated frown. "Am I plucky enough, though? I feel like I should work on my pluck."

Then, another smile. "No matter. You're plucky enough for the both of us, Zizzy. Can't wait to see what adventure you'll lead us on next."

He sighed, pleasantly. "Once we've told the masters, of course. Gotta tie up the loose ends, right? That's how a proper investigating team does it."

[Zizzy Roosh]

She giggled along with him. "Okay I'll teach you about pluck and you can teach me some saber skills, how's that for a fair trade?"

Her eyes twinkled in the reflected light. "Yes, we've got a bunch of loose ends to tie up before we can open our Jedi investigation bureau."

[Hatoful GM]

Camlen grinned. "Ooh, I like that. Can't wait to see what pluck lessons are like."

He shook his head, laughing, clearly thoroughly cheered up. "So, you got a name for the investigation bureau? Or a motto?" He stuck out his jaw, his voice going noir-rough. "Zizzy and Holoboy investigations. The detective's skin is the only thing that's green about them..." He made a face. "I'll work on it."

[Zizzy Roosh]

"Roosh and Boy, J.I.'s. No mystery too mysterious." She chuckled. "I guess I'd better get my head back into my trials though. I've still got to build a lightsaber before I can really be a Jedi."

She stood and took one last look at the map before turning off the device. "Let's go and let the Masters know what we've found. Or at least set up a meeting for tomorrow. I think Master Xho's secret room will be safe for one more night."

[Hatoful GM]

"Sounds good to me." Camlen said agreeably. "And yeah..." He looked around. "I wonder if I helped him build this room. I must have. I'm pretty good at this sort of stuff."

He looked back to Zizzy, smiling. "Right, your last trial? Are you nervous?" He shook his head. "If you are, you shouldn't be."

[Zizzy Roosh]

"Oh yeah? Byron and Silas are into their tinkering. This is so cool though." She took a last look around before picking up the holocron and moving over to the hatch.

"Am I nervous? A little. It's an ending and a beginning." Zizzy gave him a nod. "Thanks for your faith in me Camlen. That helps."

[Hatoful GM]

"Of course." Camlen said, smiling. "What else are friends for? I've got your back no matter what."

"And... I think you're right. An ending and a beginning. But for me, it was the beginning of so much. Something I'd been working my whole life towards. It was like... like waking up to the sunrise." He shrugged, sheepishly brushing a hand through his hair. "I don't know. Maybe it'll be different for you. That's just what it was like for me."