Pax Republica - User contributions [en]

All This For A Drop of Blood

2026-04-03T22:03:33Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2026-04-02 |Cast of Characters=159, 261 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It's raining in the Gorge. Not like it had before -- just a light sprinkle, but enough to make that damned fog sweep in again and obscure nearly everything from view. Navi had likely been out scouting, but the weather would make it harder her for her to do anything, really. Dusk is falling anyway, so the young..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2026-04-02
|Cast of Characters=159, 261
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It's raining in the Gorge. Not like it had before -- just a light sprinkle, but enough to make that damned fog sweep in again and obscure nearly everything from view. Navi had likely been out scouting, but the weather would make it harder her for her to do anything, really. Dusk is falling anyway, so the young Sephi girl may decide that it's about time to pack it up and head back to the colony. By now, reparations to the Temple had progressed - the dojo had been restored, and the archives were nearly complete as well. Most importantly, a sturdy path with stairs built of adobe and synthetic stone had been constructed, leading from the colony down to the Temple. Navi will need to find her way back to this path - it's the best and safest route back to the colony. But it's dark, and the fog--! She won't be able to see three feet in front of her. Her commlink is pinging. Somehow, she's still getting signal down here... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi draws her retractable staff and extends it to serve as a walking stick, and for testing the ground in the fog. "Swell," she murmurs, strapping on her mini headlamp and switching it on. "This is the perfect kind of weather to pull a Cayde in the dark. Extra care is definitely warranted." Just then her comlink pings. Carefully plucking it from her belt, she checks the screen and answers the call. "Deputy Marshal Navi. Go ahead." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The spot she's stepped on suddenly gives way! She'll have to be quick to avoid slipping downward. It's Xera. "I thought you were stopping by tonight," she says pointedly. The timing is poor, but maybe she'd make it back to the colony before it got too late? 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Oh-!" Navi cries, leaping instinctively forward with the help of her staff as her rear foot slips. Somehow she manages not to fall. Looking back, she looks at where she'd just been. "Close..." "I'm sorry, Xera, but I'm going to be a little late. I was scouting the flooding in the Gorge, and now there's a heavy fog on the ground. I'll be back up top as quick as I can," she replies, as politely as she can while she's still breathing fast from her close call. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It could have been worse ... but it certainly could have been better. There's a bush there just below the ridge she'd slipped on -- not thorny, but the branches far from a soft bath loofah! Her clothing might have torn. That would have been just her luck! "Fine," the woman says, and then ends the transmission. Just as Navi may be about to resume her search for the path back up to the colony, a rope tumbles down to her from above! She'll sense a familiar presence nearby. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi winces at the sight of the bush. "That could've been another Tuesday's wardrobe malfunction," she murmurs. "Thank the Force for my old friend, Mr. Staff." The rope startles her, and she takes a step back with a little gasp. Followed by a sense of a familiar presence... "Looks like I'm gonna owe you again, Mr. Whatever Your Name Is This Week..." she murmurs, giving the rope a good tug to ensure it won't break loose under her weight. If it holds, she starts climbing carefully up the cliff... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Miraculously it does not, and surprise! No wardrobe malfunctions on the way up. Thank the Force. When she reaches the top, she'll see Zealot, wearing his marauder attire. A brief look around will reveal to Navi that she'd been here previously, and she'll remember that the path is nearby, just due west a hundred meters or so. "Navi," he says softly. "Are you alright?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I'm good. Thank you for the rope. As usual, your timing was excellent," Navi replies quietly. "What brings you out here in the fog?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Navi will have already sensed that something was bothering him. He was... afraid. "I just came from the Temple," he says, "Rykard has been gracious to allow the Disciples from the Convent to stay there until it's restored or we find better lodging in town." "You know how it is down here, and I'm sure you can feel it too. The Force is so strong there, and I'm worried about Cayde. Since all the Jedi have decided to temporarily stay there to help with the scouting until it's time to leave for Coruscant, he's been in the Gorge since last night, and he hasn't been very well. And you know what that's like." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "And you're worried it's going to turn into another hallucinogenic house of horrors?" Navi asks softly. "That's a good reason to worry. He should be staying up in Aklyrr Bend, since he has lodgings there and the bulk of his duties as Co-Deputy Marshal are centered there anyway. Has no one thought to suggest he go back to town?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Well, yes," he says, "I was already experiencing some just now, at the Temple." "It was discussed," he says to Navi, "But Rykard and Reza must stay in the Temple for now. They have to accompany the scouting party. If they send Cayde back alone to Aklyrr Bend or Kublop, he'll be upset. And that's perhaps worse." "Perhaps it will be alright. You'll all leave for Coruscant in a few days, won't you? He just has to stay in control until then." Her commlink bleeps with another text transmission. Xera's asking where she is. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi sighs quietly. "That's asking an awful lot. He's among Jedi, which should make keeping control easier, and yet he's already having trouble, you said? If that's true, he needs to go back to town. And since you won't get anywhere near town in that getup, I guess I'll need to escort him back." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Rykard has already agreed to escort him back to Aklyrr if it gets too bad," he says. Softly, he says, "They're trying to avoid making it seem like he's incapable. That'll make everything worse. I don't know that that's the answer, but if it's not, I don't know what is." Now her commlink is ringing, and buzzing disruptively! Xera's calling her. The woman has no patience, apparently. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I'll leave it in Mastery Rykard's hands, then. Half the time Cayde won't listen to me anyway," Navi observes wearily. "Rykard just needs to remind him that he's still a Padawan, and it's not wrong to acknowledge that he's not ready for some challenges yet." And then the comlink starts buzzing /and/ pinging! "I'm sorry, but I've got to take this..." "Deputy Marshal Navi, how can I help you?" she asks politely. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Where the kriff are you?" Xera asks impatiently. "Shouldn't you be back in Aklyrr already? I prepared refreshments, it's rude to let them get cold." "I see you're wanted," he remarks to her, seeming amused. "But I'll be seeing you. I'd like to see you off to Coruscant. I'll miss you, of course." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "My apologies, Xera. I'll be there momentarily. Should I wear something nice?" Navi asks over the comlink, offering Zealot a thumb's-up and a firm nod to his request. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "No, don't bother," she says, "I had Avi bring in the shipment I purchased from Coruscant earlier. I thought you might like some of the pieces. You should try them on at the very least." Navi won't find it difficult to make her way to the path that leads back up to Aklyrr, the fog isn't as bad in this area. Soon, she'll be back at the colony. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Thank you, Xera. That's so sweet of you. I'll be there in a few more minutes," Navi replies, ending the call as she walks into the colony proper. One look down at her clothes decides her. "Ick... as soon as I clean up a teense..." She bolts into the ionic shower inside her habsuite, then changes into fresh clothes. Her hair she leaves generally loose, with her forelocks drawn around in back and clasped to keep her heavy pale blonde mane out of her face. A minute later she's at Xera's hab-megasuite. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The door opens immediately, and she'll find herself being greeted by Xera's protocol droid. "Greetings, Deputy," he drones. "Do come in. But please remove your shoes once inside." Then it totters in the living area, and gestures to a velvet couch adjacent to a small parlor table, decked out with a tray of sweets and a pot of tea. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi leaves her shoes just inside the door as bidden, then follows the droid to the couch in her sock feet and takes a seat. "Wow, this looks wonderful. Now I feel doubly guilty for keeping her waiting." Only partly true, but her feelings for Xera are complex. Love lurks at the heart of them, but it's hardly alone. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' A few minutes later, Xera appears. She's dressed like she's going to some kind of gala, but she's clearly not, Tenoo is far too backwater for that. Avi trails her, looking sullen. "There you are," she says to Navi, "you're so late. You know that's a very bad habit of yours," she says, "not showing up on time. Have you tried any of the refreshments yet?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Not yet, Xera... I've only just arrived. Duty keeps a very harsh schedule. With the new Senior Deputy, I'm hopeful that my workload will be lighter," Navi replies, in a mix of contrition and politesse. "You've chosen such a lovely outfit, too. Color me impressed all over again," she adds, choosing one of the sweets and taking a dainty bite. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Thank you," Xera says, but there doesn't seem to be much gratefulness in her tone. Xera watches her take a bite of one of the morsels. "That's a caramelized mini jogan fruit tart," she says to the young Sephi girl. "What do you think?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi finishes chewing, swallowing the bite. "Nice. Sweet, smooth, and just a bit tart," she replies, before popping the rest into her mouth. Swallowing after a moment, she breaks one of the treats in half. "Share one with me?" she offers warmly, offering one half to Xera. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Xera smiles and takes the other half of the tart. It's hard to tell if she's being genuine or not, but she eats it all the same and seems to enjoy it. "Now," she says, "you'll have to see the dresses. There's fifteen of them. I'm sure one of them is your size." She gets up and heads for the master bedroom, beckoning for Avi to follow her. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi eats the other half, remembering her manners. The tarts are delicious, and she hopes Xera's smile is genuine. "Shall I join you?" she asks, as Xera and Avi move to leave the little parlor. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Of course," Xera says, but she doesn't look at Navi. Once in the bedroom, she'll see all the dresses laid out on the bed. They're beautiful... and look terribly expensive. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Oh, my goodness... they're so gorgeous!" Navi cries softly, deeply impressed, moving to study each dress thoughtfully. "And one of them is mine? You're so sweet!" She hadn't missed Xera not looking at her, but she hopes it was just her being in a bit of a rush. She also hopes she doesn't know better... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Xera tilts her head thoughfully, looking at each of the dresses, her expression pensive. "Well," she says after a moment, "There's this one." And she points to a white shimmersilk one that comes with a lace bodice and corset. The back is open, and the top of the dress converges into an open halter neckline that doesn't have a clasp in the back. "I think this one could look good and may fit you," she says, "but it comes as a set, with a necklace. Avi will have to fetch it." Navi will sense ... blood in the very near future. An accident, and a supposedly annoyed Xera. A very small amount of it, on the back of her own neck. But whose it is, she will not be able to discern. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "It's so lovely... I don't think I've ever worn pure white before. Shall I undress?" Navi asks softly. After all, Xera had insisted that she must try the dresses on. "Oh, please be careful," she adds, as the brief vision claims her attention. "Avi, Xera, do be careful. I feel like someone may be about to be cut, or pricked with a pin or clasp..." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "The bathroom is over there," Xera instructs. She then hands Navi the dress. "We'll have the necklace once you finish putting it on." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Thank you, Xera. I only hope I'm worthy of your generosity," Navi replies softly, accepting the dress and stepping into the refresher booth. It's a large deluxe model, and she's grateful for the extra room as she begins to undress... A few minutes later, she emerges in the dress. "I /think/ it fits, but I've never worn a Core-styled gown before," she admits softly. "Xera, could you be a dear and look it over and see if it fits properly?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Oh, yes," she says, "that looks like a good fit. Of course, I've never been one to fail when it comes to good taste," she offers proudly. "However..." she peers at the corset. "Well you didn't tighten it at all. No wonder it's sagging a bit," she says, "and Avi has the necklace for you here. Now, sit down. The necklace will have to be clipped to the dress and then fastened. You'll have to hold still. The jewelry is a delicate thing." Navi will notice that Xera's right. It is sagging a little, she likely hadn't noticed because it had only just now started very slowly to droop now that Navi has been standing for longer than three minutes. And of course, the neckline hasn't been fastened, so that isn't helping things. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Oh, dear... I should have known I'd forget something," Navi replies, blushing faintly. "I'll hold still, promise," she adds as she takes a seat, as bidden. She'd forgotten that someone else usually has to lace up a corset, especially if the laces are in back. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Xera will start lacing up the corset. It doesn't... feel nice. She'll feel like she's getting suffocated. But at least it will look good, right? Then Xera starts to clip the necklace in place. The jewels on it are heavy, but the clasp is a tiny needle point that fits into an equally small device with an even smaller hole. "It's a very fine thing," she says, "Avi will you take care of it? Your hands are smaller than mine," she says, and backs away. Navi might have sworn that she heard Avi grumble, but the girl's dress rustles as she moves into place to take over Xera's task. She starts to try to put the clasp into place, but then suddenly!! Navi will feel a sharp and deep pinprick in the back of her neck. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi holds as still as a statue, partly aided by the tightly-laced corset. She actually enters a partial meditation trance to do so. She is indeed as steady as a rock, something that will be obvious to all... "Ow! Avi, please be more careful with that!" she cries as she feels the needle point sink into the back of her neck! 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "You twitched, you wicked little brush mouse!" she insults Navi. "If you'd just held still..." Xera huffs, sounding disgusted, "Well she's bleeding now! Clean her up." Avi grumbles, and complies, going over to a drawer and taking out some gauze and alcohol. She wipes the blood away, complaining to herself. Then she places the gauze with the blood on it aside, on the beside table. "Look," she says to Navi in a sour tone, "now you've made a whole mess!" She fetches a small rag, and starts wiping at the chair. It must have dripped. But then Xera starts fussing. "Avi, you can't leave that bloodied gauze there! Take care of it, already..." "My lady, there's a bloodstain on the velvet chair..." "There's the droid for that," Xera says, sounding irritated. "Dammit! Where is that droid...!" She exits the room, calling for the protocol droid who'd greeted Navi earlier. "Don't just sit there," Avi says to Navi icily, "I can't very well clean the chair while you're sitting in it!" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I did /not/ twitch, Avi... I even went into a partial meditation trance to ensure that I /could not/ twitch," Navi retorts, with only minimal heat. She stands, adding, "Really? If you hadn't stuck me with that pin point, there wouldn't /be/ a mess. And didn't Lady Graf say to wait for the droid to clean the chair?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "You did twitch, you just hate to admit it," she sneers. "Don't tell me what to do, you're not -her-!" Avi snarls. "Now get -out-. The droid is obviously not here, so who else is going to clean it in the meantime? It can't sit, that will worsen it!" Avi might have been lying about Navi twitching, but she's not lying about the droid, sadly. It does not appear to be anywhere in sight. Xera had gone off to find it, but so far it would seem the lady of the habsuite has been unsuccessful. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "You always were a liar, Avi," Navi replies. "Perhaps out of regret that your name lacked a first letter, to make it legitimate." She leaves the room, looking for Xera and the droid. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Avi doesn't say anything, but she glares at Navi as she leaves. Navi won't find Xera, but she will hear the droid in the hallway where the other bathroom is. But as she walks she will find the dress sagging even more. The necklace hadn't been clipped, so now, when she walks, it slides down a little with every step! Just her luck that she's having a wardrobe malfunction now. At least it isn't in the woods. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi sighs and draws the back of the dress up behind her neck, then turns and goes back to the refresher to slip out of the dress. With the way things are going, she'll wrinkle or tear it. She emerges from the refresher in her underwear, a comfy and modest two-piece set in white cor-cotton. After all, she's going to try on more dresses, most likely. She hopes Xera will understand. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' She's probably about to head back down the hallway to Xera's bedroom, when she'll likely be startled by a hand reaching out gently to grasp her wrist from behind! "... Navi!" comes the urgent whisper from shower. It's Thaarin. He's clothed, partially, at least. But he's all wet, and the sleeveless shirt he's wearing is somewhat soaked. So are his trousers. He seems amused. "What happened?" he asks. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Thaarin? It's a long story that involves trying on dresses and Avi pricking me deliberately in the back of my neck with a clasp pin and throwing a pathetic fit," Navi replies, blushing faintly. "Sorry to intrude... I'd no idea you were in the shower stall." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He offers her a faint smile. "I heard," he says, "The ventilation shaft that runs from here to the master provides decent but not excellent insight into what's happening in there," he says, "I thought you were Avi and couldn't figure out why in light's name she might leave the master just to dispose of a bloodied gauze. You two have nearly identical gaits." "You're one to talk," he says cheekily, "I'm not the one in my underwear." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Almost identical names, too... I suspect she's just jealous that hers lacks a first letter," Navi muses. She blushes a little more at his cheeky comment. "I didn't see the point of putting all my clothes back on when I'm going to be trying on another dress. There's nothing more or less to it than that." "Anyway, you'd probably better get back to your shower. If Xera sees me talking to you, she's likely to become terribly jealous," she adds gently. "Also, would you say that Avi poked me deliberately with the clasp pin? In your opinion, I mean." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Probably," Thaarin jests, seeming even more amused. "I suppose you're right," he says, "but I don't see any harm in that," he once again adds, mischief in his scarlet eyes. Then his expression grows solemn. "I think it was very deliberate. And odd--" And then there's footsteps. Thaarin's brows furrowed. "That's her..." And then he reaches to tug Navi into the shower stall with him, shutting off the lights. "We should see what she does..." he whispers. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi enters the shower room with him, but not the stall itself, as she has no desire to get soaking wet. But she does tune her ears to the ventilation duct, as Thaarin had done, and this girl has got /ears/... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Stall or not, they're standing very close together, and Navi will suddenly be acutely aware that standing this close to him feels a bit like being too near to a boilerplate. It's uncomfortable, to say in the least. But she can't comment, or make a sound. Because Avi is coming down the hallway, with Xera in tow. "Navi?" Xera calls out. "Where -did- that girl go..." she mutters. "Navi??" But Thaarin puts a finger to his lips, and leans near the barely cracked open shower room door. His body heat nearly roasts her like a nuna hen in an oven. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi holds absolutely still, barely daring to breathe. Whatever comes next might be world-shattering, or it might be nothing at all. Though she does find it interesting that Avi is leading Xera... wasn't she supposed to be cleaning the chair? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Avi comes into the bathroom, sure enough. Xera peers into the bathroom, but then turns around and goes back out, still calling Navi's name. Avi stays though. She reaches into her pocket and takes out the bloody gauze from her pocket, and then reaches into the cupboard to take out a small bottle. What is she doing?? 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi ducks into the shower stall just in time. A mere second later, the bathroom door opens, and Xera peeks in, and Avi comes in. Xera leaves, but Avi stays... Navi probes her surface thoughts, and finds the idea of preserving the gauze with Navi's blood on it in a little bottle. Avi doesn't know the reason why, but she does seem to know that it has to do with the Arkanians... "Don't do it, Avi," Navi says, emerging from the shower stall. "You're getting tangled up in a bigger crime than you can imagine." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' As soon as Navi emerges, Avi shoves the bottle and the gauze into one of her pockets. "Do what?" She looks Navi up and down, and frowns in disgust. "Is this where you've been all this time? You should be ashamed of yourself! Lady Graf has been looking for you!" She glares at her. "You've been a most disrespectful guest. We prepared food, drink, and even gifts for you, and what gratefulness have you shown? You made a mess, and then disappeared without warning. What kind of guest treats her host this way?" Then she turns to leave, looking annoyed. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi grabs Avi's shoulder. "Give me the bottle, Avi. The Arkanians want that blood because they are conducting illegal cloning experiments, and they are very interested in the blood of Force-sensitive sentients. That's why they want my blood." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I've no idea what you're talking about! Let -go- of me!" she screeches, trying to wrest away from Navi. "Lady Graf...!" she calls out. "Navi is -hurting- me!" There's the sound of running footsteps, then. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi pushes Avi into the corridor. "I can /read your mind/, Avi... did you really think you could hide what you were doing from me?" she asks. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' And then suddenly Xera has appeared. "Navi!" she scolds. "What are you doing to Avi? This is out of hand." She frowns at Navi in her underwear. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "My apologies, Xera, but Avi has become entangled in a terrible crime. She's saved a sample of my blood, which is why she stabbed me with the clasp pin of the necklace. The Arkanian scientists somehow persuaded her to do so. They are conducting illegal cloning experiments, and have been actively trying to get samples of genetic material from Force-sensitives and Mandalorians," Navi explains. "Also, I'm not hurting her. Just keeping her in place." "There is a small bottle in her right-hand skirt pocket, if you could please take it, Xera? Maybe Avi hates me, but I'd rather not see her in such severe trouble as this. If she is willing to surrender the sample and testify against the Arkanians, I may be able to save her from prison." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Oh," Xera says, looking relieved. "well of course. Avi, give it here. Navi is the Deputy, after all." Avi wipes her eyes angrily, and hands the bottle and the gauze to Xera. "Now don't worry about it at all, I'll have this taken care of." She then turns to leave. Navi will be able to tell that Xera knows about this, but only that. Does she know because Navi just told her, or did she know about it from before? Navi won't be able to tell. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I'll need the sample, Xera. It's evidence. This isn't just about a single blonde Deputy Marshal... the Republic Security Bureau is peripherally involved at this point, as is the Jedi Order. As of months ago, the Arkanians have absconded with medical and scientific equipment from this colony... they have deserted their duties to this colony and to the Tenoo Colony Initiative as a whole," Navi explains. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "No, you don't," Xera tells Navi pointedly. "I know all of this. You're forgetting, I'm the coin purse of this project, and therefore pull all the strings. Rykard can say he's Marshal, that doesn't change anything. I'm telling you, -I'm- taking care of it. And I will." "You made a promise to me Navi. That you'd keep my secrets, and in exchange, I'd let you see me whenever you wanted. If you break your promise..." she shakes her head. "I'll never speak to you, ever again." She means it. And she has lots to hide. She knows about the Arkanian's project, perhaps not all the details, and doesn't know where they are currently, but she doesn't care to know. She's willing to support them, as long as they earn her pretty credits. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Xera, you don't want to be involved with these people... they've proven repeatedly that they can't be trusted, and they're engaged in the most illegal and unethical medical research possible under Republic law. It won't matter if you're the purse strings of the colony or not if the Arkanians roll over on you to try to save their cowardly skins. Then my keeping your secrets wouldn't matter a bit," Navi pleads softly, a tear sliding quietly, almost beautifully, down her pale cheek. "I love you, Xera Graf. And I don't want to see you in that kind of trouble. Do the wise thing, the safe thing. Tell us what you know about them, and what they're doing. In return, we can save you from prison, and save your reputation and fortunes. We will catch those Arkanians. That's not even in question. If you cooperate before we do, we can help you. If you don't, the odds against you get a lot worse. Don't go down with those monsters." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Cloning isn't illegal, it's only illegal if cruel and unusual experimentation is involved," Xera says coldly, "And you cannot prove that they are engaging in cruel and unusual experimentation. Why, the clone of that Baron turned out just fine. He didn't harm any civilians, and no one died or was hospitalized because of him. Nor did he have any report of being mistreated at the facility." She dusts her dress off, looking annoyed. "Save their skins?" she says, "Please. If anyone needs saving, it's -them-. They need saving from -me-. Without me, they're nothing, and if I tell them to come back right now and confiscate their allowance, their project will end. That's that." "I assure you, they will come back. When it's time, they will. After all, I could tell them to come this instant and they'd have no choice but to obey. You can't say they've absconded if I'm fully aware they're not in the colony, and am certain they will return when the time is right." "There's no catching to be done, Navi. If I wanted to know where they were, I could. But it's not important. What's important, is that this Initiative succeeds. One of the five main goals was medical research, was it not? A breakthrough, something revolutionary that would change the galaxy forever. And if they need to be away to do that, then so be it." "I don't need your help, Navi. You're the one who so desperately needs me, emotionally, financially, physically. So you're in no position to make any sort of bargain. If I decide this Initiative was a waste of time, I could leave and the colonists here would be stranded. The Republic and the rest of the investors don't have the funding to supply them with what they need to live here. They'd all have to go back to where they came from, and pay their own fare back to whatever dirt poor planet they're from because the Republic's colonial interests budget can't afford that either. Or, they could try to scrape by here. It would be hard, and perhaps some would die over the next winter, but if one can't pay the fare, then what choice is there?" "You're forgetting, Navi. Credits can't buy happiness, but they can buy power, and power is all that matters. Now, if you're not going to cooperate, then get out." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "You've forgotten about taking genetic samples without consent, which is most certainly a crime," Navi says quietly. "And so is using such samples for research." "I told you I love you, and I meant it. But I can't help you with something like this. If only you could see how wrong you are..." she whispers, turning to step back into the shower room. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "A good lawyer can redefine consent," Xera says, "but if it really bothers you so much..." She tosses the gauze and the bottle into the trash in the refreshers. Then she glances down at the dress that Navi had taken off, and examines it before picking it up. There's a very small spot of blood on halter neckline, where it had touched the puncture wound right after Avi had stabbed her. "If you loved me, you'd do what I ask. And you wouldn't leave stains all over my belongings, either," she says. "I haven't even the slightest reason to believe you love me, Navi. You're just infatuated, which is to be expected, but it's pathetic, really. Because the moment I become even mildly inconvenient to that damned conscience of yours, that so called love you have for me evaporates. How two faced of you!" Then, clutching the dress and the necklace to her chest, she sweeps out of the refreshers and back out into the hallway. Thaarin's still there, hiding, spying, or both. "I suppose she's kicking you out," he says to her softly. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "If I didn't love you, I wouldn't have tried to protect you," Navi replies quietly. "It's like I said... you can't see how wrong you are. And if I didn't love you, that wouldn't be so hard to say..." Her voice breaks at the last, and she hurries into the shower room and closes the door, sobbing. "She is..." Navi whispers through her tears, as she begins to try to get dressed again. "She doesn't... understand what she's gotten into..." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The woman isn't listening. She's gone. Back out into the hallway, straight to her master bedroom. The door to the bedroom closes behind her, and Navi will be able to hear it seal shut. Thaarin helps her get dressed, helping her pull the jacket she usually wears snug around her shoulders. "Perhaps one day she will," he says softly. After she finishes dressing, he embraces her gently. "I know it's hard to not take it personally, but would it comfort you to know she treats me the same way..." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Not really. It means she's as manipulative as I feared," Navi replies sadly, returning his embrace. By now she's mostly stopped crying, except for the occasional sniffle. "I do love her, Thaarin. Somewhere, deep down, she loves me, too. I've seen it. She just can't see it for politics and powermongering. I can forgive her for that. But I can't save her." Dressed, she kisses his cheek lightly. "You deserve better than the way she treats you. We both do, I suppose. Is there anything I can do for you?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Then I supposed you have the biggest heart of us all," he says, "no one else could love a woman like her..." When she kisses him on the cheek, he seems mildly charmed. He kisses her forehead, but Navi might get a sense that he had been briefly tempted to kiss her elsewhere. "If you really believe that, then the favor you can do for me is to take a break from her. I will, too, I suppose. She exhausts me. Then perhaps when we're both less tired, a way around her opaque politicking and powermongering will present itself." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I hope so. I'm so tired... I wish I'd never come here. But I've wished that a lot. The Force isn't always kind. But it's always right," Navi replies quietly. "More's the pity." She hugs Thaarin. "Take care, Thaarin. I suspect a break will do you more good than me," she observes, opening the shower room door and entering the hall. "I'm going back to my little cubbyhole tent-thing to get some sleep. Maybe I'll feel better in the morning." She doubts it. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I understand that," Thaarin says softly, "but at least you saw me, and we had some peace and quiet, despite everything that's happened lately. We must learn to find the silver linings in the fog sometimes," he says. When she hugs him, he runs a hand through her hair gently. "Don't say that," he says, "because I suspect you need the break more than I do. But you know that if you ever need anything, I'm here for you. To be a friend, a listening ear, even physical affection if you desire it. It doesn't have to mean anything, and can exist solely to to provide you comfort if you want it. I know you like it." Then he opens the window and starts to climb out of it. "Goodnight, Navi. Rest well... and I'm sure I'll see you soon." 
}}

The Tenoo Frontier

2026-03-18T07:09:36Z

Sindt:

The Republic is sending at least two thousand colonists to an Outer Rim planet called Tenoo, to found a new colony there alongside the existing one, Kublop Springs. But the Jedi and their allies have reason to believe that many of the colonists are not who they seem to be. They hope for the best, but expect the worst, as relational tensions begin to develop and possibly jeopardize the Republic's effort to found a new colony on Tenoo.

===== Logs =====
* [[The Tenoo Initiative]]

* [[Registration Day]]

* [[Recruitment Day]]

* [[The Preliminary Seminar]]

* [[A Dual Role]]

* [[Boarding the Legacy II]]

* [[Quarantine]]

* [[Quarantine Visit]]

* [[Communication Relay]]

* [[The Vergence and the Temple]]

* [[Conflict]]

* [[The Start of Something Bad]]

* [[An Excursion to Ilum]]

* [[An Attempted Assassination]]

* [[Rescue Mission]]

* [[Playing Hooky]]

* [[Unknown Aliens]]

* [[Ding Dong! Dresda is Dead]]

* [[Stopover On Jedha]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 1]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 2]]

* [[Fake IDs]]

* [[A New Lead on an Old Friend]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 3]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 4]]

* [[Return to Tenoo]]

* [[Confrontation]]

* [[Founder's Day]]

* [[Jedi Temple Revealed]]

* [[Nightclub On Vuundalla]]

* [[Suitemates]]

* [[A Rough Interrogation]]

* [[The Suspect's Family]]

* [[A Certain Kind of Threat]]

* [[Chad]]

===== Colonists =====
<gallery>
File:Soren.png|Dr. Cassias - well renowned doctor formerly convicted for falsifying Heydan Seegil's toxicology report.
File:Vons.png|Arsok Vons - private investigator who helped exonerate Navi in a murder case and aided in exposing the marauders who attacked the Temple of the Kyber.
File:Fan Four.png|Fan Four - four teenaged Chadra Fans who helped Navi discover who was behind the raid on the Temple of Kyber.
File:Unknown.png|Xera Graf - Primary financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. A powerful member of the notoriously rich and influential hyperspace prospecting Graf family.
File:Unknown.png|Taryn San Tekka - The other major financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. He is a member of another rich hyperspace prospecting family, rival to the Grafs.
File:Unknown.png|Gael - Mal's older sister, also a Nightsister and assisted the Jedi in entering the Force tear below Jedha.
File:Mal.png|Malgabar - Nightsister with terrible amnesia who helped the Jedi previously in entering a corrupted Force tear
File:Unknown.png|Mondrian - Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black to investigate the colonist roster.
File:Veena.png|Veena - Mondrian's partner and Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black.
File:Unknown.png|Yvon - Ugnaught navigator for the Legacy II.
File:Unknown.png|Jahni - Ugnaught pilot for the Legacy II, fraternal twin brother of Yvon.
File:Unknown.png|Oona Yutelli - elderly Mirialan Jedi Master, formerly a Seeker and Temple archivist.
File:Unknown.png|Thaarin - A mysterious, charming, blue skinned alien the Jedi found stranded on Ilum who has relocated to Tenoo to help with Republic frontier efforts.
File:Unknown.png|Hedicole - Mechanic, father to the Fan Four, suspected to have been associated with the death of the Volpai head engineer, Dresda.
File:Unknown.png|Weniscio - Construction worker and a gambling addict who has a reputation for accruing massive debt quickly. Also suspected for having been involved with Dresda's death.
</gallery>

The Tenoo Frontier

2026-03-18T07:07:37Z

Sindt:

The Republic is sending at least two thousand colonists to an Outer Rim planet called Tenoo, to found a new colony there alongside the existing one, Kublop Springs. But the Jedi and their allies have reason to believe that many of the colonists are not who they seem to be. They hope for the best, but expect the worst, as relational tensions begin to develop and possibly jeopardize the Republic's effort to found a new colony on Tenoo.

===== Logs =====
* [[The Tenoo Initiative]]

* [[Registration Day]]

* [[Recruitment Day]]

* [[The Preliminary Seminar]]

* [[A Dual Role]]

* [[Boarding the Legacy II]]

* [[Quarantine]]

* [[Quarantine Visit]]

* [[Communication Relay]]

* [[The Vergence and the Temple]]

* [[Conflict]]

* [[The Start of Something Bad]]

* [[An Excursion to Ilum]]

* [[An Attempted Assassination]]

* [[Rescue Mission]]

* [[Playing Hooky]]

* [[Unknown Aliens]]

* [[Ding Dong! Dresda is Dead]]

* [[Stopover On Jedha]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 1]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 2]]

* [[Fake IDs]]

* [[A New Lead on an Old Friend]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 3]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 4]]

* [[Return to Tenoo]]

* [[Confrontation]]

* [[Founder's Day]]

* [[Jedi Temple Revealed]]

* [[Nightclub On Vuundalla]]

* [[Suitemates]]

* [[A Rough Interrogation]]

* [[The Suspect's Family]]

* [[A Certain Kind of Threat]]

* [[Chad]]

===== Colonists =====
<gallery>
File:Soren.png|Dr. Cassias - well renowned doctor formerly convicted for falsifying Heydan Seegil's toxicology report.
File:Vons.png|Arsok Vons - private investigator who helped exonerate Navi in a murder case and aided in exposing the marauders who attacked the Temple of the Kyber.
File:Fan Four.png|Fan Four - four teenaged Chadra Fans who helped Navi discover who was behind the raid on the Temple of Kyber.
File:Unknown.png|Xera Graf - Primary financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. A powerful member of the notoriously rich and influential hyperspace prospecting Graf family.
File:Unknown.png|Taryn San Tekka - The other major financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. He is a member of another rich hyperspace prospecting family, rival to the Grafs.
File:Unknown.png|Gael - Mal's older sister, also a Nightsister and assisted the Jedi in entering the Force tear below Jedha.
File:Mal.png|Malgabar - Nightsister with terrible amnesia who helped the Jedi previously in entering a corrupted Force tear
File:mondrian.png|Mondrian - Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black to investigate the colonist roster.
File:Veena.png|Veena - Mondrian's partner and Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black.
File:Unknown.png|Yvon - Ugnaught navigator for the Legacy II.
File:Unknown.png|Jahni - Ugnaught pilot for the Legacy II, fraternal twin brother of Yvon.
File:Unknown.png|Oona Yutelli - elderly Mirialan Jedi Master, formerly a Seeker and Temple archivist.
File:Unknown.png|Thaarin - A mysterious, charming, blue skinned alien the Jedi found stranded on Ilum who has relocated to Tenoo to help with Republic frontier efforts.
File:Unknown.png|Hedicole - Mechanic, father to the Fan Four, suspected to have been associated with the death of the Volpai head engineer, Dresda.
File:Unknown.png|Weniscio - Construction worker and a gambling addict who has a reputation for accruing massive debt quickly. Also suspected for having been involved with Dresda's death.
</gallery>

The Tenoo Frontier

2026-03-18T01:25:40Z

Sindt:

The Republic is sending at least two thousand colonists to an Outer Rim planet called Tenoo, to found a new colony there alongside the existing one, Kublop Springs. But the Jedi and their allies have reason to believe that many of the colonists are not who they seem to be. They hope for the best, but expect the worst, as relational tensions begin to develop and possibly jeopardize the Republic's effort to found a new colony on Tenoo.

===== Logs =====
* [[The Tenoo Initiative]]

* [[Registration Day]]

* [[Recruitment Day]]

* [[The Preliminary Seminar]]

* [[A Dual Role]]

* [[Boarding the Legacy II]]

* [[Quarantine]]

* [[Quarantine Visit]]

* [[Communication Relay]]

* [[The Vergence and the Temple]]

* [[Conflict]]

* [[The Start of Something Bad]]

* [[An Excursion to Ilum]]

* [[An Attempted Assassination]]

* [[Rescue Mission]]

* [[Playing Hooky]]

* [[Unknown Aliens]]

* [[Ding Dong! Dresda is Dead]]

* [[Stopover On Jedha]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 1]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 2]]

* [[Fake IDs]]

* [[A New Lead on an Old Friend]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 3]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 4]]

* [[Return to Tenoo]]

* [[Confrontation]]

* [[Founder's Day]]

* [[Jedi Temple Revealed]]

* [[Nightclub On Vuundalla]]

* [[Suitemates]]

* [[A Rough Interrogation]]

* [[The Suspect's Family]]

* [[A Certain Kind of Threat]]

* [[Chad]]

===== Colonists =====
<gallery>
File:Soren.png|Dr. Cassias - well renowned doctor formerly convicted for falsifying Heydan Seegil's toxicology report.
File:Vons.png|Arsok Vons - private investigator who helped exonerate Navi in a murder case and aided in exposing the marauders who attacked the Temple of the Kyber.
File:Fan Four.png|Fan Four - four teenaged Chadra Fans who helped Navi discover who was behind the raid on the Temple of Kyber.
File:Unknown.png|Xera Graf - Primary financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. A powerful member of the notoriously rich and influential hyperspace prospecting Graf family.
File:Unknown.png|Taryn San Tekka - The other major financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. He is a member of another rich hyperspace prospecting family, rival to the Grafs.
File:Unknown.png|Gael - Mal's older sister, also a Nightsister and assisted the Jedi in entering the Force tear below Jedha.
File:Mal.png|Malgabar - Nightsister with terrible amnesia who helped the Jedi previously in entering a corrupted Force tear
File:mondrian.png|Mondrian - Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black to investigate the colonist roster.
File:Veena.png|Veena - Mondrian's partner and Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black.
File:Unknown.png|Yvon - Ugnaught navigator for the Legacy II.
File:Unknown.png|Jahni - Ugnaught pilot for the Legacy II, fraternal twin brother of Yvon.
File:Unknown.png|Oona Yutelli - elderly Mirialan Jedi Master, formerly a Seeker and Temple archivist.
File:Unknownn.png|Thaarin - A mysterious, charming, blue skinned alien the Jedi found stranded on Ilum who has relocated to Tenoo to help with Republic frontier efforts.
File:Unknown.png|Hedicole - Mechanic, father to the Fan Four, suspected to have been associated with the death of the Volpai head engineer, Dresda.
File:Unknown.png|Weniscio - Construction worker and a gambling addict who has a reputation for accruing massive debt quickly. Also suspected for having been involved with Dresda's death.
</gallery>

File:Marlaas Junkyard YJA S1.webp

2025-07-22T07:45:33Z

Sindt: Sindt moved page File:Marlaas Junkyard YJA S1.webp to File:Kublop Springs Junkyard.webp

#REDIRECT [[File:Kublop Springs Junkyard.webp]]

File:Kublop Springs Junkyard.webp

2025-07-22T07:45:32Z

Sindt: Sindt moved page File:Marlaas Junkyard YJA S1.webp to File:Kublop Springs Junkyard.webp

File:Kublop Springs Junkyard.webp

2025-07-22T07:44:00Z

Sindt:

A Certain Kind of Threat

2025-07-03T05:56:20Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-06-22 |Synopsis=Cayde threatens Xera Graf, warning her to stay away from Navi. |Cast of Characters=143, 159 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Following his unsuccessful attempt to access Xera's mind clandestinely, Cayde had decided to abandon any sneaking and simply request a formal audience with her. And so promptly in the morning, he'd gone to arrange a meeting at..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-06-22
|Synopsis=Cayde threatens Xera Graf, warning her to stay away from Navi.
|Cast of Characters=143, 159
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Following his unsuccessful attempt to access Xera's mind clandestinely, Cayde had decided to abandon any sneaking and simply request a formal audience with her. And so promptly in the morning, he'd gone to arrange a meeting at the conference building or wherever Miss Graf would prefer, with her secretary Avi just as it seemed proper to do. At least according to that droid, anyway.     When the time comes, he heads to the designated location a few minutes early. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Strangely, he'll find that the Lady does not seem to be in any kind of mood to treat him poorly. "Hello, Cayde," she says, "give your Master my regards," she says with a smile. "He seems to be taking his role as marshal very seriously these days." With her are Avi, and the droid, who eye the young padawan suspiciously. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Good, that was certainly a welcome change.     The three of them would find him already seated in one of the more comfortable lounge areas of the office complex. However when she arrives, he stands up briefly and bows politely as is customary, before sitting back down and gesturing for her to do the same.     [Lady Graf] he signs. [...yes of course...thank you for seeing me] 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Lady sits, and pours herself a cup of tea. "Would you like some?" she asks. But she doesn't wait for him to answer before taking out a cup. "Now, tell me what's on your mind." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     There is a pause as she starts to pour the tea. He watches her as she begins to pour some for him as well, even though he doesn't answer her question about whether he would like some or not.     After a few seconds, he leans toward her slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. Then, he cuts right to the chase.     [I know what you are...you make nice...but you cut down anyone in your way]     [Are you proud of it] 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' She seems nonplussed. "Oh, please, I wouldn't hurt a sandfly, and haven't, actually. Besides, isn't that what the Jedi do?" she shrugs. "You might not always use your sabers, but you always find a way to coerce people into doing what you think is the right thing," she says. "So why can you enforce your pillars of righteousness, while I can't?" "I suppose if you're going to be forward then I will as well. What do you want from me?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Okay then.     Cayde straightens up again, then leans back slightly against the sofa, fixing her with an intense gaze.     Oh, 'righteousness'? He highly doubts she actually gives a lick about 'righteousness' or any brand of it. <You do not care about right>     <...yes you have not harmed...now keep it that way...>     He will show her a series of memories of the man Emissarius Vlaven. Surely, she remembers him? Exposed, and then put away--a raving madman tormented by something beyond any doctor's comprehension. And she will then become very aware that the padawan sitting before her is the one responsible for that condition, even if it hadn't been his intention. <You are like him...but do not share his fate>     A threat, perhaps...but really more of a warning. She'll become aware that he'd never -wanted- to inflict that sort of agony on anyone, not even Vlaven for all his crimes and corruption. It pains him even now to think about it. But it happened, and it could happen again, should someone upset him enough. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' She still doesn't seem bothered, even if inwardly she's repulsed and disgusted by what had happened to Vlaven. "This just proves my point," she says with a ingenuine sigh, "that you Jedi force your will wherever you go, regardless of what it takes to make your standards the rules by which the whole galaxy revolves." "You still haven't answered my question. What do you want? You don't want me to hurt anyone, well I haven't hurt anyone and have no intent to hurt anyone, so I'm not sure why you're threatening me like this." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <Right now yes...but later...be wise to remember this>     Cayde examines the cup of tea she had poured for him briefly, considering it but then deciding against it. He shrugs and puts it back down, then.     <You stay away from Navi>     Abruptly, it will become clear to her that he has...feelings for her. Some of them are confused, but they are there nonetheless. And yes, there is a level of jealousy there, as well as a fear that it could lead to another Vlaven should things escalate out of control. <Protect you...protect her. Stay away.>     Then he stands. [Thank you Lady Graf...speak again soon] 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Xera laughs. She seems genuinely amused by Cayde. "You sad, silly, little boy," she muses, "this is all over a girl you can't even recognize you're in love with, who doesn't reciprocate your unrequited feelings." "Don't worry, my dear. You'll get over it -- time will tell. But I suppose I'd be cruel if I didn't stay away from her. I'd be more than happy to oblige," she says, "but the problem isn't me, of course. This is a two way street, obviously. After all, I can't force her to leave me alone if she doesn't want to. That's your realm of expertise, not mine," she says casually. "If I were you, I'd focus my efforts on convincing her to leave me alone. Because I'm happy to do without her so that your teenaged maturation can go a little bit smoother." "But don't say I didn't warn you," she says, "it won't be easy. Navi's not really your friend," she says, "she's only kind to you out of moral obligation and pity. But now that you have a conflict of interest, you may get to find out just how unsympathetic and duplicitous she can be." Avi, who is pretending to be bent over a datapad in the corner, winces and pales in anger, but doesn't look at them. Xera stands. "Well, anyway, we're out of time. I'll see you around, Padawan Alexis." She then starts heading out of the office room they're in. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Well, she's at least partially right. Although it is far more complex than that. But there was no need for her to understand everything.     <Yes you can...and you will...you will avoid her whenever possible> Cayde reaches into her mind again as she is walking away. <You will avoid her whenever possible>     His gaze lands on Avi for a moment, her anger like a boiling spring. What was her problem, anyway? But he just shrugs, and takes his leave as well. 
}}

The Tenoo Frontier

2025-07-03T05:54:56Z

Sindt: /* Colonists */

The Republic is sending at least two thousand colonists to an Outer Rim planet called Tenoo, to found a new colony there alongside the existing one, Kublop Springs. But the Jedi and their allies have reason to believe that many of the colonists are not who they seem to be. They hope for the best, but expect the worst, as relational tensions begin to develop and possibly jeopardize the Republic's effort to found a new colony on Tenoo.

===== Logs =====
* [[The Tenoo Initiative]]

* [[Registration Day]]

* [[Recruitment Day]]

* [[The Preliminary Seminar]]

* [[A Dual Role]]

* [[Boarding the Legacy II]]

* [[Quarantine]]

* [[Quarantine Visit]]

* [[Communication Relay]]

* [[The Vergence and the Temple]]

* [[Conflict]]

* [[The Start of Something Bad]]

* [[An Excursion to Ilum]]

* [[An Attempted Assassination]]

* [[Rescue Mission]]

* [[Playing Hooky]]

* [[Unknown Aliens]]

* [[Ding Dong! Dresda is Dead]]

* [[Stopover On Jedha]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 1]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 2]]

* [[Fake IDs]]

* [[A New Lead on an Old Friend]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 3]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 4]]

* [[Return to Tenoo]]

* [[Confrontation]]

* [[Founder's Day]]

* [[Jedi Temple Revealed]]

* [[Nightclub On Vuundalla]]

* [[Suitemates]]

* [[A Rough Interrogation]]

* [[The Suspect's Family]]

* [[A Certain Kind of Threat]]

* [[Chad]]

===== Colonists =====
<gallery>
File:Soren.png|Dr. Cassias - well renowned doctor formerly convicted for falsifying Heydan Seegil's toxicology report.
File:Vons.png|Arsok Vons - private investigator who helped exonerate Navi in a murder case and aided in exposing the marauders who attacked the Temple of the Kyber.
File:Fan Four.png|Fan Four - four teenaged Chadra Fans who helped Navi discover who was behind the raid on the Temple of Kyber.
File:Xera.png|Xera Graf - Primary financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. A powerful member of the notoriously rich and influential hyperspace prospecting Graf family.
File:Unknown.png|Taryn San Tekka - The other major financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. He is a member of another rich hyperspace prospecting family, rival to the Grafs.
File:Unknown.png|Gael - Mal's older sister, also a Nightsister and assisted the Jedi in entering the Force tear below Jedha.
File:Mal.png|Malgabar - Nightsister with terrible amnesia who helped the Jedi previously in entering a corrupted Force tear
File:mondrian.png|Mondrian - Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black to investigate the colonist roster.
File:Veena.png|Veena - Mondrian's partner and Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black.
File:Unknown.png|Yvon - Ugnaught navigator for the Legacy II.
File:Unknown.png|Jahni - Ugnaught pilot for the Legacy II, fraternal twin brother of Yvon.
File:Unknown.png|Oona Yutelli - elderly Mirialan Jedi Master, formerly a Seeker and Temple archivist.
File:Thaarin.png|Thaarin - A mysterious, charming, blue skinned alien the Jedi found stranded on Ilum who has relocated to Tenoo to help with Republic frontier efforts.
File:Unknown.png|Hedicole - Mechanic, father to the Fan Four, suspected to have been associated with the death of the Volpai head engineer, Dresda.
File:Unknown.png|Weniscio - Construction worker and a gambling addict who has a reputation for accruing massive debt quickly. Also suspected for having been involved with Dresda's death.
</gallery>

The Tenoo Frontier

2025-07-03T05:48:33Z

Sindt:

The Republic is sending at least two thousand colonists to an Outer Rim planet called Tenoo, to found a new colony there alongside the existing one, Kublop Springs. But the Jedi and their allies have reason to believe that many of the colonists are not who they seem to be. They hope for the best, but expect the worst, as relational tensions begin to develop and possibly jeopardize the Republic's effort to found a new colony on Tenoo.

===== Logs =====
* [[The Tenoo Initiative]]

* [[Registration Day]]

* [[Recruitment Day]]

* [[The Preliminary Seminar]]

* [[A Dual Role]]

* [[Boarding the Legacy II]]

* [[Quarantine]]

* [[Quarantine Visit]]

* [[Communication Relay]]

* [[The Vergence and the Temple]]

* [[Conflict]]

* [[The Start of Something Bad]]

* [[An Excursion to Ilum]]

* [[An Attempted Assassination]]

* [[Rescue Mission]]

* [[Playing Hooky]]

* [[Unknown Aliens]]

* [[Ding Dong! Dresda is Dead]]

* [[Stopover On Jedha]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 1]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 2]]

* [[Fake IDs]]

* [[A New Lead on an Old Friend]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 3]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 4]]

* [[Return to Tenoo]]

* [[Confrontation]]

* [[Founder's Day]]

* [[Jedi Temple Revealed]]

* [[Nightclub On Vuundalla]]

* [[Suitemates]]

* [[A Rough Interrogation]]

* [[The Suspect's Family]]

* [[A Certain Kind of Threat]]

* [[Chad]]

===== Colonists =====
<gallery>
File:Soren.png|Dr. Cassias - well renowned doctor formerly convicted for falsifying Heydan Seegil's toxicology report.
File:Vons.png|Arsok Vons - private investigator who helped exonerate Navi in a murder case and aided in exposing the marauders who attacked the Temple of the Kyber.
File:Fan Four.png|Fan Four - four teenaged Chadra Fans who helped Navi discover who was behind the raid on the Temple of Kyber.
File:Xera.png|Xera Graf - Primary financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. A powerful member of the notoriously rich and influential hyperspace prospecting Graf family.
File:Unknown.png|Taryn San Tekka - The other major financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. He is a member of another rich hyperspace prospecting family, rival to the Grafs.
File:Unknown.png|Gael - Mal's older sister, also a Nightsister and assisted the Jedi in entering the Force tear below Jedha.
File:Mal.png|Malgabar - Nightsister with terrible amnesia who helped the Jedi previously in entering a corrupted Force tear
File:mondrian.png|Mondrian - Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black to investigate the colonist roster.
File:Veena.png|Veena - Mondrian's partner and Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black.
File:Unknown.png|Yvon - Ugnaught navigator for the Legacy II.
File:Unknown.png|Jahni - Ugnaught pilot for the Legacy II, fraternal twin brother of Yvon.
File:Unknown.png|Oona Yutelli - elderly Mirialan Jedi Master, formerly a Seeker and Temple archivist.
File:Thaarin.png|Thaarin - A mysterious, charming, blue skinned alien the Jedi found stranded on Ilum who has relocated to Tenoo to help with Republic frontier efforts.
</gallery>

Chad

2025-07-03T05:47:49Z

Sindt:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-06-28
|Synopsis=A young Antarian Ranger is welcomed to the colony on Tenoo.
|Cast of Characters=159, 440, 143, 261
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It's a fine afternoon at the Republic colony site on Tenoo, and though the weather is beautiful and all seems well, there's an eerie feeling like the calm before a storm radiating in the Force. The group would have been summoned to the administrative building by the Marshal of the colony, the elder Ikkrukki Jedi Master Rykard regarding a... security matter. The others would not have received any other details regarding this news, but the aura surrounding the necessity of this meeting does not bode well, given all that has occurred prior. However, for one such novice Antarian Ranger named Chad Bayne, he'll have no context for anything - save for a datapad that contains his summons, given by the Order and approved by the Republic, to assist with protecting and securing the peace around a new colony site that has sprung up on the Outer Rim planet Tenoo. His trip here will likely have been rather uneventful, and his arrival at the spaceport in the biggest town on the planet, Kublop Springs, probably anything but extraordinary. He'll soon find himself on a tram headed straight to the colony site itself, unaware of any of the happenings on this terrestrial green ball that from space, looks pretty boring. 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Stepping off the tram, Chad Bayne hoists the duffel containing the vast majority of his wordly posessions (such as they are) and begins a walk towards the meeting point. He eyes are wide and his lips are pursed, whistling a melody that doubtlessly has ill-intentioned, if not downright naughty, lyrics on far-flung planets. As he finds himself approaching where the datapad had indicated for a meeting point, the whistling stops but a hint of a smile remains, his thumb of the hand not holding his duffle bag tucking in behind his utility belt, in a suspiciously empty portion seemed perfectly positioned for just such a thing. With a grunt that may intimate a hint of annoyance, he unshoulders his duffel and drops it to the ground, his head on a swivel as he seems to do his best to look like he knows what he's doing here whilst waiting for someone to come along and tell him what he's doing here. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     That aura is certainly felt by those attuned to it. The Marshal's padawan is among them, as he makes his way toward the administration center in response to the request for a meeting regarding this....thus far undisclosed security matter.     As he approaches, he notices the Antarian Ranger standing around looking as if he's...looking for someone or someone, it seems. Now this is definitely a new face. Apparently, someone has decided to request the Rangers' presence but has also decided not to give them the details, either.     Cayde approaches him, considering showing him inside to where briefings usually took place. Yet somehow, he finds himself just standing there instead, frowning pensively. Something about this man feels oddly familiar, even though he's certain he has never met him before. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Chad will immediately notice the elder Jedi Master standing outside the temporary unit that for the moment, hosted administration. He approaches, motioning discreetly and urgently at him. "Come in," he says, "quickly, now." His gaze scans the area, as if searching for something, or someone. He seems tense. "Cayde, you too. Hurry." 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne nods in return to the elder Jedi Master, then quickly and discretely picks up his duffel with what can only be described as an 'old bantha noise' and shoulders it once again. He's prepared to fall into step behind the Jedi Master should the Jedi Master begin to move again, but his eyes do shift towards Cayde Alexis as he's beaconed too. He nods his head to the Padawan, then looks back towards the elder of the Jedi. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Before Cayde had a chance to get Chad's attention, his master steps in and urges them both inside. There's a little bit of relief, and he quickly nods and follows them both into the building. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi is already inside the temp unit, having arrived perhaps ten minutes before. Dressed in the typical utilitarian clothing issued to most colonists, she doesn't look like a Jedi, in spite of the lightsaber that is attached to her medical satchel, next to a 28-inch retractable metal staff. Save for her pale blonde pigtails and pointed ears, the latter a mark of her Sephi bloodlines, she could be any colonist. Glancing up, she manages a nod to Cayde and a very brief hint of a smile for Chad, the newcomer, in spite of an apparent dour mood. "Welcome to Tenoo, winner of the Republic Colony Most Likely To Fail Award. Make sure you avoid eating the fish, and anything made from the local moss. Your stomach will thank you." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Once inside, the elder Ikkrukki Master nods a greeting to Navi and then takes one brief look out of the temporary unit before escorting the three of them into a small conference room down the hall. "The others should be joining shortly," he says with a sage nod, seating himself across from Chad. "My name is Asteros Rykard, and I am the Republic's appointed Marshal of the Tenoo colony initiative, assigned to the Jedi outpost to be built here within the next several months by the Order." "This is Cayde, my padawan," he says, gesturing at the baby faced blond, "and this is Navi of the Shining Brotherhood. She's assistant medical director to Master Pike Windu, who is co-leading the medical research efforts here to be conducted on Tenoo with Dr Soren Cassias - who should also be along shortly." 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne's eyebrows creep up as he's welcomed to the seemingly only somewhat inhospitable colony. He considers it for a moment, then responds, "Thanks." After another moment, he adds, "Shame. I looked to liken the local lichen to the lichen of the location I long for. Which is to say, the moss back home. Give me some time though, and I'll find a way to cook it." He takes a moment to settle his duffel in an out of the way location. He stands behind one of the chairs until the Jedi Master takes a seat, at which point he pulls out his chair and sits down himself. He nods as the introductions go around, "Master. Padawan. Assistant Director." He then introduces himself, "Good to meet you all. I'm Chad Bayne, which is a name and a vocation. I'm an Explorer for the Antarian Rangers." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As the introductions go out, Cayde nods and bows politely toward the newcomer in greeting before having a seat himself. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi smiles faintly at the likening of the lichen wordplay. "Nice to meet you, Ranger Chad Bayne. As for the moss, they've already tried cooking it in cookies, but those tend to cook your digestive tract for up to 48 hours. The fish just has an offensive slimy and rubbery texture by comparison, no matter how they try to cook it. Tastes better coming up than going down. And trust me, unless you've got a cast-duryllium gut, it WILL come up. Tends to work better for the nonhuman colonists, for what it's worth. Some of them can't get enough of it, so I let them have mine." She groans softly at the mention of Dr. Cassias being present at this meeting. "Better hope he bothers to show up. I hope he doesn't. I swear, if he tries to guilt me /just one more time/ about helping to look after Cayde more than I already do, which is a lot, the doctor will /need/ a doctor." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "We're going to need him," Rykard says to Navi, brows furrowing, "even if you don't like him, he's necessary. Try to get along, please. The tension between leadership here isn't helping anything." "Well met," Master Rykard then says to the Antarian Ranger. "You probably weren't given much briefing, but in summary, there has been a death among the colonists and we are fairly certain that it was not... an accident, despite our current suspects pleading innocent to any kind of foul play or premeditated murder. Now, we do have security onsite, but--" At that moment, the blond security guard the others will know as Mondrian, followed by his colleague, the stunning Nautolan with angular features, Veena, appear in the doorway. The blond guard immediately eyes Chad with skepticism and suspicion. "Who's... this?" "Help," Rykard says after a moment, his careful choice of word clear. Mondrian's eyes narrow, and his gaze does not leave Chad. "We don't need help." 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne smiles, and politely replies to Navi, "Thank you, but Explorer is my rank. I may be a Ranger one day, but my training isn't quite complete." He turns his eyes back to Master Rykard, shaking his head to indicate that that Master is correct in that he did not have much of a briefing coming in. As the door opens, Chad looks towards the incoming guard and Nautolan for a moment, then focuses on the guard as he seems to be a topic of conversation for the new comer. He glances towards Navi, then looks back to Mondrian, "That's not what I've heard. I've had boots on the ground for less than two hours and I've already heard how you've been having your butts kicked by the local cuisine." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Oh, I /try/ to get along with him, Master... it's just that he doesn't try /back/," Navi replies, arcing one pale, narrow eyebrow. "Blame where blame is due. Speaking of... meet the local Republic Security, Explorer Bayne. Try not to hit Mondrian. He's the one with the 'hit me' mouth." "None we're qualified or officially licensed to provide, anyway... and actually, you /do/. You're well aware that well over half of the colonists are one kind of criminal or another, and we've already had one suspicious death. If that's not a 'we need all the help we can get and then some' situation, I really don't want to see the genuine article." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde shifts uncomfortably when Mondrian enters, and appears very skeptical and perhaps even hostile toward Chad's presence. He suspects Mondrian might have an idea regarding one of the reasons Bayne is here. A reason specifically has to do with himself...     Hopefully no one is going to bring it up in the open, or anything like that. Navi's disdain toward Dr. Cassias is disconcerting too, although not surprising. Could they -still- not resolve their differences?     Anyway, wasn't there some other reason for this 'urgent' meeting besides meeting Mr. Bayne?     But his thoughts are quickly diverted when Chad makes a joke about the food. Already, he can feel Mondrian's temper rising. Enough that he's already considering punching the Antarian Ranger in the face. Well Cayde is going to nip that in the bud before it ever materializes. Immediately he tries to enter Mondrian's consciousness and calm his seething emotions. This is already because of a bad reputation. Why make it even worse? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thanks to Cayde's intervention, Mondrian does not grab Chad by the collar and hoist him up like a sack of barley. He does, however, scoff at the young Explorer. "Your mouth is as big as your experience is inadequate," he insults, "you sure it wouldn't be better for you to crawl back to your cush posting on Naboo watching falumpasets graze?" He then glares at Navi. "Sure, said the girl sleeping with our primary investor. I'm sure you had exactly zero idea about the recruiter she was working with on Jedha," Mondrian says with a smirk, folding his arms. 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne nods with a smile, "You're absolutely right it is. Please forgive me for responding in a manner more suited to a way of life I don't lead anymore. I'm looking forward to learning from you." Still, the posting on Naboo didn't sound like such a bad job. He turns his attention back to Master Rykand and then adds, "I understand that you suspect foul play. I'm looking forward to helping in any way I can." He glances towards Cayde for a moment then looks towards the table as he waits. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     When Mondrian's response seems to have been adequately moderated, Cayde relaxes at least a little bit.     When Chad glances his way, he holds the other man's gaze for a moment. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Look in a mirror recently, Mondrian? If you tried to cash the datachecks your mouth usually writes, they'd put you UNDER the debtors' prison," Navi retorts calmly. "And A, I've never /actually/ slept with her, and B, I wasn't aware until we actually got here... we weren't privy to far too many of the details of the colony initiative before we left. Contrary to Republic Security, we don't all have the inside track on the makings of bad ideas that were allowed to happen anyway for some reason." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Mondrian seems annoyed by Chad's amicability towards his insult, but before he can get a word in edgewise, Navi gives a retort. "Good thing they don't, then," he says, "Feh, too bad being a bad liar isn't a galactic crime - you'd be getting -life-." Rykard stands. "Enough!" he says, loudly and firmly. "Thank you, Bayne. Mondrian, you and Veena will now spend the majority of your time focusing on looking into the marauder threat that still looms over this colony. Bayne, you will be taking point on this investigation, working alongside the private investigator, Arsok Vons, that the Republic has appointed." Mondrian's expression hardens into a stony, unreadable look, but he doesn't comment or protest. Rykard is Marshal, after all. The elder Jedi frowns and looks around. "Master Windu and the doctor were supposed to be here..." At that moment, the doctor appears in the doorway, looking pale, and haggard. Dark circles have formed under his eyes. "I'm sorry for being late," he says quietly, his voice barely audible. 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Takes a deep breath in and exhales slowly, shaking his head to Cayde and then looking back to Mondrian. He takes another breath, seeming about to say something with a look on his face that seems to say 'prepare your buttocks' and then promptly swallows whatever he is about to say as Master Rykard calls a halt to it all. He looks back to Rykard and nods his head slowly, his eyebrows knitting together as he works to memorize this name. He then adds, "I'll do my best, Master Rykard." His attention goes back to the door of the temp shelter as the next Jedi Master enters, at which point he nods once more. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi rolls her eyes at Mondrian's retort, not saying a word since Master Rykard has forbidden it. Childish, perhaps, but she probably has the right to a dour mood; the whole colony initiative has been one long Bad Feeling (tm) and struggle for her, since well before they left for Tenoo. She glances up as Dr. Cassias enters. "Come on in and sit down, Doc. It looks like it would be the first actual rest you've had in a week. Are you feeling all right?" she asks, feeling a bit like she's asking a stupid question; he's clearly /not/ feeling all right. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde turns toward the door as Dr. Cassias enters, looking unsurprisingly as if he has not slept in several days. He sighs and turns away again. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Excellent," Master Rykard says. "Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity at the moment for you to have your own private quarters, so you'll be sharing a room in a suite with my young padawan, Cayde. He'll show you there and make sure you get settled in," he says, nodding at Cayde. He then looks over at the doctor when he enters. He frowns. "What is it...?" he asks, immediately noticing the doctor's demeanor. "Another colonist has gone missing. You know her," He says looking at Navi and Cayde, "Mal..." Those gifted with telepathy will be able to sense a swell of emotion coming from the doctor. "Her sister was found last night, covered in third degree burns, their quarters in ashes. Gael was stabilized at some point this morning, but after a good look at her wounds we determined that they were not, in fact, self inflicted." He sits down finally, his expression turning ashen. "I fear... I fear the worst, Master Rykard. And so do Master Windu and Master Yutelli. They've gone looking for Mal, but I think in an attempt to cure her amnesia, I have awoken a beast that I cannot put back to sleep." 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne nods his head, "Sounds good." He frowns as he turns his attention back to the Doctor, his hand reaching down to remove a datapad from one of the pockets of his pants. He activates the device and begins tapping notes into it, "Doctor, I'm sorry for jumping into it before we're properly introduced. Where there any clues as to the cause of the burns are? Were they burns from the quarters fire, or did it seem as if she was directly attacked by someone with fire? Also, was she found elsewhere or in her quarters?" With a glance towards Master Rykard, he looks back to the Doctor, "And what beast are we speaking of exactly?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Oh, gods... I have WAY too many questions right now, but I'll keep it to, is Gael going to be all right? Will she be able to live with such horrible burns? Can the kolto tanks cure her?" Navi asks, her mood turning to horror at the mention of the apparent horror of the night before. She looks to Chad. "Mal is gifted in the Force... she can touch objects and immediately and very intensely sense their histories, but she can't control her gift. She also suffers from severe amnesia, and is known to get lost while experiencing the histories of objects she has casual contact with. Gael did her best to care for her, but she was overwhelmed with the responsibility due to Mal's disabilities. Doctor Cassias and Cayde have been working with her to try to improve her memory and let her function more normally." She looks to Cayde, then Master Rykard, and finally Chad. "Cayde may be our best chance of finding her. He's her favorite person in the world, next to her sister, maybe, and he also might be able to sense her thoughts at a distance." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As Soren describes the situation with Mal, Cayde again shifts uncomfortably and turns his gaze downward. No, this definitely wasn't Dr. Cassias' fault. If anyone has unleashed any kind of beast, it's him, not the doctor.     But should it fall to him to make it right? Or would he just make matters even worse?     ...Probably the latter. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "The kind that only witches can create," the doctor says softly, looking mournful. "She was found in her quarters. I'm not sure what happened. She's not conscious yet." "Gael will be alright, I think. But there's only so much we can do about the scar tissue," he continues. "By the light," Rykard says, looking dismayed. "What in the name of the dark side do those memories contain..?!" "I had no idea. Gael never told me anything about her suppressed memories," The doctor confesses, "She was improving, and had been able to remember more for longer periods of time as well as recall things about her past that she hadn't before. Little did I know that suppression of those memories was the only thing keeping her sane. Something must have happened -- a triggering event, something traumatic--" he shakes his head, but his gaze flicks to Cayde momentarily. Rykard looks over at Cayde. "Padawan, what's wrong?" 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne nods his head slowly, the sense of what occurred beginning to be clear for him, "I see. So Mal is a suspect, and she's probably the one who started the fire? Perhaps she heard something her sister said, or they may have even been directly fighting?" He looks down to the datapad at his notes, tilting his lead left and right as he considers them. He then looks back up to the doctor, "How recently was Gael attacked? I'd like to look at the scene, and maybe see if there are any tracks with the help of the Republic security team if they have a tracker amongst them." He then looks towards Cayde, his eyes narrowing for a moment. Not in suspicion, but in placing his focus firmly on Cayde as he regards the Padawan, as if trying to bore through him with eyes alone, "Do you have something I can add to my notes, Padawan?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Mal and Gael are both Dathomiri, and that culture has a tradition of Force Witches. Both Gael and Mal are gifted in the Force," Navi adds, "but Gael seems to have been taught at least a little of her homeworld's traditional witchery, while Mal doesn't seem to have any trained abilities beyond her uncontrollable gift. I'm a little surprised she was able to conjure fire at all... though maybe I shouldn't be. And the sisters' relationship was known to be strained at times." She looks to Cayde, possibly since everyone else is doing so. Well, maybe Mondrian and Veena aren't, but she's ignoring them anyway... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <It is my fault, Master...> Cayde projects directly to Rykard. And along with it comes a very detailed recollection of everything that had taken place that night. How Mal had come begging to marry him, how he'd turned her down, and how Gael had been so angry they'd barely avoided a violent confrontation. And then how utterly devastated Mal had been. The emotional barrage is...very strong.     Although everyone else is staring at him or asking him questions or both, he doesn't seem aware of it, as a distant expression is fixed upon his face. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The doctor shakes his head, looking even more devastated. "She's not just a suspect," he says, "There's not anyone else who could have done it. As for whether they were fighting..." he trails off. "Last night. I don't know that it's going to help. The whole temporary housing unit is dusted." As for help from the Republic team -- it doesn't look like he's going to get any. Mondrian and Veena appear to have just walked out, at some point. "This will require the aid of the Force," Master Rykard says solemnly, absorbing all that Cayde is conveying to him. <We will discuss all this later, Cayde. I have many questions for you, but they must come at a later time> "We must all go," he says, "and catch up with Master Yutelli and Windu. Perhaps they have a lead." He starts for the exit of the temporary administrative structure, but stops just in the doorway. "Bayne, go with Cayde to your quarters and leave your belongings there. We'll start by searching the valley - meeting us at the ridge." And then exits, leaving Navi, Cayde, and Bayne with the doctor. 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' When Chad Bayne looks around to find the Republic Security Forces, he fails and shrugs his shoulders. Forget them then. He listens to the doctor, a solemn expression on his face. When the Jedi Master stands and makes his exit, Chad stands as well until the exit is made, stopping for a moment to acknowledge the command with a straight forward, "Yes, Master." When Rykard is gone, Chad turns to look back to Cayde. He studies the Padawan for a short amount of time, then observes, "Either you've tried the fish, or you have more to share with the class." With a wild grin, he adds, "I think you've been here long enough not to try the fish." Turning to the Doctor now, Chad frowns, then shrugs his shoulders, "For what it's worth, Doctor, she may seem like the only possible suspect now, and she may have actually done it, but I'd like to give her every benefit of the doubt until we have firm proof otherwise. Strange things can happen to people strong in the Force." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Force? Please, just give us /one week/ without another catastrophe, so we can get caught up on all the /other/ catastrophes..." Navi murmurs, massaging her temples with her fingertips. "Is that really such a lot to ask?" She looks up to find that sometime during the conversation, in spite of the urgency of the situation, Mondrian and Veena have just up and walked out. "Guess those two are being their usual degree of useful and helpful," she grumbles. "Just as well... I don't think they have a tracker on-world anyway." "Cayde has an allergy to a lot of the local food, so he knows very well not to try the fish," she adds. "So that's not it. If he gets that vacant look, it's best not to bother him for a moment, unless it's an emergency. He's using his telepathic gifts." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <Yes Master> Cayde echoes Chad's sentiment mentally. He stands up and turns to Chad, motioning for him to follow him out of the building as he starts heading toward the suite where he, Thaarin and Vons were staying.     ...Yes, he has tried the fish...what little he was able to tolerate, anyway. He sighs, trying to create some kind of casual conversation. [Only a little bit] he signs in Basic, regarding the fish. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It won't take them very long to get to the suite - Chad, and even Navi might be surprised at how nice it is. It must have been a lingering effect of Rie's favoritism of Cayde and his friends, despite the portly Twi'lek no longer being Chancellor. When they arrive, they'll find Thaarin in the lounge area, his navy black hair wet and curly as he's halfway through buttoning his shirt in front of the only not broken mirror currently in their hab suite. He turns around when they come in, arching a brow slightly at the them. "I ... didn't expect you back so early," he says to Cayde. There are a few things Chad may observe about Thaarin immediately - one, that he is extraordinarily handsome and well groomed. Two, he's not like any alien he's ever seen in his life before. Blue skinned, perhaps Pantoran for all intents and purposes, but his eyes - they glowed wholly scarlet and belonged on a Shistavanen. Third, he's tall and his presence speaks volumes. He seems very much like someone Bayne should -not- make an enemy of. His eyes immediately rest on Chad, piercing him with his Sith red gaze. "May I have the pleasure of knowing he who makes himself a guest here?" 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' With a shake of his head to Navi, Chad Bayne replies, "Starting a colony is hard, I heard. It'll smooth out!" He then adds after a skeptical shrug of his shoulders, "Eventually?" He takes a moment to grab his duffel bag in his left hand, throwing it over his shoulder to exit the temporary structure. "Oh," begins Chad, once they've arrived at the living area, clearly surprised at the accomodations afforded to the Padawan during his stay at the colony. He looks to Cayde and mentions, "I admit I foresaw a more cramped living arrangement with hate and emnity growing between us one high-protein meal at a time." He then adds, "This'll work though." To the blue skinned creature, Chad Bayne nods in greeting, "My name is Explorer Chad Bayne of the Antarian Rangers. I've been sent to help. You are?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi follows Cayde and Chad. She's seen the suite shared by Cayde, Vons, and Thaarin before, but is always impressed by it. It's a lot nicer than her tiny single-occupancy hab. The first thing she notices is several broken mirrors. "Hi, Thaarin. How'd all those mirrors get broken?" she asks, offering a little wave to the Chiss. "Explorer Bayne, this is Thaarin, or Tall Blue, as some of the colonists call him. He's usually the smartest person in the room, and also the handsomest. You'll like him," she adds, by way of introduction and advice all in one. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As they enter the fairly sizeable abode, Cayde moves over toward the largest of the rooms and motions inside.     [Share with Vons] he signs, since that's the one with the most space anyway. The Zeltron probably won't be happy, but it was the best option as the other rooms were significantly smaller. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "You may call me Thaarin," the tall blue fellow says demurely, offering Chad a hand to shake. "A pleasure to meet you, Bayne. Your assistance is greatly appreciated." A faint smile touches his expression when Navi compliments him. "And you'll discover that Navi is the kindest and the prettiest, regardless of what planet you're on," he says, "but, what did I tell you regarding flattery, my dear Navi? I'll have no more for today, thank you." His smile widens ever so slightly when Navi asks about the mirrors. "Oh, I think those are all long stories for another time," he says. When Chad looks inside the room Cayde is gesturing at, he might realize that he may in fact, be getting the cramped living arrangement with hate and enmity growing between each high protein meal at a time after all. The room is an utter mess. Clothes strewn everywhere, at least five cups of half drank caf scattered on cluttered tabletops and chairs, as well as wrappers for ration bars littering the floor. The lower bunk, which presumably is to be his, is piled high with datapads, flimsiplast, and varying gadgets that Chad might only guess are for. Half of them look broken. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Normally I wouldn't flatter you, but there's a couple mitigating circumstances; first, I wanted Chad to know just who he was meeting, and second, it's all perfectly true, so it's not actually flattery," Navi replies, shrugging. "As for the return flattery, I'll do my utmost to live up to your assessment of me. Don't know if I'll succeed, but I'll definitely try." "We pulled Thaarin out of a crashed ship on Ilum. He was one of only two survivors," she explains to Chad. "He learned to speak, read, and write in Basic inside of a month, so I wasn't exaggerating about him being the smartest person in the room." And then she gets a look into the room Chad will be theoretically sharing with Vons, and she just stares in wide-eyed shock for a moment or three. Finally she looks to Chad, Thaarin, and Cayde, then back to Chad, her eyes still stuck wide open. "Um... maybe you can sleep on the couch?" 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne nods and returns the hand shake, "Good to meet you. I'm glad someone said it. I haven't received the warmest welcome from all involved, if I'm honest. I'm looking forward to helping though." He looks between Navi and Thaarin and then shrugs, nodding his head, "Don't worry. I won't flatter you. When people are usually described as being tall, smart, and handsome, I immediately jump to the conclusion that they kick puppies." With a thumb over his shoulder, he adds, "I'm going to put away my stuff." Chad disappears into the room, a moment of silence coming from the room before his voice can be heard, "It stinks like sex in here." He pokes his head out for a moment, nodding to Navi, "I'm not hating the idea of just living outside. It would not be the first time." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Okay, perhaps it had been too much to hope that Vons would've cleaned up the room at least a little bit at some point since the last time he'd looked in here. He glances at Chad apologetically, and starts using the Force to sweep the various items on the lower bunk off onto the floor and shove them under the bed. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin just gives Navi a fond look, but doesn't respond, as Chad is being escorted to his quarters. He sighs quietly and looks mildly embarrassed when the young Antarian Ranger sees that there's literally no room for him in Von's room. "No, that won't do," he says, "thankfully, we do have someone around here who can make quick work of a mess," he says nodding as Cayde uses the Force to shove aside a large majority of the clutter. 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne smiles and shakes his head, "It's really alright. I spent three weeks operating out of a field of particularly well-trained Reek. This won't be a problem." As he exits the room after setting his duffel bag on the top bunk, Chad exists room and takes a deep breath. He reaches over to the control for the door, jaming it open to allow the room to air out. He then turns, nodding to Cayde, "Thank you." He then looks around, "Think you can show me the valley we're going to meet Master Rykard in?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Sure enough, Cayde manages to move most of the clutter either under the bed or into closet or drawers.     It's still messy, but at least it's a bit less...gross. [Better now] he signs. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin shakes his head. "It's not about that," he says politely, "you didn't choose to be here, yet you're here willingly and we should treat you with honor and respect. Even if you don't mind less luxurious living quarters, doesn't mean we should make you endure them, again." He smiles faintly at Cayde, and turning to the young padawan, he says gently, "Bayne is asking you if you could show him to where Rykard would like to meet?" 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne shakes his head, "Never-the-less, I'm not fancy, but thank you." He then turns, looking back towards Cayde and signing comfortably, "[Thank you, and what he said. I'd like to go to the valley. Master said to meet him on the ridge?]" The last sign is given with a questioning look on his face, indicating that perhaps he doesn't know which ridge he's referring to. He then asks another question of Cayde, "[How do you sign Master's name?]" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Yes, the valley...Cayde nods, and begins to spell out Master Asteros Rykard's title and name in Basic letter sign. It's not really the 'right' answer as in it's not how -he- usually does it, but since Rykard is still just an acquaintance to Chad, perhaps that level of familiarity isn't yet appropriate.     Then he starts heading back out toward the valley, where Rykard had requested they meet him. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin smiles faintly again, escorting the two of them as they head for the door, presumably off to meet Master Rykard. The tall blue alien rests a hand on Chad's arm gently, pulling him back for a very brief moment. "Cayde isn't terribly verbal," he says softly, "communication can be difficult for him, and socially, he struggles. What you did today was very thoughtful. Thank you." He fixes Chad with his unforgettably penetrating scarlet gaze, his expression genuine. "You two will get along well, I should think. And may the Force be with you as you face whatever awaits in the valley." 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne nods to Thaarin, "I gathered as much when he was signing earlier. It's fine. Rangers are trained to meet Jedi where they are at, so if there's a communication issue, we'll solve it. Besides..." He trails off, lifting and lowering his shoulders, "Something tells me I'll be verbal enough for the both of us." He then nods his head gravely, "Thank you, Thaarin. May the Force be with you." He quickly catches up with Cayde on the way to the valley, first drawing the pistol on his right hip and checking the charge as they go. He follows with the one on his left him, nodding his head and returning it as well. Once both pistols are holstered, he signs, "[Good. I didn't shoot anyone on the way here.]" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Wish I could make that happen," Navi observes, watching Cayde bring the mess down from 'nasty nerf pen' to merely 'sloppy'. "If I can get a spoon to quiver, I'm doing pretty good, but I keep trying." She falls in behind Cayde and Chad. "Thaarin's got the right of it. The only excuse I can think of is that Vons had no warning about your coming. Which isn't impossible. Just unlikely," she says, shrugging and stifling a chuckle at Chad's signed message to Cayde. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde watches Chad check the blasters, and then make a comment about not having shot anyone already on the way. However, he doesn't seem to understand what exactly was meant, or if it was intended to be a joke of some kind. There is also the fact that he is rather troubled about this entire situation...     He looks ahead again, and quickens his pace down toward the valley. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin inclines his head slightly. "I appreciate that," he says, "and even if Cayde doesn't say it, he will, too." The three of them probably won't take long to get to the ridge. But when they arrive, they won't find Rykard there. Instead, they'll espy the small, robed, Jawa like creature they'd rescued from Ilum standing on the ridge staring out at the valley below. They don't turn around when the trio arrives, but all three of them will feel an impression in the Force - a forewarning, some kind of discomfiting premonition about the current state of things. They urge them to reach out into the Force, sense it. Something was not right... 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne shakes his head to Navi with a smile, "There's no way he could have known I was coming. Master Rykar said stay with Cayde until Cayde said no way, stay with Von." He then looks to Cayde and signs, "[What I had to smell today was all your fault.]" When they arrive at the ridge, even Chad is put off by what they see, hear, and feel. Tilting his head, he narrows his eyes and comments, "I've got a bad feeling about this." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [I am sorry] he signs when Chad mentions the terrible smells in Vons' room, and he seems genuinely remorseful about it.     But then there is that immense foreboding. Where is Master Rykard? He begins to search for his master's presence, although he is also just beginning to question whether he should really be here or not. If Mal is the source of the problem, he doubts his presence will do anything but make things worse. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Hey, it's Little Guy. Been a while since I've seen him... is he a him? I never have been able to tell," Navi observes, pointing out the diminutive alien. "He doesn't speak, either, but he can do some general gestures and such, and telepathically he communicates through impressions. We have no idea what his name is, so I just call him Little Guy," she explains. She reaches out through the Force... and gets several impressions at once. "I think Mal is very far away at the moment. But there's some kind of disturbance in the Force, too... a general bad feeling. Pretty intense." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Cayde thankfully will be able to tell that Rykard is near, and approaching. But that sense of foreboding lingers. The small robed alien is right - there is some kind of aura of dark side energy seeming to cover the ridge, and the valley. Everything feels ... eerie. Off, in a way that none of them can really explain. A few moments later, Rykard returns, his brows furrowed. "The firehawks that usually are willing to carry us down into the Gorge won't come today," he says, brows knitted together. "I wonder how Master Windu and Master Yutelli fared," he murmurs, "something feels... wrong." Suddenly the little robed alien tugs on Navi's sleeve, and starts dragging her towards the upper part of the ridge, urgently. If Navi and the others follow, they will see something that may send chills down their spine. In the distance, in the deepest part of the Gorge, they'll be able to see a bright beam of phosphorescent green light ascending into the clouds like some kind of light-forsaken beacon. Strange black silhouettes of flying... somethings circle it ominously. The small robed alien points to it, and that uncomfortable premonition in the Force will return again. "Light save us all..." Rykard mutters. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "No idea, but this whole place feels off. Very off," Navi observes worriedly. "I'm not sure why, but-... hey!" she squeaks as Little Guy starts pulling on her sleeve. "Don't pull my clothes off, huh? I'm coming!" she protests, more softly, following the Jawa-like alien up the ridge. At the top, she freezes, staring into the horrific spectacle of the green light shaft piercing the clouds, surrounded by bizarre flying creatures. "Oh, my... geez... is that the /vergence/? Did Mal cause that?" she asks, her eyes even wider than when she'd been faced with the spectacle of Vons' room. "I think we have a /real/ problem, Master... this may be the unfortunate event the Marauders may be waiting for. The thing they think will destroy the colony." 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne follows the Jawa and Navi to the upper part of the ridge as well, his eyes out and scanning as they reach the apex of their climb. He takes a look around at the others, reaching up to scratch at his cheek as he wonders what to do. Finally, he points off in that general direction, "I found them. I've only been on the case for an hour. Damn, I'm good." He drops his hand, his brow knitting together as he looks back to the beacon, "Do we have speeder bikes?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     One look at that glowing green light and Cayde turns around and starts heading straight back out of the valley. That told him all he needed to know. Mal had lost it, and he was the last person she needed to see or even be -aware- of. He was the source of her problems, not the solution to them... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Rykard shakes his head. "We have speeders, but they will not work on the terrain in the Gorge. It's too rocky, uneven, and angled." "We may be able to take a small vessel -- though it will be dangerous since there's no guarantee that there's even space in that area for it to land safely. The Gorge is dangerous -- terrain-wise and ... in other respects," the elder Master says. He grabs Cayde's arm gently. <Cayde, you -must- face her. The solution is not to avoid the conflict and hope it goes away. You must reconcile with her and explain to her that you still care for her, only attachment is forbidden, and why> "Come," he says to the others, "we must find a reliable and courageous pilot, and a vessel." Then he starts heading back towards the colony site. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I guess we need a /very small/ ship... like a small shuttle. We don't have any fighters, and none of them would fit all of us anyway. I don't know if we have an airspeeder that could hold all of us, either," Navi muses. She gives Master Rykard a grateful look when the Master grabs Cayde's arm before the Padawan can abscond. "Good catch, Master. Ann would be proud." 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne turns away from the ridge, seeing all he has needed to see, and quickly catches up to the Padawan and Master. As he talks, he signs what he is saying, "[Maybe we can get a ship to hover on antigrav, and descend in via rope, or Jedi telekinesis.]" He then quickly shakes his head, "[We have the shuttle I came here on, but I'm not the pilot to accomplish this.]" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "We'd better hope the grumpy Ugnaught twins are on-world," Navi observes worriedly. "They're very good pilots, even if the more skilled brother's not much for making friends." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <But...Gael...> Cayde protests, remembering how infuriated her older sister had been and how she had warned him to steer clear of Mal. He'd only barely managed to avoid an actual fight that time, and is doubtful he'd be as fortunate a second time.     A sigh. <...yes, Master> he responds, although he hasn't the slightest idea how to even begin to explain any of that to her.     [There are others do not worry] he replies to Chad, doing his best to appear calm. 
}}

Chad

2025-07-03T05:47:24Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-06-28 |Synopsis=An young Antarian Ranger is welcomed to the colony on Tenoo. |Cast of Characters=159, 440, 143, 261 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It's a fine afternoon at the Republic colony site on Tenoo, and though the weather is beautiful and all seems well, there's an eerie feeling like the calm before a storm radiating in the Force. The group would have been summoned to the admi..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-06-28
|Synopsis=An young Antarian Ranger is welcomed to the colony on Tenoo.
|Cast of Characters=159, 440, 143, 261
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It's a fine afternoon at the Republic colony site on Tenoo, and though the weather is beautiful and all seems well, there's an eerie feeling like the calm before a storm radiating in the Force. The group would have been summoned to the administrative building by the Marshal of the colony, the elder Ikkrukki Jedi Master Rykard regarding a... security matter. The others would not have received any other details regarding this news, but the aura surrounding the necessity of this meeting does not bode well, given all that has occurred prior. However, for one such novice Antarian Ranger named Chad Bayne, he'll have no context for anything - save for a datapad that contains his summons, given by the Order and approved by the Republic, to assist with protecting and securing the peace around a new colony site that has sprung up on the Outer Rim planet Tenoo. His trip here will likely have been rather uneventful, and his arrival at the spaceport in the biggest town on the planet, Kublop Springs, probably anything but extraordinary. He'll soon find himself on a tram headed straight to the colony site itself, unaware of any of the happenings on this terrestrial green ball that from space, looks pretty boring. 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Stepping off the tram, Chad Bayne hoists the duffel containing the vast majority of his wordly posessions (such as they are) and begins a walk towards the meeting point. He eyes are wide and his lips are pursed, whistling a melody that doubtlessly has ill-intentioned, if not downright naughty, lyrics on far-flung planets. As he finds himself approaching where the datapad had indicated for a meeting point, the whistling stops but a hint of a smile remains, his thumb of the hand not holding his duffle bag tucking in behind his utility belt, in a suspiciously empty portion seemed perfectly positioned for just such a thing. With a grunt that may intimate a hint of annoyance, he unshoulders his duffel and drops it to the ground, his head on a swivel as he seems to do his best to look like he knows what he's doing here whilst waiting for someone to come along and tell him what he's doing here. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     That aura is certainly felt by those attuned to it. The Marshal's padawan is among them, as he makes his way toward the administration center in response to the request for a meeting regarding this....thus far undisclosed security matter.     As he approaches, he notices the Antarian Ranger standing around looking as if he's...looking for someone or someone, it seems. Now this is definitely a new face. Apparently, someone has decided to request the Rangers' presence but has also decided not to give them the details, either.     Cayde approaches him, considering showing him inside to where briefings usually took place. Yet somehow, he finds himself just standing there instead, frowning pensively. Something about this man feels oddly familiar, even though he's certain he has never met him before. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Chad will immediately notice the elder Jedi Master standing outside the temporary unit that for the moment, hosted administration. He approaches, motioning discreetly and urgently at him. "Come in," he says, "quickly, now." His gaze scans the area, as if searching for something, or someone. He seems tense. "Cayde, you too. Hurry." 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne nods in return to the elder Jedi Master, then quickly and discretely picks up his duffel with what can only be described as an 'old bantha noise' and shoulders it once again. He's prepared to fall into step behind the Jedi Master should the Jedi Master begin to move again, but his eyes do shift towards Cayde Alexis as he's beaconed too. He nods his head to the Padawan, then looks back towards the elder of the Jedi. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Before Cayde had a chance to get Chad's attention, his master steps in and urges them both inside. There's a little bit of relief, and he quickly nods and follows them both into the building. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi is already inside the temp unit, having arrived perhaps ten minutes before. Dressed in the typical utilitarian clothing issued to most colonists, she doesn't look like a Jedi, in spite of the lightsaber that is attached to her medical satchel, next to a 28-inch retractable metal staff. Save for her pale blonde pigtails and pointed ears, the latter a mark of her Sephi bloodlines, she could be any colonist. Glancing up, she manages a nod to Cayde and a very brief hint of a smile for Chad, the newcomer, in spite of an apparent dour mood. "Welcome to Tenoo, winner of the Republic Colony Most Likely To Fail Award. Make sure you avoid eating the fish, and anything made from the local moss. Your stomach will thank you." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Once inside, the elder Ikkrukki Master nods a greeting to Navi and then takes one brief look out of the temporary unit before escorting the three of them into a small conference room down the hall. "The others should be joining shortly," he says with a sage nod, seating himself across from Chad. "My name is Asteros Rykard, and I am the Republic's appointed Marshal of the Tenoo colony initiative, assigned to the Jedi outpost to be built here within the next several months by the Order." "This is Cayde, my padawan," he says, gesturing at the baby faced blond, "and this is Navi of the Shining Brotherhood. She's assistant medical director to Master Pike Windu, who is co-leading the medical research efforts here to be conducted on Tenoo with Dr Soren Cassias - who should also be along shortly." 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne's eyebrows creep up as he's welcomed to the seemingly only somewhat inhospitable colony. He considers it for a moment, then responds, "Thanks." After another moment, he adds, "Shame. I looked to liken the local lichen to the lichen of the location I long for. Which is to say, the moss back home. Give me some time though, and I'll find a way to cook it." He takes a moment to settle his duffel in an out of the way location. He stands behind one of the chairs until the Jedi Master takes a seat, at which point he pulls out his chair and sits down himself. He nods as the introductions go around, "Master. Padawan. Assistant Director." He then introduces himself, "Good to meet you all. I'm Chad Bayne, which is a name and a vocation. I'm an Explorer for the Antarian Rangers." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As the introductions go out, Cayde nods and bows politely toward the newcomer in greeting before having a seat himself. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi smiles faintly at the likening of the lichen wordplay. "Nice to meet you, Ranger Chad Bayne. As for the moss, they've already tried cooking it in cookies, but those tend to cook your digestive tract for up to 48 hours. The fish just has an offensive slimy and rubbery texture by comparison, no matter how they try to cook it. Tastes better coming up than going down. And trust me, unless you've got a cast-duryllium gut, it WILL come up. Tends to work better for the nonhuman colonists, for what it's worth. Some of them can't get enough of it, so I let them have mine." She groans softly at the mention of Dr. Cassias being present at this meeting. "Better hope he bothers to show up. I hope he doesn't. I swear, if he tries to guilt me /just one more time/ about helping to look after Cayde more than I already do, which is a lot, the doctor will /need/ a doctor." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "We're going to need him," Rykard says to Navi, brows furrowing, "even if you don't like him, he's necessary. Try to get along, please. The tension between leadership here isn't helping anything." "Well met," Master Rykard then says to the Antarian Ranger. "You probably weren't given much briefing, but in summary, there has been a death among the colonists and we are fairly certain that it was not... an accident, despite our current suspects pleading innocent to any kind of foul play or premeditated murder. Now, we do have security onsite, but--" At that moment, the blond security guard the others will know as Mondrian, followed by his colleague, the stunning Nautolan with angular features, Veena, appear in the doorway. The blond guard immediately eyes Chad with skepticism and suspicion. "Who's... this?" "Help," Rykard says after a moment, his careful choice of word clear. Mondrian's eyes narrow, and his gaze does not leave Chad. "We don't need help." 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne smiles, and politely replies to Navi, "Thank you, but Explorer is my rank. I may be a Ranger one day, but my training isn't quite complete." He turns his eyes back to Master Rykard, shaking his head to indicate that that Master is correct in that he did not have much of a briefing coming in. As the door opens, Chad looks towards the incoming guard and Nautolan for a moment, then focuses on the guard as he seems to be a topic of conversation for the new comer. He glances towards Navi, then looks back to Mondrian, "That's not what I've heard. I've had boots on the ground for less than two hours and I've already heard how you've been having your butts kicked by the local cuisine." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Oh, I /try/ to get along with him, Master... it's just that he doesn't try /back/," Navi replies, arcing one pale, narrow eyebrow. "Blame where blame is due. Speaking of... meet the local Republic Security, Explorer Bayne. Try not to hit Mondrian. He's the one with the 'hit me' mouth." "None we're qualified or officially licensed to provide, anyway... and actually, you /do/. You're well aware that well over half of the colonists are one kind of criminal or another, and we've already had one suspicious death. If that's not a 'we need all the help we can get and then some' situation, I really don't want to see the genuine article." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde shifts uncomfortably when Mondrian enters, and appears very skeptical and perhaps even hostile toward Chad's presence. He suspects Mondrian might have an idea regarding one of the reasons Bayne is here. A reason specifically has to do with himself...     Hopefully no one is going to bring it up in the open, or anything like that. Navi's disdain toward Dr. Cassias is disconcerting too, although not surprising. Could they -still- not resolve their differences?     Anyway, wasn't there some other reason for this 'urgent' meeting besides meeting Mr. Bayne?     But his thoughts are quickly diverted when Chad makes a joke about the food. Already, he can feel Mondrian's temper rising. Enough that he's already considering punching the Antarian Ranger in the face. Well Cayde is going to nip that in the bud before it ever materializes. Immediately he tries to enter Mondrian's consciousness and calm his seething emotions. This is already because of a bad reputation. Why make it even worse? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thanks to Cayde's intervention, Mondrian does not grab Chad by the collar and hoist him up like a sack of barley. He does, however, scoff at the young Explorer. "Your mouth is as big as your experience is inadequate," he insults, "you sure it wouldn't be better for you to crawl back to your cush posting on Naboo watching falumpasets graze?" He then glares at Navi. "Sure, said the girl sleeping with our primary investor. I'm sure you had exactly zero idea about the recruiter she was working with on Jedha," Mondrian says with a smirk, folding his arms. 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne nods with a smile, "You're absolutely right it is. Please forgive me for responding in a manner more suited to a way of life I don't lead anymore. I'm looking forward to learning from you." Still, the posting on Naboo didn't sound like such a bad job. He turns his attention back to Master Rykand and then adds, "I understand that you suspect foul play. I'm looking forward to helping in any way I can." He glances towards Cayde for a moment then looks towards the table as he waits. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     When Mondrian's response seems to have been adequately moderated, Cayde relaxes at least a little bit.     When Chad glances his way, he holds the other man's gaze for a moment. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Look in a mirror recently, Mondrian? If you tried to cash the datachecks your mouth usually writes, they'd put you UNDER the debtors' prison," Navi retorts calmly. "And A, I've never /actually/ slept with her, and B, I wasn't aware until we actually got here... we weren't privy to far too many of the details of the colony initiative before we left. Contrary to Republic Security, we don't all have the inside track on the makings of bad ideas that were allowed to happen anyway for some reason." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Mondrian seems annoyed by Chad's amicability towards his insult, but before he can get a word in edgewise, Navi gives a retort. "Good thing they don't, then," he says, "Feh, too bad being a bad liar isn't a galactic crime - you'd be getting -life-." Rykard stands. "Enough!" he says, loudly and firmly. "Thank you, Bayne. Mondrian, you and Veena will now spend the majority of your time focusing on looking into the marauder threat that still looms over this colony. Bayne, you will be taking point on this investigation, working alongside the private investigator, Arsok Vons, that the Republic has appointed." Mondrian's expression hardens into a stony, unreadable look, but he doesn't comment or protest. Rykard is Marshal, after all. The elder Jedi frowns and looks around. "Master Windu and the doctor were supposed to be here..." At that moment, the doctor appears in the doorway, looking pale, and haggard. Dark circles have formed under his eyes. "I'm sorry for being late," he says quietly, his voice barely audible. 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Takes a deep breath in and exhales slowly, shaking his head to Cayde and then looking back to Mondrian. He takes another breath, seeming about to say something with a look on his face that seems to say 'prepare your buttocks' and then promptly swallows whatever he is about to say as Master Rykard calls a halt to it all. He looks back to Rykard and nods his head slowly, his eyebrows knitting together as he works to memorize this name. He then adds, "I'll do my best, Master Rykard." His attention goes back to the door of the temp shelter as the next Jedi Master enters, at which point he nods once more. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi rolls her eyes at Mondrian's retort, not saying a word since Master Rykard has forbidden it. Childish, perhaps, but she probably has the right to a dour mood; the whole colony initiative has been one long Bad Feeling (tm) and struggle for her, since well before they left for Tenoo. She glances up as Dr. Cassias enters. "Come on in and sit down, Doc. It looks like it would be the first actual rest you've had in a week. Are you feeling all right?" she asks, feeling a bit like she's asking a stupid question; he's clearly /not/ feeling all right. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde turns toward the door as Dr. Cassias enters, looking unsurprisingly as if he has not slept in several days. He sighs and turns away again. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Excellent," Master Rykard says. "Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity at the moment for you to have your own private quarters, so you'll be sharing a room in a suite with my young padawan, Cayde. He'll show you there and make sure you get settled in," he says, nodding at Cayde. He then looks over at the doctor when he enters. He frowns. "What is it...?" he asks, immediately noticing the doctor's demeanor. "Another colonist has gone missing. You know her," He says looking at Navi and Cayde, "Mal..." Those gifted with telepathy will be able to sense a swell of emotion coming from the doctor. "Her sister was found last night, covered in third degree burns, their quarters in ashes. Gael was stabilized at some point this morning, but after a good look at her wounds we determined that they were not, in fact, self inflicted." He sits down finally, his expression turning ashen. "I fear... I fear the worst, Master Rykard. And so do Master Windu and Master Yutelli. They've gone looking for Mal, but I think in an attempt to cure her amnesia, I have awoken a beast that I cannot put back to sleep." 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne nods his head, "Sounds good." He frowns as he turns his attention back to the Doctor, his hand reaching down to remove a datapad from one of the pockets of his pants. He activates the device and begins tapping notes into it, "Doctor, I'm sorry for jumping into it before we're properly introduced. Where there any clues as to the cause of the burns are? Were they burns from the quarters fire, or did it seem as if she was directly attacked by someone with fire? Also, was she found elsewhere or in her quarters?" With a glance towards Master Rykard, he looks back to the Doctor, "And what beast are we speaking of exactly?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Oh, gods... I have WAY too many questions right now, but I'll keep it to, is Gael going to be all right? Will she be able to live with such horrible burns? Can the kolto tanks cure her?" Navi asks, her mood turning to horror at the mention of the apparent horror of the night before. She looks to Chad. "Mal is gifted in the Force... she can touch objects and immediately and very intensely sense their histories, but she can't control her gift. She also suffers from severe amnesia, and is known to get lost while experiencing the histories of objects she has casual contact with. Gael did her best to care for her, but she was overwhelmed with the responsibility due to Mal's disabilities. Doctor Cassias and Cayde have been working with her to try to improve her memory and let her function more normally." She looks to Cayde, then Master Rykard, and finally Chad. "Cayde may be our best chance of finding her. He's her favorite person in the world, next to her sister, maybe, and he also might be able to sense her thoughts at a distance." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As Soren describes the situation with Mal, Cayde again shifts uncomfortably and turns his gaze downward. No, this definitely wasn't Dr. Cassias' fault. If anyone has unleashed any kind of beast, it's him, not the doctor.     But should it fall to him to make it right? Or would he just make matters even worse?     ...Probably the latter. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "The kind that only witches can create," the doctor says softly, looking mournful. "She was found in her quarters. I'm not sure what happened. She's not conscious yet." "Gael will be alright, I think. But there's only so much we can do about the scar tissue," he continues. "By the light," Rykard says, looking dismayed. "What in the name of the dark side do those memories contain..?!" "I had no idea. Gael never told me anything about her suppressed memories," The doctor confesses, "She was improving, and had been able to remember more for longer periods of time as well as recall things about her past that she hadn't before. Little did I know that suppression of those memories was the only thing keeping her sane. Something must have happened -- a triggering event, something traumatic--" he shakes his head, but his gaze flicks to Cayde momentarily. Rykard looks over at Cayde. "Padawan, what's wrong?" 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne nods his head slowly, the sense of what occurred beginning to be clear for him, "I see. So Mal is a suspect, and she's probably the one who started the fire? Perhaps she heard something her sister said, or they may have even been directly fighting?" He looks down to the datapad at his notes, tilting his lead left and right as he considers them. He then looks back up to the doctor, "How recently was Gael attacked? I'd like to look at the scene, and maybe see if there are any tracks with the help of the Republic security team if they have a tracker amongst them." He then looks towards Cayde, his eyes narrowing for a moment. Not in suspicion, but in placing his focus firmly on Cayde as he regards the Padawan, as if trying to bore through him with eyes alone, "Do you have something I can add to my notes, Padawan?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Mal and Gael are both Dathomiri, and that culture has a tradition of Force Witches. Both Gael and Mal are gifted in the Force," Navi adds, "but Gael seems to have been taught at least a little of her homeworld's traditional witchery, while Mal doesn't seem to have any trained abilities beyond her uncontrollable gift. I'm a little surprised she was able to conjure fire at all... though maybe I shouldn't be. And the sisters' relationship was known to be strained at times." She looks to Cayde, possibly since everyone else is doing so. Well, maybe Mondrian and Veena aren't, but she's ignoring them anyway... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <It is my fault, Master...> Cayde projects directly to Rykard. And along with it comes a very detailed recollection of everything that had taken place that night. How Mal had come begging to marry him, how he'd turned her down, and how Gael had been so angry they'd barely avoided a violent confrontation. And then how utterly devastated Mal had been. The emotional barrage is...very strong.     Although everyone else is staring at him or asking him questions or both, he doesn't seem aware of it, as a distant expression is fixed upon his face. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The doctor shakes his head, looking even more devastated. "She's not just a suspect," he says, "There's not anyone else who could have done it. As for whether they were fighting..." he trails off. "Last night. I don't know that it's going to help. The whole temporary housing unit is dusted." As for help from the Republic team -- it doesn't look like he's going to get any. Mondrian and Veena appear to have just walked out, at some point. "This will require the aid of the Force," Master Rykard says solemnly, absorbing all that Cayde is conveying to him. <We will discuss all this later, Cayde. I have many questions for you, but they must come at a later time> "We must all go," he says, "and catch up with Master Yutelli and Windu. Perhaps they have a lead." He starts for the exit of the temporary administrative structure, but stops just in the doorway. "Bayne, go with Cayde to your quarters and leave your belongings there. We'll start by searching the valley - meeting us at the ridge." And then exits, leaving Navi, Cayde, and Bayne with the doctor. 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' When Chad Bayne looks around to find the Republic Security Forces, he fails and shrugs his shoulders. Forget them then. He listens to the doctor, a solemn expression on his face. When the Jedi Master stands and makes his exit, Chad stands as well until the exit is made, stopping for a moment to acknowledge the command with a straight forward, "Yes, Master." When Rykard is gone, Chad turns to look back to Cayde. He studies the Padawan for a short amount of time, then observes, "Either you've tried the fish, or you have more to share with the class." With a wild grin, he adds, "I think you've been here long enough not to try the fish." Turning to the Doctor now, Chad frowns, then shrugs his shoulders, "For what it's worth, Doctor, she may seem like the only possible suspect now, and she may have actually done it, but I'd like to give her every benefit of the doubt until we have firm proof otherwise. Strange things can happen to people strong in the Force." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Force? Please, just give us /one week/ without another catastrophe, so we can get caught up on all the /other/ catastrophes..." Navi murmurs, massaging her temples with her fingertips. "Is that really such a lot to ask?" She looks up to find that sometime during the conversation, in spite of the urgency of the situation, Mondrian and Veena have just up and walked out. "Guess those two are being their usual degree of useful and helpful," she grumbles. "Just as well... I don't think they have a tracker on-world anyway." "Cayde has an allergy to a lot of the local food, so he knows very well not to try the fish," she adds. "So that's not it. If he gets that vacant look, it's best not to bother him for a moment, unless it's an emergency. He's using his telepathic gifts." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <Yes Master> Cayde echoes Chad's sentiment mentally. He stands up and turns to Chad, motioning for him to follow him out of the building as he starts heading toward the suite where he, Thaarin and Vons were staying.     ...Yes, he has tried the fish...what little he was able to tolerate, anyway. He sighs, trying to create some kind of casual conversation. [Only a little bit] he signs in Basic, regarding the fish. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It won't take them very long to get to the suite - Chad, and even Navi might be surprised at how nice it is. It must have been a lingering effect of Rie's favoritism of Cayde and his friends, despite the portly Twi'lek no longer being Chancellor. When they arrive, they'll find Thaarin in the lounge area, his navy black hair wet and curly as he's halfway through buttoning his shirt in front of the only not broken mirror currently in their hab suite. He turns around when they come in, arching a brow slightly at the them. "I ... didn't expect you back so early," he says to Cayde. There are a few things Chad may observe about Thaarin immediately - one, that he is extraordinarily handsome and well groomed. Two, he's not like any alien he's ever seen in his life before. Blue skinned, perhaps Pantoran for all intents and purposes, but his eyes - they glowed wholly scarlet and belonged on a Shistavanen. Third, he's tall and his presence speaks volumes. He seems very much like someone Bayne should -not- make an enemy of. His eyes immediately rest on Chad, piercing him with his Sith red gaze. "May I have the pleasure of knowing he who makes himself a guest here?" 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' With a shake of his head to Navi, Chad Bayne replies, "Starting a colony is hard, I heard. It'll smooth out!" He then adds after a skeptical shrug of his shoulders, "Eventually?" He takes a moment to grab his duffel bag in his left hand, throwing it over his shoulder to exit the temporary structure. "Oh," begins Chad, once they've arrived at the living area, clearly surprised at the accomodations afforded to the Padawan during his stay at the colony. He looks to Cayde and mentions, "I admit I foresaw a more cramped living arrangement with hate and emnity growing between us one high-protein meal at a time." He then adds, "This'll work though." To the blue skinned creature, Chad Bayne nods in greeting, "My name is Explorer Chad Bayne of the Antarian Rangers. I've been sent to help. You are?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi follows Cayde and Chad. She's seen the suite shared by Cayde, Vons, and Thaarin before, but is always impressed by it. It's a lot nicer than her tiny single-occupancy hab. The first thing she notices is several broken mirrors. "Hi, Thaarin. How'd all those mirrors get broken?" she asks, offering a little wave to the Chiss. "Explorer Bayne, this is Thaarin, or Tall Blue, as some of the colonists call him. He's usually the smartest person in the room, and also the handsomest. You'll like him," she adds, by way of introduction and advice all in one. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As they enter the fairly sizeable abode, Cayde moves over toward the largest of the rooms and motions inside.     [Share with Vons] he signs, since that's the one with the most space anyway. The Zeltron probably won't be happy, but it was the best option as the other rooms were significantly smaller. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "You may call me Thaarin," the tall blue fellow says demurely, offering Chad a hand to shake. "A pleasure to meet you, Bayne. Your assistance is greatly appreciated." A faint smile touches his expression when Navi compliments him. "And you'll discover that Navi is the kindest and the prettiest, regardless of what planet you're on," he says, "but, what did I tell you regarding flattery, my dear Navi? I'll have no more for today, thank you." His smile widens ever so slightly when Navi asks about the mirrors. "Oh, I think those are all long stories for another time," he says. When Chad looks inside the room Cayde is gesturing at, he might realize that he may in fact, be getting the cramped living arrangement with hate and enmity growing between each high protein meal at a time after all. The room is an utter mess. Clothes strewn everywhere, at least five cups of half drank caf scattered on cluttered tabletops and chairs, as well as wrappers for ration bars littering the floor. The lower bunk, which presumably is to be his, is piled high with datapads, flimsiplast, and varying gadgets that Chad might only guess are for. Half of them look broken. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Normally I wouldn't flatter you, but there's a couple mitigating circumstances; first, I wanted Chad to know just who he was meeting, and second, it's all perfectly true, so it's not actually flattery," Navi replies, shrugging. "As for the return flattery, I'll do my utmost to live up to your assessment of me. Don't know if I'll succeed, but I'll definitely try." "We pulled Thaarin out of a crashed ship on Ilum. He was one of only two survivors," she explains to Chad. "He learned to speak, read, and write in Basic inside of a month, so I wasn't exaggerating about him being the smartest person in the room." And then she gets a look into the room Chad will be theoretically sharing with Vons, and she just stares in wide-eyed shock for a moment or three. Finally she looks to Chad, Thaarin, and Cayde, then back to Chad, her eyes still stuck wide open. "Um... maybe you can sleep on the couch?" 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne nods and returns the hand shake, "Good to meet you. I'm glad someone said it. I haven't received the warmest welcome from all involved, if I'm honest. I'm looking forward to helping though." He looks between Navi and Thaarin and then shrugs, nodding his head, "Don't worry. I won't flatter you. When people are usually described as being tall, smart, and handsome, I immediately jump to the conclusion that they kick puppies." With a thumb over his shoulder, he adds, "I'm going to put away my stuff." Chad disappears into the room, a moment of silence coming from the room before his voice can be heard, "It stinks like sex in here." He pokes his head out for a moment, nodding to Navi, "I'm not hating the idea of just living outside. It would not be the first time." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Okay, perhaps it had been too much to hope that Vons would've cleaned up the room at least a little bit at some point since the last time he'd looked in here. He glances at Chad apologetically, and starts using the Force to sweep the various items on the lower bunk off onto the floor and shove them under the bed. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin just gives Navi a fond look, but doesn't respond, as Chad is being escorted to his quarters. He sighs quietly and looks mildly embarrassed when the young Antarian Ranger sees that there's literally no room for him in Von's room. "No, that won't do," he says, "thankfully, we do have someone around here who can make quick work of a mess," he says nodding as Cayde uses the Force to shove aside a large majority of the clutter. 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne smiles and shakes his head, "It's really alright. I spent three weeks operating out of a field of particularly well-trained Reek. This won't be a problem." As he exits the room after setting his duffel bag on the top bunk, Chad exists room and takes a deep breath. He reaches over to the control for the door, jaming it open to allow the room to air out. He then turns, nodding to Cayde, "Thank you." He then looks around, "Think you can show me the valley we're going to meet Master Rykard in?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Sure enough, Cayde manages to move most of the clutter either under the bed or into closet or drawers.     It's still messy, but at least it's a bit less...gross. [Better now] he signs. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin shakes his head. "It's not about that," he says politely, "you didn't choose to be here, yet you're here willingly and we should treat you with honor and respect. Even if you don't mind less luxurious living quarters, doesn't mean we should make you endure them, again." He smiles faintly at Cayde, and turning to the young padawan, he says gently, "Bayne is asking you if you could show him to where Rykard would like to meet?" 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne shakes his head, "Never-the-less, I'm not fancy, but thank you." He then turns, looking back towards Cayde and signing comfortably, "[Thank you, and what he said. I'd like to go to the valley. Master said to meet him on the ridge?]" The last sign is given with a questioning look on his face, indicating that perhaps he doesn't know which ridge he's referring to. He then asks another question of Cayde, "[How do you sign Master's name?]" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Yes, the valley...Cayde nods, and begins to spell out Master Asteros Rykard's title and name in Basic letter sign. It's not really the 'right' answer as in it's not how -he- usually does it, but since Rykard is still just an acquaintance to Chad, perhaps that level of familiarity isn't yet appropriate.     Then he starts heading back out toward the valley, where Rykard had requested they meet him. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin smiles faintly again, escorting the two of them as they head for the door, presumably off to meet Master Rykard. The tall blue alien rests a hand on Chad's arm gently, pulling him back for a very brief moment. "Cayde isn't terribly verbal," he says softly, "communication can be difficult for him, and socially, he struggles. What you did today was very thoughtful. Thank you." He fixes Chad with his unforgettably penetrating scarlet gaze, his expression genuine. "You two will get along well, I should think. And may the Force be with you as you face whatever awaits in the valley." 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne nods to Thaarin, "I gathered as much when he was signing earlier. It's fine. Rangers are trained to meet Jedi where they are at, so if there's a communication issue, we'll solve it. Besides..." He trails off, lifting and lowering his shoulders, "Something tells me I'll be verbal enough for the both of us." He then nods his head gravely, "Thank you, Thaarin. May the Force be with you." He quickly catches up with Cayde on the way to the valley, first drawing the pistol on his right hip and checking the charge as they go. He follows with the one on his left him, nodding his head and returning it as well. Once both pistols are holstered, he signs, "[Good. I didn't shoot anyone on the way here.]" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Wish I could make that happen," Navi observes, watching Cayde bring the mess down from 'nasty nerf pen' to merely 'sloppy'. "If I can get a spoon to quiver, I'm doing pretty good, but I keep trying." She falls in behind Cayde and Chad. "Thaarin's got the right of it. The only excuse I can think of is that Vons had no warning about your coming. Which isn't impossible. Just unlikely," she says, shrugging and stifling a chuckle at Chad's signed message to Cayde. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde watches Chad check the blasters, and then make a comment about not having shot anyone already on the way. However, he doesn't seem to understand what exactly was meant, or if it was intended to be a joke of some kind. There is also the fact that he is rather troubled about this entire situation...     He looks ahead again, and quickens his pace down toward the valley. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin inclines his head slightly. "I appreciate that," he says, "and even if Cayde doesn't say it, he will, too." The three of them probably won't take long to get to the ridge. But when they arrive, they won't find Rykard there. Instead, they'll espy the small, robed, Jawa like creature they'd rescued from Ilum standing on the ridge staring out at the valley below. They don't turn around when the trio arrives, but all three of them will feel an impression in the Force - a forewarning, some kind of discomfiting premonition about the current state of things. They urge them to reach out into the Force, sense it. Something was not right... 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne shakes his head to Navi with a smile, "There's no way he could have known I was coming. Master Rykar said stay with Cayde until Cayde said no way, stay with Von." He then looks to Cayde and signs, "[What I had to smell today was all your fault.]" When they arrive at the ridge, even Chad is put off by what they see, hear, and feel. Tilting his head, he narrows his eyes and comments, "I've got a bad feeling about this." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [I am sorry] he signs when Chad mentions the terrible smells in Vons' room, and he seems genuinely remorseful about it.     But then there is that immense foreboding. Where is Master Rykard? He begins to search for his master's presence, although he is also just beginning to question whether he should really be here or not. If Mal is the source of the problem, he doubts his presence will do anything but make things worse. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Hey, it's Little Guy. Been a while since I've seen him... is he a him? I never have been able to tell," Navi observes, pointing out the diminutive alien. "He doesn't speak, either, but he can do some general gestures and such, and telepathically he communicates through impressions. We have no idea what his name is, so I just call him Little Guy," she explains. She reaches out through the Force... and gets several impressions at once. "I think Mal is very far away at the moment. But there's some kind of disturbance in the Force, too... a general bad feeling. Pretty intense." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Cayde thankfully will be able to tell that Rykard is near, and approaching. But that sense of foreboding lingers. The small robed alien is right - there is some kind of aura of dark side energy seeming to cover the ridge, and the valley. Everything feels ... eerie. Off, in a way that none of them can really explain. A few moments later, Rykard returns, his brows furrowed. "The firehawks that usually are willing to carry us down into the Gorge won't come today," he says, brows knitted together. "I wonder how Master Windu and Master Yutelli fared," he murmurs, "something feels... wrong." Suddenly the little robed alien tugs on Navi's sleeve, and starts dragging her towards the upper part of the ridge, urgently. If Navi and the others follow, they will see something that may send chills down their spine. In the distance, in the deepest part of the Gorge, they'll be able to see a bright beam of phosphorescent green light ascending into the clouds like some kind of light-forsaken beacon. Strange black silhouettes of flying... somethings circle it ominously. The small robed alien points to it, and that uncomfortable premonition in the Force will return again. "Light save us all..." Rykard mutters. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "No idea, but this whole place feels off. Very off," Navi observes worriedly. "I'm not sure why, but-... hey!" she squeaks as Little Guy starts pulling on her sleeve. "Don't pull my clothes off, huh? I'm coming!" she protests, more softly, following the Jawa-like alien up the ridge. At the top, she freezes, staring into the horrific spectacle of the green light shaft piercing the clouds, surrounded by bizarre flying creatures. "Oh, my... geez... is that the /vergence/? Did Mal cause that?" she asks, her eyes even wider than when she'd been faced with the spectacle of Vons' room. "I think we have a /real/ problem, Master... this may be the unfortunate event the Marauders may be waiting for. The thing they think will destroy the colony." 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne follows the Jawa and Navi to the upper part of the ridge as well, his eyes out and scanning as they reach the apex of their climb. He takes a look around at the others, reaching up to scratch at his cheek as he wonders what to do. Finally, he points off in that general direction, "I found them. I've only been on the case for an hour. Damn, I'm good." He drops his hand, his brow knitting together as he looks back to the beacon, "Do we have speeder bikes?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     One look at that glowing green light and Cayde turns around and starts heading straight back out of the valley. That told him all he needed to know. Mal had lost it, and he was the last person she needed to see or even be -aware- of. He was the source of her problems, not the solution to them... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Rykard shakes his head. "We have speeders, but they will not work on the terrain in the Gorge. It's too rocky, uneven, and angled." "We may be able to take a small vessel -- though it will be dangerous since there's no guarantee that there's even space in that area for it to land safely. The Gorge is dangerous -- terrain-wise and ... in other respects," the elder Master says. He grabs Cayde's arm gently. <Cayde, you -must- face her. The solution is not to avoid the conflict and hope it goes away. You must reconcile with her and explain to her that you still care for her, only attachment is forbidden, and why> "Come," he says to the others, "we must find a reliable and courageous pilot, and a vessel." Then he starts heading back towards the colony site. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I guess we need a /very small/ ship... like a small shuttle. We don't have any fighters, and none of them would fit all of us anyway. I don't know if we have an airspeeder that could hold all of us, either," Navi muses. She gives Master Rykard a grateful look when the Master grabs Cayde's arm before the Padawan can abscond. "Good catch, Master. Ann would be proud." 

:'''{{#var:440|Chad Bayne (440)}} has posed:''' Chad Bayne turns away from the ridge, seeing all he has needed to see, and quickly catches up to the Padawan and Master. As he talks, he signs what he is saying, "[Maybe we can get a ship to hover on antigrav, and descend in via rope, or Jedi telekinesis.]" He then quickly shakes his head, "[We have the shuttle I came here on, but I'm not the pilot to accomplish this.]" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "We'd better hope the grumpy Ugnaught twins are on-world," Navi observes worriedly. "They're very good pilots, even if the more skilled brother's not much for making friends." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <But...Gael...> Cayde protests, remembering how infuriated her older sister had been and how she had warned him to steer clear of Mal. He'd only barely managed to avoid an actual fight that time, and is doubtful he'd be as fortunate a second time.     A sigh. <...yes, Master> he responds, although he hasn't the slightest idea how to even begin to explain any of that to her.     [There are others do not worry] he replies to Chad, doing his best to appear calm. 
}}

The Suspect's Family

2025-07-03T05:44:15Z

Sindt:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-06-15
|Synopsis=The group looks for Hedicole and Weniscio, and instead run into the Chadra Fan's family during dinner.
|Cast of Characters=159, 143, 381, 261
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' A few days have passed since Weniscio's failed interrogation, and one thing that will be made abundantly clear to the group is how absent Hedicole has been. Vons had reported that he'd convinced the Chadra Fan to return to Tenoo, but no one would have seen him since. Yet, there was evidence that he'd come back -- his family is still here, and it had been reported by the dining hall staff they'd attempted to take extra portions for him. They couldn't allow this - in the time that they'd been gone on Ilum, a new rations policy had been implemented. No one could take more than their own share, and if they could not report in for meal times, they'd have to let the kitchen staff know at least thirty minutes in advance. This was because many of the colonists had been caught hoarding food, resulting in internal conflict over limited rations. Because of Hedicole's avoidance of them, their attempts to jointly interrogate both the Dug and the Chadra Fan have been foiled multiple times over the past seventy two hours. The new plan was to start vigilantly policing the dining hall as much as possible - the Chadra Fan would have to visit the kitchen at some point to receive food, eventually. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Joint interrogation, policing the dining hall...Cayde is beginning to think maybe it would be better to just take a trip into Weniscio's head, whether he likes it or not. After all this concerned a very important matter... 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike is using his surveillance time productively by having a light meal: coffee and pastry. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Unfortunately, the Dug has utilized a different method to make himself scarce - mingling with crowds, and then disappearing at the right time. This will make it rather difficult to hunt him down, or get a clear read on his thoughts. Consequently, dinnertime is approaching, and an impatient and hungry group of colonists have gathered outside the dining hall, waiting for the buffet to open. Naturally, the drink and snack station is open, which is where the Zeltron private investigator will catch Pike having refreshments. "Really?" he remarks sardonically at the elderly Master Jedi. "Why do the Jedi always act like nothing is ever a big deal, even if someone gets their arm cut off or something?" Pike may find the insult hypocritical - the Zeltron man is carrying a half drank can of some kind of energy drink. He looks around, frowning. "Where's the kid? Shouldn't Rykard have him on a psychic leash, or something?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Well, he has to sleep at some point. And eat, of course. Given the new food rationing policies, he either has to show up, or have previously made some other arrangement.     Cayde is waiting in a back corner of the dining hall, searching for either Hedicole or Weniscio's mental presence. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "I'm hungry," Pike replies with total nonchalance. The Jedi Master takes another bite and chews noisily to emphasize the point. Then he drains his coffee to wash it down. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Cayde won't be able to detect Hedicole. He must not have been here -- yet. Or he plans to show up later, after everyone's left. The Dug, however, Cayde might not even need the Force to find him - he's outside with the rest of the colonists - thought he's making a point to stand behind a really tall Gloovan. Vons will spot him briefly. He'll grab Pike's arm while he's in the middle of draining his caf, perhaps causing him to spill. "There's our guy..." he whispers, pointing discreetly. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde approaches the Dug. Standing behind that Gloovan doesn't really do Weniscio much good, it seems. The young Jedi doesn't try to sneak up on him or anything, but just taps him lightly on the shoulder in the case that he doesn't see him immediately. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Patience, friend." If Pike is annoyed by the wet spot on his great coat, it doesn't show. "Let events take their course," 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Tell that to me while someone's actively dying," The private investigator grumbles, attempting to push the elderly Jedi along. "Heads up, the kid is already in over his head, literally. We should probably keep an eye on him before he scares the Dug off--" The Dug doesn't seem pleased to see the young padawan. "Not -you- again!" he cries, and suddenly disappears around the corner. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde reaches into the Force, attempting to slow Weniscio's movement and enter his mind. Not to go digging yet, but to remind the Dug man of the fact that he knows what was said earlier was a lie or not the full truth and that the truth was going to come out one way or another...freely given, or taken.     Oh, and...listen, he tried to be nice, all right? That, he did try. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Yes, the padawan has forced our hand. Now we must trust in the Force." Pike reaches out with the Force while slipping another flaky, buttery pastry into a pocket. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Weniscio screams audibly, tripping. "Nooo!!" He doubles over and collapses, curling up into a ball. "He's --he's hurting me...someone help... please..." This attracts unwanted attention, although it will be glaringly obvious to Cayde that it's an act, Cayde is not actually hurting him. But several of the colonists are coming over now, to investigate the now whimpering Dug who is hugging himself as if being subjected to some kind of unseen torture. They seem worried and frightened. One of them says to Cayde, "Is this really necessary?" Someone else murmurs, "this seems cruel and unusual...." By the time Vons and Pike arrive, a small crowd has gathered, and among those present is Thaarin. "Oh, great," Vons mutters. But when Windu arrives on the scene, the Dug calms considerably. "I don't want that kid anywhere near me," he mumbles. "The other guy is fine. He's fine. He's a doctor, right?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde doesn't notice any murmuring. When someone asks him if it's necessary, he only seems vaguely aware, and just shrugs in response as he doesn't know what they're talking about.     Since he has given Weniscio one last chance to cooperate, he then proceeds to attempt to extract the truth about Dresda's death from him. At least everything he knows. No, he hasn't hurt the Dug yet, but should he continue to fight...then it might hurt... 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Yes, a healer. Why don't we go inside, calmly, and talk over your meal. No one will harm you. I am Master Pike Windu. You have my word." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Dug does actively try to resist, but Cayde will find himself getting interrupted again, this time a bit more prominently. It's Thaarin, shaking his shoulder gently. "Cayde," he says, softly, "why don't you let Pike and Vons take over with Weniscio? I've found Hedicole's family, they might have useful information to share about him, or where he is right now." Vons expression sours, and he mutters, "... since when were you in charge," he grumbles. Thaarin is about to comment, but at that moment, Master Rykard appears, glancing around at the uneasy crowd. "I think that makes sense," he says, "come, Cayde, we'll speak with the Chadra Fan's wife and children." Wensicio looks up at Windu, uneasily. "I don't wanna go inside," he whines. "I don't wanna go inside. Can we stay outside?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [...yes Master] Cayde signs, although he suddenly looks dejected for some reason. Disappointed in himself, maybe. Speaking to Hedicole's family is something other people would also be far better at than him... 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "If you will speak to Von and me outside, certainly." Pike attempts to produce an aura of trust. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Don't be upset," Thaarin says softly, patting Cayde on the shoulder gently after they've gone away from the crowd outside. "I believe it's mostly a misunderstanding that can't be easily remediated." Rykard nods. "Weniscio's behavior is .... troubling. We cannot prove to the colonists that you were in fact, not harming him at all. It would be his word against yours, and in cases like this, often the onlookers side with the victim, not the supposed attacker. It is an unfair and manipulative tactic, and you must be careful around him, Cayde." Windu's projected aura of trust only seems to calm the Dug minimally. "Fine," the Dug says, "fine. But I don't wanna do it here. I wanna.... I wanna go out by the lake," he says, "I'll... I'll feel better there." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods and follows them, although his expression remains downcast. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike shoots a wary look at Von, but smiles at the Dug. "Of course, wherever you will comfortable talking freely." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "You didn't do anything wrong," Thaarin says softly, hugging the young padawan briefly before they head inside the dining hall. "And I'm sure you'll fare better talking to the Chadra Fan family." "N-" Vons opens his mouth to protest. "What is with you guys and just taking control of a situation without consulting allied parties?" he grumble whispers, grabbing Pike by his cloak and pulling him aside. "Listen, if we take him out there, as soon as visibility gets bad, he's gonna scram...!" Weniscio groans. "I can hear you, stupid!" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Better than him and Rykard, though? Probably not. So what use was it?     [I know] he signs, after Thaarin says he didn't do anything wrong. But that's all the response the young officer will get. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike sage nods at Von's concern. The Jedi Master looks at the Dug. "Will you submit to being cuffed to me?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin frowns slightly, looking mildly concerned. "We could try looking for the nesting grounds of those birds again after this, if you like," he says to Cayde. "Would that make you feel better?" Cayde might not get the chance to respond, though, as they're entering the dining hall now, and the buffet has opened, allowing the hungry colonists to swarm in and form a bustling crowd. "Ah--" The Dug opens his mouth to protest, but Vons, somehow, had a pair of cuffs on him this entire time and has already secured him to Pike's wrist before he can say a single word. "You still wanna go to the lake, or nah?" He says, a bit threateningly. The Dug whimpers. "I... I guess.." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' By chance, or perhaps the Force, Navi was in line for the evening meal when Wenisicio had fled Cayde, and had arrived only moments before the Dug had started wailing about being hurt by Cayde. Unable to intervene immediately due to the crowd, she'd watched the incident play out. It's only when Master Windu and Vons take charge of the Dug that she is able to free herself from the crowd and join them. But she hadn't been idle when Wenisicio had been throwing his threadbare 'security brutality!'-style fit. She'd probed into his thoughts. It was a hasty effort (hindered by the Dug's thick skull, no doubt), but it was enough to glean that he was faking any injury from Cayde's telepathic sifting. And that he was afraid, although it was less clear as to just what he was afraid of. It's not like he hasn't already committed at least one crime, proof or no proof. She jogs after Master Windu and Vons, smirking briefly as Vons cuffs Pike and Wenisicio together. "You know, if you wear dura-alloy foil on your head, it will shield you from telepathic probes," she suggests to the Dug. "Just make sure to wear it with the shiny side out." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [I am fine] Cayde tells Thaarin, even though he's not. As they enter the crowded dining hall, he frowns a bit, trying to keep from being overwhelmed by the sea of minds. What was he doing here, again? Why would Thaarin and Rykard need his help with this? 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike takes the Dug's hand to take the edge off as they walk. "We have some questions for you. Please cooperate and there will be no trouble." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue alien knows better than to take the young padawan at his word, but there's nothing he can do about it for now, as they head into the crowded dining hall. He lets out a quiet sigh and follows Master Rykard and Cayde inside. Cayde might be reminded of the task at hand when he sees Hedicole's wife and his three boys heading for the buffet line. Rykard glances and at Cayde and nudges him in the Force. Oh, his Master actually wanted him to take point for the task at hand. The Dug looks utterly befuddled when Pike takes his hand, and then bitter when Navi tells him putting dura-alloy foil would ward off telepathic probes. "And you're only telling me this now?!" he grumbles. "We really only have one question for you," Vons says, "and it's less a question and more of a very strong suggestion - like the Jedi said, 'cooperate', please. We need you and Hedicole in the same place, same time." He starts heading for the lake, and presumably Pike follows. Navi might be about to go with Vons and Windu when all of a sudden, she finds herself being tackled by a familiar teenaged Chadra Fan girl. "BOO!" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Even though he's probably much worse at this and will likely end up just doing the same thing he did to Weniscio. But Cayde sighs and follows Hedicole's family into the buffet line. He picks up a plate as everyone else is doing, but doesn't find any of the food very appetizing-looking... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I hadn't realized you were at so much risk from a thought probe. If you twist the top into a point, it will allow you to wear it without having to tear a standard sheet down from its usual length, but you may have to fold the corners up underneath," Navi adds, quite seriously. She has no time to say more, because she's suddenly wearing a Chadra Fan on her back! "Oof!" she grunts, staggering a step forward under the impact, but managing to keep her feet. "Peeka! You shouldn't sneak up on people like that!" she scolds her, though she can't keep back a few giggles. "Don't tell me you're skipping dinner." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike strolls along with the others, apparenty carefree. He takes the pastry from his pocket and offers it to the Dug. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Pa'lowick woman manning the buffet peers at Cayde through her horn rimmed spectacles. "Okay, here we go again," she says with a sigh, "what -don't- you want on your plate," she says, grumbling slightly. Weniscio is not listening to Navi anymore, but that might be for his own benefit. When Pike offers him the pastry, he scowls. "How I am supposed to know that isn't some kind of drug?!" he says. Vons rolls his eyes. "No," Peeka says, "I just didn't see you for a long time, so I was wondering if you were gonna say hi to me like every normal, good friend should," she says cheekily. "You have to come sit with my family, and my new best friends. I was pretty busy while you were gone, yeah." "Anyway, the other thing I wanted to ask you about was like, what happened at the nightclub? I know my dad was there too, but I heard sooo many things about you." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike shrugs and then takes a bite. "The colony does have excellent food. Fresh and well prepared. If you don't mind a limited menu. I remember out on the Rim..." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Here, come down off my back so I can hug you properly," Navi directs gently. "It's good to see you're making friends way out here. And you're right, I probably should've come by to check on you all more often than I did after your father disappeared. Between catching up on my duties with the medical admin and looking into that accident that happened while we were gone, I feel like I haven't had a spare minute." She can't help wincing faintly at the mention of the nightclub. "That's its own story... it started out with looking for your father to talk to him about the accident, but that's sure not where it ended," she says, a bit wearily. "I'm just glad your father's safe and sound." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde eyes the various dishes...but honestly, none of them look appetizing even after examining them for several seconds. In fact, the more he looks at them the less enticing they seem. So he starts pointing at various items, but it may be confusing as it seems he has pointed toward everything at some point. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Both Vons and Dug cringe outwardly and grumble as Pike starts giving an anecdote about food in the Outer Rim. "Okay if you seriously think the food here is good you need help," Vons says. "But we didn't come out here to talk galactic cuisine. I want you to tell us about the gangs you were involved with on Jedha. And no more lies, no more games." He glances at Pike. "I'm gonna need your help with this." The tiny Chadra Fan girl obeys, allowing Navi to hug her properly. She rolls her eyes. "I don't need babysitting, or watching over. I'm not a baby," she says. "I just wanted you to say hi, that's all." "Okay, so are you going to tell me about it," she says, grabbing Navi's hand and dragging her towards the dining hall. "I heard you kissed my future boyfriend, and because of that, you have a new girlfriend, now. The mean lady, Xera or whatever. Not judging or anything. She's rich, I guess. Can't blame you for looking out for yourself like that, even if that's kind of like, not cool? But it's fine. Anyway, there was some bad guys there too I heard, and they were trying to go after my dad, too. Did the Jedi kill them all?" The Pa'lowick woman sighs, and just starts randomly selecting food and putting it on a plate. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike looks at the Dug in all seriousness now. "Answer his questions truthfully, please. Because I will know if you don't." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde accepts it, although he doesn't really plan on eating much of it. Okay, he'll at least try it. But he looks to see where Hedicole's wife is headed to sit down. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi hugs Peeka properly, kissing her cheek before letting her go. "Given the rationing issues lately, it will be easier to say hi to you and yours. It's probably the one good thing about it. Otherwise, it hints that the colony is in trouble, and trying to catch the meal windows and still get everything done is a real pain, especially since I do my best work when I can roll up my sleeves and go to it for a long while. Having to jump up and run to the mess tent at the right times just gets in the way." Rising as Peeka takes her in tow, another thing she's gotten familiar with, Navi follows Peeka into the chow line. "Again, long story. Thaarin invited me to share a drink with him. I don't think he was aware of just how strong the drinks were, because he had several. I had maybe two, and almost put myself to sleep with them. But I woke up quick when he kissed me. You'll be happy to know that he's an amazing kisser, so you have that to look forward to in a few years, Force willing." "And then I guess the drinks caught up with him like a repulsortrain, because he got sick and had to run for the refreshers. I didn't have time to go after him, because some of the thugs the club had for security were in a fight with Master Windu, Cayde, and Vons. So I had to shake off the dizzies and run help them. I don't think more than a few of the thugs got killed, but Vons was able to find your father and get him home safely, or so I heard," she continues. "Speaking of, how is he these days. I keep hearing that he pretty much hasn't been out of your tent since Vons brought him home." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Dug swallows uncomfortably and mutters something under his breath in Huttese about Navi's stupid advice being too late. "I mean I'm not in any of those gangs," he says, "I swear!" He holds his hands up. "I'm not lying," He says when Vons narrows his eyes at him. "You can do your stupid space monk magic or whatever, I'm really not. I just owe some of their guys some credits, that's all." Cayde will easily be able to find Hedicole's family in the far left corner of the dining hall, the wife trying to settle the three boys down, without much luck. Thaarin and Rykard are in tow, but the elder Ikkrukki keeps his distance as to not draw too much attention for now. Thaarin sits down next to Cayde, but his brows are knitted together. Something seems to be bothering him, and Cayde might notice that some of the female colonists are watching him, giving him disappointed looks. "It's fiiine," Peeka says waving a hand, "Okay so I never thought you were the kind of person to get drunk and then make out with the hottest guy from our colony in a nightclub offworld. I thought all the Shining Brotherhood girls were like, prudish and conservative. You should have told me! I love a good party." "Anyway, literally everyone and their mom is talking about how you're a credit digger and a user, or something. Probably just jealous. And hey, if that's how you snag a rich SO, why not?" "I'm not really supposed to tell you about my dad. Like, we have to beg the lunch lady for seconds just so he can eat, but she's getting tired of our begging. He's probably coming tonight, like later." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde makes his way over to their table, motioning toward an empty seat. [Join you] he asks, glancing at Thaarin. Something seems to be bothering the young man, but he isn't sure what exactly. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Some? Don't be modest. I assume you owe more than you can pay back. I wouldn't be surprised if you have a death mark. Do you?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi shakes her head. "I didn't use Thaarin... he asked me to have a drink with him. I was one of the ones who helped save his life and tried to save the life of his late brother. We have worked together closely since before we arrived back on the colony, and I didn't think for a second things would go so far," she says softly. "Even if I had, I doubt I would've turned him down. It might have wounded him emotionally. Anyway, I doubt he thought things would go so far, either." She points out a handful of items to the counter lady, avoiding anything fish-based, as she and Peeka reach the hot line. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Hedicole's wife looks up when Cayde comes over. "Oh, hello," she says with a smile. "You're Master Rykard's padawan. Of course you may join us. My name is Rinah. These are my boys, Petro, Padhi, and Pitri." "I mean, I guess I believe you. But even if I didn't, I don't actually think that what you did was bad. Like, you got what you wanted, right? Hot, rich girlfriend and the guy you smooched doesn't seem depressed about what happened." The Pa'lowick arches a brow at Navi when she reaches the hot dinner line. "You sure get around, don't you," she scoffs, and starts heaping things onto the Sephi girl's plate. While she's doing this, Navi might notice that she's drawing... looks. Some of them judgmental, others annoyed, some even downright piercing and angry. It might occur to her that the attache had gone and told some people, only light knows how many. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde puts on a grateful smile and sits down with her and her kids, and Thaarin. [Thank you] he signs, nodding. He follows up with [Good to meet you all] once she introduces her children.     The plate full of unappetizing food is set down, but he doesn't seem interested in it. Okay, he plucked a few pieces from every type of dish, but that is about it.     He turns to Thaarin. [Everything all right] he asks. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi scowls faintly as she notices the looks. "I guess that puts me klicks ahead of the fish course. Remind me to never try to help anyone ever again," she observes to the Pa'lowick, and doesn't bother to explain herself, taking her plate and moving to join Peeka and her family. "Hello, everyone," she says to Peeka and her family, Cayde, and Thaarin. And, to a lesser extent, Master Rykard, since he's further away. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Very nice to meet you as well, Cayde, is it?" Rinah says. She notices him picking at his food. "What's the matter?" she asks, "does the colony food not sit well with you?" "Hi," one of the boys says, "aren't you like, one of Navi's million boyfriends?" The others burst into giggles, and the mother scolds them. "Sorry about that," she says. "I'm .. alright," Thaarin says, but he's observing the looks everyone is also giving Navi, and the young Sephi girl will come to sit down at the table just as Pitri asks Cayde if he's one of Navi's many boyfriends. The other boys wave to Navi in greeting, and poke Peeka when she comes over. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods when Rinah confirms his name. He looks down at the food when she asks if it doesn't sit well with him. [It does not] he replies, shaking his head. The padawan has become rather wary of any food prepared from local ingredients, as he has become ill from them on several occasions.     When one of the boys asks him about being one of Navi's 'boyfriends', in fact, just as she walks up, he flushes and his face immediately reddens. Why would they say that? 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "He's not my boyfriend," Navi sighs wearily, rolling her eyes, wondering if she actually cares if they believe her or not. She doubts they will. Chadra Fan whims are stubborn things, it seems, and she's growing weary of trying to change their minds. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "You haven't tried asking the kitchen for more specialized meals?" Rinah asks. "I could ask for you, actually." Thankfully she hasn't noticed Navi yet, since the Sephi girl seems to be one of her least favorite people. "Well, why not?" Pitri asks petulantly, but one of the other boys tells him to shut up and sit down. He finally relents and goes back to his seat, content to feast on the extra dessert helping he'd managed to sneak. Thaarin, noticing that Cayde has turned bright red, decides it's time for a subject change. He introduces himself to Rinah and the boys, and then casually asks, "Is this your whole family?" Then he nudges Cayde under the table. Oh, right, they were supposed to ask about Hedicole. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde shakes his head. He wouldn't know what to ask for, as he is not familiar with the local cuisine. There seems to be a small set of local things he's able to eat without having some kind of bad reaction, but he's not even sure what they are himself, exactly. [Do not worry] he tells her.     He turns to Thaarin when the young officer asks if this is Rinah's entire family, then looks back to her expectantly. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "How is your father, by the way?" Navi asks Pitri. "I haven't seen him since Vons brought him home, and Peeka tells me he's not taking meals at the sanctioned times." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Are you sure?" Rinah asks gently. But then Thaarin cuts in politely, introduces himself and asks about their entire family. "Well--" She begins. But then she notices Navi there and looks indignant. "Oh not you, -again-!" she grumbles. Thaarin sighs quietly, arching a brow at Cayde. He was supposed to ask about Hedicole. Oh well. "Mm," Pitri says, "he said the Jedi are trying to arrest him for stuff that wasn't his fault," he says with a shrug, and his mother gasps. "So that's why he's not here right now." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods at Rinah. It would be too complicated, really. He doesn't know what he needs, and probably wouldn't know how to explain it even if he did.     His brows go up at Pitri's claims. [Not arrest him...trying to help] he insists. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "The Jedi aren't trying to arrest him. They want to talk to him about the accident." Navi tries to clarify. "The Republic security chief might be trying to arrest him, but that's not clear right now. But the Jedi are trying to find out everything that happened in the accident, who was involved, and if there is a greater plot against the colony initiative and the colonists." She rolls her eyes at Rinah. "Yes, me again... wicked, naughty Navi, who's been so wicked and naughty as to try to help and protect your family at least twice," she retorts sardonically. "But let's not talk about /that/... I'm sure the rumormill's /much/ more interesting and factual." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Rinah grumbles, but doesn't answer Navi. Instead, she looks to Cayde. "What do you need from my husband?" she asks a bit anxiously. "Last I heard, you two didn't part on very good terms." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde glances at Navi when Rinah asks what he wants with Hedicole, nodding. Yes, just to learn what he knows. [To help him] he adds. Well...he had already helped him. [...to help him more] If there was some kind of sinister plot against the colony too, that would hurt everyone, wouldn't it? Him and his family included.     He arches a brow at Rinah. Not the best of terms? Did Hedicole so graciously leave out the fact that he saved him from slavers? [I saved him] he points out. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi lets the subject with Rinah drop as soon as Rinah apparently does, working toward more pressing matters. "That's not unusual with Cayde. His enthusiasm and eagerness to help are known to outrun his interpersonal skills, but he never wants to hurt anyone, and he only acts with the best of intentions. He also saved your husband from unknowingly completing a contract with sentient traffickers that would have seen your whole family taken and sold into slavery under the pretense of transporting all of you off Tenoo. He deserves all of your thanks for that alone," she adds. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I think you need to be a bit more specific," Thaarin says to Cayde, nodding at the young padawan. "Oh," Rinah says softly. "I see. Slavers..." she becomes slightly emotional. "I had no idea. He never said anything about that after he returned from Vuundalla." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Hmph, of course he didn't...how convenient that he left out that -little- detail. Cayde can't help but feel a bit unappreciated. No, no they didn't save him, they were trying to -arrest- him?     [Does he always lie] he asks. He glances at Thaarin momentarily, pausing for a moment. [...he should come here...tell us himself] 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Cayde, your telepathic abilities run well beyond your ability to fully control them," Navi adds softly, in both explanation and in some defense of Hedicole. "The effects of your telepathy upon your targets aren't always pleasant or fully understood, especially when they realize what you're doing. You can do truly amazing things, but you still need more training and discipline to fully control them." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Well, no," Rinah says, "but he does often leave things out, or tell us we just can't know because it's for our own good," she says, dropping her gaze sadly. "Lately he's been even more cryptic. He wouldn't say why he was going to Vuundalla, only that it was to protect from some great danger." Thaarin nods. "We aren't trying corner your husband," the tall blue alien tells her. "We just want the whole truth, and not just from him, either. We'd like to jointly interrogate both him and Weniscio. Is that something he'd be willing to do?" Rinah sighs. "I'll talk to him. Where should he meet you?" Thaarin glances at Navi, "Do you know where Pike and Vons went?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I think they were headed toward the lake," Navi replies. "Vons had cuffed Wenisicio to Master Windu so he couldn't run away, since he has the habit of making himself so scarce when people try to question him." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Navi's words only seem to frustrate him further. [Then what can I do] he asks. Really, he'd tried not using it. Has been trying to do that, just approaching people normally and all, but that seemed to be even less effective. They just ignore him. What did he have to do to prove to them that he isn't out to get them, if saving them from certain death or slavery didn't cut it?     He actually seems relieved when Thaarin just goes ahead and says what needed to be said. What had been the point of wasting all this time anyway? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "The lake, then," Thaarin says, nodding at Navi, "Hopefully he'll be agreeable to that. Thank you, Rinah, it was wonderful meeting you and your boys." The tall blue alien gives Cayde a faint and compassionate smile and he squeezes his shoulder gently and affectionately. "You can get better Cayde," he says softly. "And you will. I believe in you." At that moment, Navi will catch sight of several young girls passing their table. They giggle softly when they see Thaarin, but their expressions harden upon seeing Navi. Tailing the group is Xera's attache, but she won't look Navi in the eye. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "You've gotten a shaky reputation, Cayde, at least around here. That's not the kind of thing that just goes away," Navi replies gently. "Doing something important or heroic is known to help a lot, but that's also not the kind of thing that just happens. But you have many friends, including Thaarin and myself, and we'll help you however we can. Thaarin's not the only one who believes in you." She glances up just in time to see the gaggle of girls passing, including the attache. The girl's hastily dropped gaze tells her much of what she needs to know. "I have a feeling I'm going to have to talk to that woman later," she observes softly. "She seems to have quite a crush on Thaarin, but if she's as much of a gossip as she seems to me, I can see why it's unrequited." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [Thank you] Cayde replies to both Navi and Thaarin, although his spirits don't appear to have been lifted much. No one had actually answered the question...of course not, because there wasn't one, was there?     But he tries to just put on a polite face anyway, and looks back to Rinah. [Pleasure meeting your family] he signs to her, before starting to get up from the table and take his mostly full plate with him to dump the uneaten food. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' One of the girls breaks off from the group to approach Navi. She's smiling, but it's in an unpleasant fashion. "Well, you look boring today," she says, "kind of odd, considering you're dating the richest woman in this sector of space." She folds her arms. "I would have thought you would have already asked for a dress made with the finest fabrics from Ghorman or at least a silver Chadrilan choker to commemorate you two becoming... official." "Of course," Rinah says, "it was a pleasure to meet you as well, Cayde. I could try to find some other types of food from in town that you might like - if the kitchen staff spare me the budget... Really, you're too skinny..." The Chadra Fan boys clamber all over Cayde. "Hey wait, our dad will probably wanna eat that. And if he doesn't, Peeka will! She's so fat." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh...well, he supposed, then.     Cayde shrugs and sets the mostly uneaten food back down on the table.     He arches a brow at Rinah, when she really seems keen on helping him find food he can eat. [Okay...you can try] he finally relents. [But I do not know where to start] he admits. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi doesn't miss that insincere smile from the approaching mean girl. "Well, hello there. I see you've been to the vicious gossip well," she replies, nonchalant in her sarcasm. "Tell me, is it the dress you crave most, or the choker? I don't recall you and your friends saying Word One to me after I returned from helping rescue Thaarin and his late brother from a crashed and sinking starship back on Ilum... so the potential of pretty clothes and sparkling jewelry have got to be what's drawn you over here." "Just give them the plate, Cayde," she advises softly. "They'll stop climbing on you then. And Peeka's not fat." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The girl laughs, amused. "Oh, Avi didn't tell me that you liked to brag. How funny you are, showing off as if you're some kind of hero. We all know what you did," she says. "I mean, we'd all like to be rich, but I suppose you don't worry too much about how to become that way, while the rest of us do, given we're decent, -moral- people." She knocks a cup of half drank juice over, perhaps into Navi's lap if she doesn't get out of the way quick! Rina smiles. "It's alright. I'll speak with the doctor." Pitri immediately starts devouring the food despite his siblings scolding him and telling him not to. He points at Cayde. "Hey. I like you. We should be friends and do something fun together, sometime." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [Thank you] Cayde signs to Rinah, nodding.     The cup falls, but it stops in midair inches above Navi's lap. It hangs there for a second, and then moves back to where it was, setting itself back down gently. Cayde doesn't approve of Navi getting involved with Xera either, and he'd intended to take care of that earlier, but Xera hadn't been available. Still, these girls needed to leave her alone. Once the cup is handled, he simply inserts himself between them and her. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi stands hastily to avoid the spill, but can't help staring as Cayde takes care of that particular problem most impressively. "Thank you, Cayde," she says softly, nodding to the Padawan. "Decent, moral, and painfully immature? The first two are debateable, but the third may be carved in stone, at least in your case," she retorts softly. "If you really want to be taken for something besides a posturing schoolchild, you should do something about your lack of maturity." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The girl scowls when Cayde stops the cup from falling on Navi's lap. "What! Stay out of this!" She shoves Cayde aside, and glares icily at Navi. "You know what you did, and who you are. You're a vain, lying, manipulative little --" Thaarin stands, brow furrowing. "That's enough," he says, "none of what you say is true --" "Don't -defend- her!" another one of the girls chimes in. "Did you know that she used you? To get Xera's attention, so that she could date the heir to the Graf matriarch? They're exclusive now." Thaarin seems surprised, but not at all offended. He arches a brow at Navi. Apparently, he'd had no idea. "... is this true, Navi? Are you seeing Xera, formally?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     No, she doesn't get to tell him what to do. Cayde lets her shove him aside, only to invade her mind and attempt to erase her memories of the last few minutes. And if he's lucky, her knowledge of everything she had just been babbling about as well. Clearly, it was bothering her anyway, so it was for the best if she simply didn't remember it any longer. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I am... that much is true," Navi replies to Thaarin, nodding and offering him a small, confident smile. "As for you and I, we know who and what we are to one another, and I, for one, don't regret a thing. I know you don't, either, unless it was the hangover. Next time we share a drink, we should have something less potent." She glances to the original mean girl, only to find her unexpectedly silent. She glances to Cayde worriedly, beginning to realize the reason for the girl's silence. Clasping his hand, she whispers, "Cayde, /don't/..." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' But it's too late. The girl's eyes glaze over, and she steps back. "Come, girls," she says. "We should catch the last train to Kublop." And they start to head out of the dining hall, which is now mostly empty, with everyone else including the Chadra Fans having wandered away after having finished their meal. Avi, the attache, stops in front of Navi, trembling. "Don't you have something to say to me?" she says pointedly. "You lied to me, and then thought I wouldn't find out? As if I don't talk to Xera on a daily basis." She glances at Thaarin. "I-I'm sorry." And then she hurries out after the other girls. Thaarin watches them go, looking confused. "Navi, I--" he sighs. "Of course I don't," he says, "but you're missing the point. The liquor was intentional. I wasn't trying to remember anything about that night. And to be honest, I was mostly successful. I don't recall anything that was said after the fourth or fifth double shot, and very little about what was felt, either. But why didn't you tell me about seeing Xera, earlier? Did you really lie to Avi?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "You've clearly already made up your mind, and it's equally clear that nothing will change it, and that you're going out of your way to make trouble for me out of misplaced blame for your unrequited crush on Thaarin," Navi retorts calmly to Avi. "So why should I waste my breath on you?" She looks back to Thaarin, shaking her head. "I didn't. I told her the truth, and probably more of it than I should've at that. She chose to believe it was all a lie," she replies quietly. "She carries a raging torch for you, as the Corellians say, and can't bring herself to confess it to you." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     When Navi tries to grab his hand, Cayde twists away from her. He watches the girls leave with satisfaction. Well, that's at least one thing that went as planned today.     Once they've left, he turns back to Navi and Thaarin's conversation, his face expressionless as he listens to the discussion about a lie to Avi that had been...perceived, at least. Is this what Thaarin had been troubled about earlier? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I know," The tall blue alien says, then he frowns. "What exactly did you tell Avi? I hope you realize that telling her the truth is dangerous, she's going to tell Xera if she hasn't already. And when she does, if Xera believes her, she will become... very unpleasant towards you. I won't probe into your reasons for wanting to be with her, but if they are entirely personal, I would advise you that she is not a kind person in general and will not treat you as such unless forced to. Ah, I'd really hoped this wouldn't turn into a public debacle--" He looks over at Cayde. "...ah... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to discuss this in front of you..." His expression becomes sad. "I wish there was something I could say to change it all," he says softly. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I don't recall everything I said," Navi confesses softly. "I found her crying, and I was trying to soothe her. I remember telling her that we had planned to share drinks, and that it was more your idea than mine. That we'd overdone the drinks by accident, and things went farther than we expected." "As for Xera, she saw me enter your room aboard her ship while you were unconscious and try to nullify the alcohol in your body. I hope it helped," she adds. "As for my reasons for seeking out Xera, they are personal... and I'm also trying to save her life. There are some of those masked pirates on-world, and their leader is quite committed to killing her if an opportunity presents itself. He believes one will, in the form of some sort of disaster, and believes that with absolute certainty. I've been trying to find out just what that disaster will be since before we left for Ilum. So far I've failed." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde doesn't respond to Thaarin's apology, as he seems very focused on what Navi is saying regarding her reason for being with Xera. But she'd told him it was about trying to get information from her about the suspicious nature of some of the events surrounding the colony's recruitment drive. Well perhaps Avi wasn't the only one having been lied to. However, it doesn't surprise him any more. He'd suspected this would happen, and told Navi as much, too. Of course she didn't listen to him--people rarely listen to him anyway, unless forced to.     Finally, after a few seconds he turns to leave, heading back to his quarters thinking about when and how to put an end to this. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin's brows knit together slightly. "Wait," he says, "But was it? More my idea than yours? You must have already had a plan in place to see Xera before you even knew me, then, for both personal and other reasons." His eyes narrow slightly. "What did you know, then? Did you know at the time, that the drinking wasn't by accident?" He sighs. "I mean, I'd hoped to have a bit more control at that point, but barring that, you wouldn't have minded given that all of it meant nothing at all to either of us. Unless.." He shakes his head, and for a brief moment, his expression becomes quite troubled, the most she'd seen since his brother had died. "I'm sorry," he says softly, "but this has all become very confusing. I don't doubt that you have very good reason to do everything that you're doing, Navi." His gaze follows Cayde as he heads out of the dining hall. "But I'm not sure everyone else completely understands your reasons. We'll talk more later," he says. "But I want to make sure Cayde's doing alright." He then starts to hurry after the young padawan. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Sometimes it all confuses me, too. I did have a plan, and it was similar to yours... but I had no idea how to bring it about. Drinks and romance aren't something I know much about," Navi replies, looking after Cayde. "As for both our feelings, you were right... it wasn't supposed to mean anything, and I hope it didn't. I was more afraid that I'd hurt /you/." She sighs sadly. "Your feelings aren't clear to me, to be frank, but Vons carries a raging torch of his own... for /me/. Maybe I can't love you or Vons as a woman is supposed to love a man, but none of that means I don't care deeply about you, or him. I want you both to find happiness someday, somewhere. And that's the truth." "Please, look after Cayde," she adds as he moves to leave. "Sometimes I think I could strangle that boy, but that is not and never will be true. I want him to be happy, too. And I have no idea how to help him to do that." 
}}

The Suspect's Family

2025-07-03T05:43:46Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-06-15 |Synopsis=The group looks for Hedicole and Weniscio, and instead run into his family during dinner. |Cast of Characters=159, 143, 381, 261 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' A few days have passed since Weniscio's failed interrogation, and one thing that will be made abundantly clear to the group is how absent Hedicole has been. Vons had reported that he'd convinced the Chadra Fan to return..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-06-15
|Synopsis=The group looks for Hedicole and Weniscio, and instead run into his family during dinner.
|Cast of Characters=159, 143, 381, 261
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' A few days have passed since Weniscio's failed interrogation, and one thing that will be made abundantly clear to the group is how absent Hedicole has been. Vons had reported that he'd convinced the Chadra Fan to return to Tenoo, but no one would have seen him since. Yet, there was evidence that he'd come back -- his family is still here, and it had been reported by the dining hall staff they'd attempted to take extra portions for him. They couldn't allow this - in the time that they'd been gone on Ilum, a new rations policy had been implemented. No one could take more than their own share, and if they could not report in for meal times, they'd have to let the kitchen staff know at least thirty minutes in advance. This was because many of the colonists had been caught hoarding food, resulting in internal conflict over limited rations. Because of Hedicole's avoidance of them, their attempts to jointly interrogate both the Dug and the Chadra Fan have been foiled multiple times over the past seventy two hours. The new plan was to start vigilantly policing the dining hall as much as possible - the Chadra Fan would have to visit the kitchen at some point to receive food, eventually. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Joint interrogation, policing the dining hall...Cayde is beginning to think maybe it would be better to just take a trip into Weniscio's head, whether he likes it or not. After all this concerned a very important matter... 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike is using his surveillance time productively by having a light meal: coffee and pastry. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Unfortunately, the Dug has utilized a different method to make himself scarce - mingling with crowds, and then disappearing at the right time. This will make it rather difficult to hunt him down, or get a clear read on his thoughts. Consequently, dinnertime is approaching, and an impatient and hungry group of colonists have gathered outside the dining hall, waiting for the buffet to open. Naturally, the drink and snack station is open, which is where the Zeltron private investigator will catch Pike having refreshments. "Really?" he remarks sardonically at the elderly Master Jedi. "Why do the Jedi always act like nothing is ever a big deal, even if someone gets their arm cut off or something?" Pike may find the insult hypocritical - the Zeltron man is carrying a half drank can of some kind of energy drink. He looks around, frowning. "Where's the kid? Shouldn't Rykard have him on a psychic leash, or something?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Well, he has to sleep at some point. And eat, of course. Given the new food rationing policies, he either has to show up, or have previously made some other arrangement.     Cayde is waiting in a back corner of the dining hall, searching for either Hedicole or Weniscio's mental presence. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "I'm hungry," Pike replies with total nonchalance. The Jedi Master takes another bite and chews noisily to emphasize the point. Then he drains his coffee to wash it down. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Cayde won't be able to detect Hedicole. He must not have been here -- yet. Or he plans to show up later, after everyone's left. The Dug, however, Cayde might not even need the Force to find him - he's outside with the rest of the colonists - thought he's making a point to stand behind a really tall Gloovan. Vons will spot him briefly. He'll grab Pike's arm while he's in the middle of draining his caf, perhaps causing him to spill. "There's our guy..." he whispers, pointing discreetly. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde approaches the Dug. Standing behind that Gloovan doesn't really do Weniscio much good, it seems. The young Jedi doesn't try to sneak up on him or anything, but just taps him lightly on the shoulder in the case that he doesn't see him immediately. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Patience, friend." If Pike is annoyed by the wet spot on his great coat, it doesn't show. "Let events take their course," 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Tell that to me while someone's actively dying," The private investigator grumbles, attempting to push the elderly Jedi along. "Heads up, the kid is already in over his head, literally. We should probably keep an eye on him before he scares the Dug off--" The Dug doesn't seem pleased to see the young padawan. "Not -you- again!" he cries, and suddenly disappears around the corner. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde reaches into the Force, attempting to slow Weniscio's movement and enter his mind. Not to go digging yet, but to remind the Dug man of the fact that he knows what was said earlier was a lie or not the full truth and that the truth was going to come out one way or another...freely given, or taken.     Oh, and...listen, he tried to be nice, all right? That, he did try. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Yes, the padawan has forced our hand. Now we must trust in the Force." Pike reaches out with the Force while slipping another flaky, buttery pastry into a pocket. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Weniscio screams audibly, tripping. "Nooo!!" He doubles over and collapses, curling up into a ball. "He's --he's hurting me...someone help... please..." This attracts unwanted attention, although it will be glaringly obvious to Cayde that it's an act, Cayde is not actually hurting him. But several of the colonists are coming over now, to investigate the now whimpering Dug who is hugging himself as if being subjected to some kind of unseen torture. They seem worried and frightened. One of them says to Cayde, "Is this really necessary?" Someone else murmurs, "this seems cruel and unusual...." By the time Vons and Pike arrive, a small crowd has gathered, and among those present is Thaarin. "Oh, great," Vons mutters. But when Windu arrives on the scene, the Dug calms considerably. "I don't want that kid anywhere near me," he mumbles. "The other guy is fine. He's fine. He's a doctor, right?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde doesn't notice any murmuring. When someone asks him if it's necessary, he only seems vaguely aware, and just shrugs in response as he doesn't know what they're talking about.     Since he has given Weniscio one last chance to cooperate, he then proceeds to attempt to extract the truth about Dresda's death from him. At least everything he knows. No, he hasn't hurt the Dug yet, but should he continue to fight...then it might hurt... 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Yes, a healer. Why don't we go inside, calmly, and talk over your meal. No one will harm you. I am Master Pike Windu. You have my word." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Dug does actively try to resist, but Cayde will find himself getting interrupted again, this time a bit more prominently. It's Thaarin, shaking his shoulder gently. "Cayde," he says, softly, "why don't you let Pike and Vons take over with Weniscio? I've found Hedicole's family, they might have useful information to share about him, or where he is right now." Vons expression sours, and he mutters, "... since when were you in charge," he grumbles. Thaarin is about to comment, but at that moment, Master Rykard appears, glancing around at the uneasy crowd. "I think that makes sense," he says, "come, Cayde, we'll speak with the Chadra Fan's wife and children." Wensicio looks up at Windu, uneasily. "I don't wanna go inside," he whines. "I don't wanna go inside. Can we stay outside?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [...yes Master] Cayde signs, although he suddenly looks dejected for some reason. Disappointed in himself, maybe. Speaking to Hedicole's family is something other people would also be far better at than him... 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "If you will speak to Von and me outside, certainly." Pike attempts to produce an aura of trust. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Don't be upset," Thaarin says softly, patting Cayde on the shoulder gently after they've gone away from the crowd outside. "I believe it's mostly a misunderstanding that can't be easily remediated." Rykard nods. "Weniscio's behavior is .... troubling. We cannot prove to the colonists that you were in fact, not harming him at all. It would be his word against yours, and in cases like this, often the onlookers side with the victim, not the supposed attacker. It is an unfair and manipulative tactic, and you must be careful around him, Cayde." Windu's projected aura of trust only seems to calm the Dug minimally. "Fine," the Dug says, "fine. But I don't wanna do it here. I wanna.... I wanna go out by the lake," he says, "I'll... I'll feel better there." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods and follows them, although his expression remains downcast. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike shoots a wary look at Von, but smiles at the Dug. "Of course, wherever you will comfortable talking freely." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "You didn't do anything wrong," Thaarin says softly, hugging the young padawan briefly before they head inside the dining hall. "And I'm sure you'll fare better talking to the Chadra Fan family." "N-" Vons opens his mouth to protest. "What is with you guys and just taking control of a situation without consulting allied parties?" he grumble whispers, grabbing Pike by his cloak and pulling him aside. "Listen, if we take him out there, as soon as visibility gets bad, he's gonna scram...!" Weniscio groans. "I can hear you, stupid!" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Better than him and Rykard, though? Probably not. So what use was it?     [I know] he signs, after Thaarin says he didn't do anything wrong. But that's all the response the young officer will get. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike sage nods at Von's concern. The Jedi Master looks at the Dug. "Will you submit to being cuffed to me?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin frowns slightly, looking mildly concerned. "We could try looking for the nesting grounds of those birds again after this, if you like," he says to Cayde. "Would that make you feel better?" Cayde might not get the chance to respond, though, as they're entering the dining hall now, and the buffet has opened, allowing the hungry colonists to swarm in and form a bustling crowd. "Ah--" The Dug opens his mouth to protest, but Vons, somehow, had a pair of cuffs on him this entire time and has already secured him to Pike's wrist before he can say a single word. "You still wanna go to the lake, or nah?" He says, a bit threateningly. The Dug whimpers. "I... I guess.." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' By chance, or perhaps the Force, Navi was in line for the evening meal when Wenisicio had fled Cayde, and had arrived only moments before the Dug had started wailing about being hurt by Cayde. Unable to intervene immediately due to the crowd, she'd watched the incident play out. It's only when Master Windu and Vons take charge of the Dug that she is able to free herself from the crowd and join them. But she hadn't been idle when Wenisicio had been throwing his threadbare 'security brutality!'-style fit. She'd probed into his thoughts. It was a hasty effort (hindered by the Dug's thick skull, no doubt), but it was enough to glean that he was faking any injury from Cayde's telepathic sifting. And that he was afraid, although it was less clear as to just what he was afraid of. It's not like he hasn't already committed at least one crime, proof or no proof. She jogs after Master Windu and Vons, smirking briefly as Vons cuffs Pike and Wenisicio together. "You know, if you wear dura-alloy foil on your head, it will shield you from telepathic probes," she suggests to the Dug. "Just make sure to wear it with the shiny side out." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [I am fine] Cayde tells Thaarin, even though he's not. As they enter the crowded dining hall, he frowns a bit, trying to keep from being overwhelmed by the sea of minds. What was he doing here, again? Why would Thaarin and Rykard need his help with this? 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike takes the Dug's hand to take the edge off as they walk. "We have some questions for you. Please cooperate and there will be no trouble." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue alien knows better than to take the young padawan at his word, but there's nothing he can do about it for now, as they head into the crowded dining hall. He lets out a quiet sigh and follows Master Rykard and Cayde inside. Cayde might be reminded of the task at hand when he sees Hedicole's wife and his three boys heading for the buffet line. Rykard glances and at Cayde and nudges him in the Force. Oh, his Master actually wanted him to take point for the task at hand. The Dug looks utterly befuddled when Pike takes his hand, and then bitter when Navi tells him putting dura-alloy foil would ward off telepathic probes. "And you're only telling me this now?!" he grumbles. "We really only have one question for you," Vons says, "and it's less a question and more of a very strong suggestion - like the Jedi said, 'cooperate', please. We need you and Hedicole in the same place, same time." He starts heading for the lake, and presumably Pike follows. Navi might be about to go with Vons and Windu when all of a sudden, she finds herself being tackled by a familiar teenaged Chadra Fan girl. "BOO!" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Even though he's probably much worse at this and will likely end up just doing the same thing he did to Weniscio. But Cayde sighs and follows Hedicole's family into the buffet line. He picks up a plate as everyone else is doing, but doesn't find any of the food very appetizing-looking... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I hadn't realized you were at so much risk from a thought probe. If you twist the top into a point, it will allow you to wear it without having to tear a standard sheet down from its usual length, but you may have to fold the corners up underneath," Navi adds, quite seriously. She has no time to say more, because she's suddenly wearing a Chadra Fan on her back! "Oof!" she grunts, staggering a step forward under the impact, but managing to keep her feet. "Peeka! You shouldn't sneak up on people like that!" she scolds her, though she can't keep back a few giggles. "Don't tell me you're skipping dinner." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike strolls along with the others, apparenty carefree. He takes the pastry from his pocket and offers it to the Dug. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Pa'lowick woman manning the buffet peers at Cayde through her horn rimmed spectacles. "Okay, here we go again," she says with a sigh, "what -don't- you want on your plate," she says, grumbling slightly. Weniscio is not listening to Navi anymore, but that might be for his own benefit. When Pike offers him the pastry, he scowls. "How I am supposed to know that isn't some kind of drug?!" he says. Vons rolls his eyes. "No," Peeka says, "I just didn't see you for a long time, so I was wondering if you were gonna say hi to me like every normal, good friend should," she says cheekily. "You have to come sit with my family, and my new best friends. I was pretty busy while you were gone, yeah." "Anyway, the other thing I wanted to ask you about was like, what happened at the nightclub? I know my dad was there too, but I heard sooo many things about you." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike shrugs and then takes a bite. "The colony does have excellent food. Fresh and well prepared. If you don't mind a limited menu. I remember out on the Rim..." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Here, come down off my back so I can hug you properly," Navi directs gently. "It's good to see you're making friends way out here. And you're right, I probably should've come by to check on you all more often than I did after your father disappeared. Between catching up on my duties with the medical admin and looking into that accident that happened while we were gone, I feel like I haven't had a spare minute." She can't help wincing faintly at the mention of the nightclub. "That's its own story... it started out with looking for your father to talk to him about the accident, but that's sure not where it ended," she says, a bit wearily. "I'm just glad your father's safe and sound." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde eyes the various dishes...but honestly, none of them look appetizing even after examining them for several seconds. In fact, the more he looks at them the less enticing they seem. So he starts pointing at various items, but it may be confusing as it seems he has pointed toward everything at some point. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Both Vons and Dug cringe outwardly and grumble as Pike starts giving an anecdote about food in the Outer Rim. "Okay if you seriously think the food here is good you need help," Vons says. "But we didn't come out here to talk galactic cuisine. I want you to tell us about the gangs you were involved with on Jedha. And no more lies, no more games." He glances at Pike. "I'm gonna need your help with this." The tiny Chadra Fan girl obeys, allowing Navi to hug her properly. She rolls her eyes. "I don't need babysitting, or watching over. I'm not a baby," she says. "I just wanted you to say hi, that's all." "Okay, so are you going to tell me about it," she says, grabbing Navi's hand and dragging her towards the dining hall. "I heard you kissed my future boyfriend, and because of that, you have a new girlfriend, now. The mean lady, Xera or whatever. Not judging or anything. She's rich, I guess. Can't blame you for looking out for yourself like that, even if that's kind of like, not cool? But it's fine. Anyway, there was some bad guys there too I heard, and they were trying to go after my dad, too. Did the Jedi kill them all?" The Pa'lowick woman sighs, and just starts randomly selecting food and putting it on a plate. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike looks at the Dug in all seriousness now. "Answer his questions truthfully, please. Because I will know if you don't." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde accepts it, although he doesn't really plan on eating much of it. Okay, he'll at least try it. But he looks to see where Hedicole's wife is headed to sit down. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi hugs Peeka properly, kissing her cheek before letting her go. "Given the rationing issues lately, it will be easier to say hi to you and yours. It's probably the one good thing about it. Otherwise, it hints that the colony is in trouble, and trying to catch the meal windows and still get everything done is a real pain, especially since I do my best work when I can roll up my sleeves and go to it for a long while. Having to jump up and run to the mess tent at the right times just gets in the way." Rising as Peeka takes her in tow, another thing she's gotten familiar with, Navi follows Peeka into the chow line. "Again, long story. Thaarin invited me to share a drink with him. I don't think he was aware of just how strong the drinks were, because he had several. I had maybe two, and almost put myself to sleep with them. But I woke up quick when he kissed me. You'll be happy to know that he's an amazing kisser, so you have that to look forward to in a few years, Force willing." "And then I guess the drinks caught up with him like a repulsortrain, because he got sick and had to run for the refreshers. I didn't have time to go after him, because some of the thugs the club had for security were in a fight with Master Windu, Cayde, and Vons. So I had to shake off the dizzies and run help them. I don't think more than a few of the thugs got killed, but Vons was able to find your father and get him home safely, or so I heard," she continues. "Speaking of, how is he these days. I keep hearing that he pretty much hasn't been out of your tent since Vons brought him home." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Dug swallows uncomfortably and mutters something under his breath in Huttese about Navi's stupid advice being too late. "I mean I'm not in any of those gangs," he says, "I swear!" He holds his hands up. "I'm not lying," He says when Vons narrows his eyes at him. "You can do your stupid space monk magic or whatever, I'm really not. I just owe some of their guys some credits, that's all." Cayde will easily be able to find Hedicole's family in the far left corner of the dining hall, the wife trying to settle the three boys down, without much luck. Thaarin and Rykard are in tow, but the elder Ikkrukki keeps his distance as to not draw too much attention for now. Thaarin sits down next to Cayde, but his brows are knitted together. Something seems to be bothering him, and Cayde might notice that some of the female colonists are watching him, giving him disappointed looks. "It's fiiine," Peeka says waving a hand, "Okay so I never thought you were the kind of person to get drunk and then make out with the hottest guy from our colony in a nightclub offworld. I thought all the Shining Brotherhood girls were like, prudish and conservative. You should have told me! I love a good party." "Anyway, literally everyone and their mom is talking about how you're a credit digger and a user, or something. Probably just jealous. And hey, if that's how you snag a rich SO, why not?" "I'm not really supposed to tell you about my dad. Like, we have to beg the lunch lady for seconds just so he can eat, but she's getting tired of our begging. He's probably coming tonight, like later." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde makes his way over to their table, motioning toward an empty seat. [Join you] he asks, glancing at Thaarin. Something seems to be bothering the young man, but he isn't sure what exactly. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Some? Don't be modest. I assume you owe more than you can pay back. I wouldn't be surprised if you have a death mark. Do you?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi shakes her head. "I didn't use Thaarin... he asked me to have a drink with him. I was one of the ones who helped save his life and tried to save the life of his late brother. We have worked together closely since before we arrived back on the colony, and I didn't think for a second things would go so far," she says softly. "Even if I had, I doubt I would've turned him down. It might have wounded him emotionally. Anyway, I doubt he thought things would go so far, either." She points out a handful of items to the counter lady, avoiding anything fish-based, as she and Peeka reach the hot line. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Hedicole's wife looks up when Cayde comes over. "Oh, hello," she says with a smile. "You're Master Rykard's padawan. Of course you may join us. My name is Rinah. These are my boys, Petro, Padhi, and Pitri." "I mean, I guess I believe you. But even if I didn't, I don't actually think that what you did was bad. Like, you got what you wanted, right? Hot, rich girlfriend and the guy you smooched doesn't seem depressed about what happened." The Pa'lowick arches a brow at Navi when she reaches the hot dinner line. "You sure get around, don't you," she scoffs, and starts heaping things onto the Sephi girl's plate. While she's doing this, Navi might notice that she's drawing... looks. Some of them judgmental, others annoyed, some even downright piercing and angry. It might occur to her that the attache had gone and told some people, only light knows how many. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde puts on a grateful smile and sits down with her and her kids, and Thaarin. [Thank you] he signs, nodding. He follows up with [Good to meet you all] once she introduces her children.     The plate full of unappetizing food is set down, but he doesn't seem interested in it. Okay, he plucked a few pieces from every type of dish, but that is about it.     He turns to Thaarin. [Everything all right] he asks. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi scowls faintly as she notices the looks. "I guess that puts me klicks ahead of the fish course. Remind me to never try to help anyone ever again," she observes to the Pa'lowick, and doesn't bother to explain herself, taking her plate and moving to join Peeka and her family. "Hello, everyone," she says to Peeka and her family, Cayde, and Thaarin. And, to a lesser extent, Master Rykard, since he's further away. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Very nice to meet you as well, Cayde, is it?" Rinah says. She notices him picking at his food. "What's the matter?" she asks, "does the colony food not sit well with you?" "Hi," one of the boys says, "aren't you like, one of Navi's million boyfriends?" The others burst into giggles, and the mother scolds them. "Sorry about that," she says. "I'm .. alright," Thaarin says, but he's observing the looks everyone is also giving Navi, and the young Sephi girl will come to sit down at the table just as Pitri asks Cayde if he's one of Navi's many boyfriends. The other boys wave to Navi in greeting, and poke Peeka when she comes over. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods when Rinah confirms his name. He looks down at the food when she asks if it doesn't sit well with him. [It does not] he replies, shaking his head. The padawan has become rather wary of any food prepared from local ingredients, as he has become ill from them on several occasions.     When one of the boys asks him about being one of Navi's 'boyfriends', in fact, just as she walks up, he flushes and his face immediately reddens. Why would they say that? 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "He's not my boyfriend," Navi sighs wearily, rolling her eyes, wondering if she actually cares if they believe her or not. She doubts they will. Chadra Fan whims are stubborn things, it seems, and she's growing weary of trying to change their minds. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "You haven't tried asking the kitchen for more specialized meals?" Rinah asks. "I could ask for you, actually." Thankfully she hasn't noticed Navi yet, since the Sephi girl seems to be one of her least favorite people. "Well, why not?" Pitri asks petulantly, but one of the other boys tells him to shut up and sit down. He finally relents and goes back to his seat, content to feast on the extra dessert helping he'd managed to sneak. Thaarin, noticing that Cayde has turned bright red, decides it's time for a subject change. He introduces himself to Rinah and the boys, and then casually asks, "Is this your whole family?" Then he nudges Cayde under the table. Oh, right, they were supposed to ask about Hedicole. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde shakes his head. He wouldn't know what to ask for, as he is not familiar with the local cuisine. There seems to be a small set of local things he's able to eat without having some kind of bad reaction, but he's not even sure what they are himself, exactly. [Do not worry] he tells her.     He turns to Thaarin when the young officer asks if this is Rinah's entire family, then looks back to her expectantly. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "How is your father, by the way?" Navi asks Pitri. "I haven't seen him since Vons brought him home, and Peeka tells me he's not taking meals at the sanctioned times." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Are you sure?" Rinah asks gently. But then Thaarin cuts in politely, introduces himself and asks about their entire family. "Well--" She begins. But then she notices Navi there and looks indignant. "Oh not you, -again-!" she grumbles. Thaarin sighs quietly, arching a brow at Cayde. He was supposed to ask about Hedicole. Oh well. "Mm," Pitri says, "he said the Jedi are trying to arrest him for stuff that wasn't his fault," he says with a shrug, and his mother gasps. "So that's why he's not here right now." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods at Rinah. It would be too complicated, really. He doesn't know what he needs, and probably wouldn't know how to explain it even if he did.     His brows go up at Pitri's claims. [Not arrest him...trying to help] he insists. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "The Jedi aren't trying to arrest him. They want to talk to him about the accident." Navi tries to clarify. "The Republic security chief might be trying to arrest him, but that's not clear right now. But the Jedi are trying to find out everything that happened in the accident, who was involved, and if there is a greater plot against the colony initiative and the colonists." She rolls her eyes at Rinah. "Yes, me again... wicked, naughty Navi, who's been so wicked and naughty as to try to help and protect your family at least twice," she retorts sardonically. "But let's not talk about /that/... I'm sure the rumormill's /much/ more interesting and factual." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Rinah grumbles, but doesn't answer Navi. Instead, she looks to Cayde. "What do you need from my husband?" she asks a bit anxiously. "Last I heard, you two didn't part on very good terms." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde glances at Navi when Rinah asks what he wants with Hedicole, nodding. Yes, just to learn what he knows. [To help him] he adds. Well...he had already helped him. [...to help him more] If there was some kind of sinister plot against the colony too, that would hurt everyone, wouldn't it? Him and his family included.     He arches a brow at Rinah. Not the best of terms? Did Hedicole so graciously leave out the fact that he saved him from slavers? [I saved him] he points out. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi lets the subject with Rinah drop as soon as Rinah apparently does, working toward more pressing matters. "That's not unusual with Cayde. His enthusiasm and eagerness to help are known to outrun his interpersonal skills, but he never wants to hurt anyone, and he only acts with the best of intentions. He also saved your husband from unknowingly completing a contract with sentient traffickers that would have seen your whole family taken and sold into slavery under the pretense of transporting all of you off Tenoo. He deserves all of your thanks for that alone," she adds. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I think you need to be a bit more specific," Thaarin says to Cayde, nodding at the young padawan. "Oh," Rinah says softly. "I see. Slavers..." she becomes slightly emotional. "I had no idea. He never said anything about that after he returned from Vuundalla." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Hmph, of course he didn't...how convenient that he left out that -little- detail. Cayde can't help but feel a bit unappreciated. No, no they didn't save him, they were trying to -arrest- him?     [Does he always lie] he asks. He glances at Thaarin momentarily, pausing for a moment. [...he should come here...tell us himself] 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Cayde, your telepathic abilities run well beyond your ability to fully control them," Navi adds softly, in both explanation and in some defense of Hedicole. "The effects of your telepathy upon your targets aren't always pleasant or fully understood, especially when they realize what you're doing. You can do truly amazing things, but you still need more training and discipline to fully control them." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Well, no," Rinah says, "but he does often leave things out, or tell us we just can't know because it's for our own good," she says, dropping her gaze sadly. "Lately he's been even more cryptic. He wouldn't say why he was going to Vuundalla, only that it was to protect from some great danger." Thaarin nods. "We aren't trying corner your husband," the tall blue alien tells her. "We just want the whole truth, and not just from him, either. We'd like to jointly interrogate both him and Weniscio. Is that something he'd be willing to do?" Rinah sighs. "I'll talk to him. Where should he meet you?" Thaarin glances at Navi, "Do you know where Pike and Vons went?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I think they were headed toward the lake," Navi replies. "Vons had cuffed Wenisicio to Master Windu so he couldn't run away, since he has the habit of making himself so scarce when people try to question him." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Navi's words only seem to frustrate him further. [Then what can I do] he asks. Really, he'd tried not using it. Has been trying to do that, just approaching people normally and all, but that seemed to be even less effective. They just ignore him. What did he have to do to prove to them that he isn't out to get them, if saving them from certain death or slavery didn't cut it?     He actually seems relieved when Thaarin just goes ahead and says what needed to be said. What had been the point of wasting all this time anyway? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "The lake, then," Thaarin says, nodding at Navi, "Hopefully he'll be agreeable to that. Thank you, Rinah, it was wonderful meeting you and your boys." The tall blue alien gives Cayde a faint and compassionate smile and he squeezes his shoulder gently and affectionately. "You can get better Cayde," he says softly. "And you will. I believe in you." At that moment, Navi will catch sight of several young girls passing their table. They giggle softly when they see Thaarin, but their expressions harden upon seeing Navi. Tailing the group is Xera's attache, but she won't look Navi in the eye. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "You've gotten a shaky reputation, Cayde, at least around here. That's not the kind of thing that just goes away," Navi replies gently. "Doing something important or heroic is known to help a lot, but that's also not the kind of thing that just happens. But you have many friends, including Thaarin and myself, and we'll help you however we can. Thaarin's not the only one who believes in you." She glances up just in time to see the gaggle of girls passing, including the attache. The girl's hastily dropped gaze tells her much of what she needs to know. "I have a feeling I'm going to have to talk to that woman later," she observes softly. "She seems to have quite a crush on Thaarin, but if she's as much of a gossip as she seems to me, I can see why it's unrequited." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [Thank you] Cayde replies to both Navi and Thaarin, although his spirits don't appear to have been lifted much. No one had actually answered the question...of course not, because there wasn't one, was there?     But he tries to just put on a polite face anyway, and looks back to Rinah. [Pleasure meeting your family] he signs to her, before starting to get up from the table and take his mostly full plate with him to dump the uneaten food. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' One of the girls breaks off from the group to approach Navi. She's smiling, but it's in an unpleasant fashion. "Well, you look boring today," she says, "kind of odd, considering you're dating the richest woman in this sector of space." She folds her arms. "I would have thought you would have already asked for a dress made with the finest fabrics from Ghorman or at least a silver Chadrilan choker to commemorate you two becoming... official." "Of course," Rinah says, "it was a pleasure to meet you as well, Cayde. I could try to find some other types of food from in town that you might like - if the kitchen staff spare me the budget... Really, you're too skinny..." The Chadra Fan boys clamber all over Cayde. "Hey wait, our dad will probably wanna eat that. And if he doesn't, Peeka will! She's so fat." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh...well, he supposed, then.     Cayde shrugs and sets the mostly uneaten food back down on the table.     He arches a brow at Rinah, when she really seems keen on helping him find food he can eat. [Okay...you can try] he finally relents. [But I do not know where to start] he admits. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi doesn't miss that insincere smile from the approaching mean girl. "Well, hello there. I see you've been to the vicious gossip well," she replies, nonchalant in her sarcasm. "Tell me, is it the dress you crave most, or the choker? I don't recall you and your friends saying Word One to me after I returned from helping rescue Thaarin and his late brother from a crashed and sinking starship back on Ilum... so the potential of pretty clothes and sparkling jewelry have got to be what's drawn you over here." "Just give them the plate, Cayde," she advises softly. "They'll stop climbing on you then. And Peeka's not fat." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The girl laughs, amused. "Oh, Avi didn't tell me that you liked to brag. How funny you are, showing off as if you're some kind of hero. We all know what you did," she says. "I mean, we'd all like to be rich, but I suppose you don't worry too much about how to become that way, while the rest of us do, given we're decent, -moral- people." She knocks a cup of half drank juice over, perhaps into Navi's lap if she doesn't get out of the way quick! Rina smiles. "It's alright. I'll speak with the doctor." Pitri immediately starts devouring the food despite his siblings scolding him and telling him not to. He points at Cayde. "Hey. I like you. We should be friends and do something fun together, sometime." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [Thank you] Cayde signs to Rinah, nodding.     The cup falls, but it stops in midair inches above Navi's lap. It hangs there for a second, and then moves back to where it was, setting itself back down gently. Cayde doesn't approve of Navi getting involved with Xera either, and he'd intended to take care of that earlier, but Xera hadn't been available. Still, these girls needed to leave her alone. Once the cup is handled, he simply inserts himself between them and her. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi stands hastily to avoid the spill, but can't help staring as Cayde takes care of that particular problem most impressively. "Thank you, Cayde," she says softly, nodding to the Padawan. "Decent, moral, and painfully immature? The first two are debateable, but the third may be carved in stone, at least in your case," she retorts softly. "If you really want to be taken for something besides a posturing schoolchild, you should do something about your lack of maturity." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The girl scowls when Cayde stops the cup from falling on Navi's lap. "What! Stay out of this!" She shoves Cayde aside, and glares icily at Navi. "You know what you did, and who you are. You're a vain, lying, manipulative little --" Thaarin stands, brow furrowing. "That's enough," he says, "none of what you say is true --" "Don't -defend- her!" another one of the girls chimes in. "Did you know that she used you? To get Xera's attention, so that she could date the heir to the Graf matriarch? They're exclusive now." Thaarin seems surprised, but not at all offended. He arches a brow at Navi. Apparently, he'd had no idea. "... is this true, Navi? Are you seeing Xera, formally?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     No, she doesn't get to tell him what to do. Cayde lets her shove him aside, only to invade her mind and attempt to erase her memories of the last few minutes. And if he's lucky, her knowledge of everything she had just been babbling about as well. Clearly, it was bothering her anyway, so it was for the best if she simply didn't remember it any longer. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I am... that much is true," Navi replies to Thaarin, nodding and offering him a small, confident smile. "As for you and I, we know who and what we are to one another, and I, for one, don't regret a thing. I know you don't, either, unless it was the hangover. Next time we share a drink, we should have something less potent." She glances to the original mean girl, only to find her unexpectedly silent. She glances to Cayde worriedly, beginning to realize the reason for the girl's silence. Clasping his hand, she whispers, "Cayde, /don't/..." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' But it's too late. The girl's eyes glaze over, and she steps back. "Come, girls," she says. "We should catch the last train to Kublop." And they start to head out of the dining hall, which is now mostly empty, with everyone else including the Chadra Fans having wandered away after having finished their meal. Avi, the attache, stops in front of Navi, trembling. "Don't you have something to say to me?" she says pointedly. "You lied to me, and then thought I wouldn't find out? As if I don't talk to Xera on a daily basis." She glances at Thaarin. "I-I'm sorry." And then she hurries out after the other girls. Thaarin watches them go, looking confused. "Navi, I--" he sighs. "Of course I don't," he says, "but you're missing the point. The liquor was intentional. I wasn't trying to remember anything about that night. And to be honest, I was mostly successful. I don't recall anything that was said after the fourth or fifth double shot, and very little about what was felt, either. But why didn't you tell me about seeing Xera, earlier? Did you really lie to Avi?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "You've clearly already made up your mind, and it's equally clear that nothing will change it, and that you're going out of your way to make trouble for me out of misplaced blame for your unrequited crush on Thaarin," Navi retorts calmly to Avi. "So why should I waste my breath on you?" She looks back to Thaarin, shaking her head. "I didn't. I told her the truth, and probably more of it than I should've at that. She chose to believe it was all a lie," she replies quietly. "She carries a raging torch for you, as the Corellians say, and can't bring herself to confess it to you." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     When Navi tries to grab his hand, Cayde twists away from her. He watches the girls leave with satisfaction. Well, that's at least one thing that went as planned today.     Once they've left, he turns back to Navi and Thaarin's conversation, his face expressionless as he listens to the discussion about a lie to Avi that had been...perceived, at least. Is this what Thaarin had been troubled about earlier? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I know," The tall blue alien says, then he frowns. "What exactly did you tell Avi? I hope you realize that telling her the truth is dangerous, she's going to tell Xera if she hasn't already. And when she does, if Xera believes her, she will become... very unpleasant towards you. I won't probe into your reasons for wanting to be with her, but if they are entirely personal, I would advise you that she is not a kind person in general and will not treat you as such unless forced to. Ah, I'd really hoped this wouldn't turn into a public debacle--" He looks over at Cayde. "...ah... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to discuss this in front of you..." His expression becomes sad. "I wish there was something I could say to change it all," he says softly. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I don't recall everything I said," Navi confesses softly. "I found her crying, and I was trying to soothe her. I remember telling her that we had planned to share drinks, and that it was more your idea than mine. That we'd overdone the drinks by accident, and things went farther than we expected." "As for Xera, she saw me enter your room aboard her ship while you were unconscious and try to nullify the alcohol in your body. I hope it helped," she adds. "As for my reasons for seeking out Xera, they are personal... and I'm also trying to save her life. There are some of those masked pirates on-world, and their leader is quite committed to killing her if an opportunity presents itself. He believes one will, in the form of some sort of disaster, and believes that with absolute certainty. I've been trying to find out just what that disaster will be since before we left for Ilum. So far I've failed." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde doesn't respond to Thaarin's apology, as he seems very focused on what Navi is saying regarding her reason for being with Xera. But she'd told him it was about trying to get information from her about the suspicious nature of some of the events surrounding the colony's recruitment drive. Well perhaps Avi wasn't the only one having been lied to. However, it doesn't surprise him any more. He'd suspected this would happen, and told Navi as much, too. Of course she didn't listen to him--people rarely listen to him anyway, unless forced to.     Finally, after a few seconds he turns to leave, heading back to his quarters thinking about when and how to put an end to this. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin's brows knit together slightly. "Wait," he says, "But was it? More my idea than yours? You must have already had a plan in place to see Xera before you even knew me, then, for both personal and other reasons." His eyes narrow slightly. "What did you know, then? Did you know at the time, that the drinking wasn't by accident?" He sighs. "I mean, I'd hoped to have a bit more control at that point, but barring that, you wouldn't have minded given that all of it meant nothing at all to either of us. Unless.." He shakes his head, and for a brief moment, his expression becomes quite troubled, the most she'd seen since his brother had died. "I'm sorry," he says softly, "but this has all become very confusing. I don't doubt that you have very good reason to do everything that you're doing, Navi." His gaze follows Cayde as he heads out of the dining hall. "But I'm not sure everyone else completely understands your reasons. We'll talk more later," he says. "But I want to make sure Cayde's doing alright." He then starts to hurry after the young padawan. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Sometimes it all confuses me, too. I did have a plan, and it was similar to yours... but I had no idea how to bring it about. Drinks and romance aren't something I know much about," Navi replies, looking after Cayde. "As for both our feelings, you were right... it wasn't supposed to mean anything, and I hope it didn't. I was more afraid that I'd hurt /you/." She sighs sadly. "Your feelings aren't clear to me, to be frank, but Vons carries a raging torch of his own... for /me/. Maybe I can't love you or Vons as a woman is supposed to love a man, but none of that means I don't care deeply about you, or him. I want you both to find happiness someday, somewhere. And that's the truth." "Please, look after Cayde," she adds as he moves to leave. "Sometimes I think I could strangle that boy, but that is not and never will be true. I want him to be happy, too. And I have no idea how to help him to do that." 
}}

On the Way Back

2025-07-03T05:41:17Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-06-14 |Cast of Characters=159, 261 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' When Navi arrives in front of Xera's private luxury yacht, she may or may not be surprised that the woman herself doesn't come to greet her immediately. Instead, shes escorted aboard by a very shiny and polite protocol droid, who offers to take her bag and serve her any drinks or snacks. :'''{{#var:261|Navi..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-06-14
|Cast of Characters=159, 261
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' When Navi arrives in front of Xera's private luxury yacht, she may or may not be surprised that the woman herself doesn't come to greet her immediately. Instead, shes escorted aboard by a very shiny and polite protocol droid, who offers to take her bag and serve her any drinks or snacks. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I could go for something to drink, please. Something without alcohol?" Navi replies softly, following the polite (and very shiny!) droid aboard. "Thank you. I'll keep my medical bag, just in case," she adds gratefully, passing over her backpack. It's not a large pack, but it's still roughly half-empty. "Is Lady Graf aboard at the moment?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The droid answers in the affirmative, and tells her that Lady Xera will be by shortly once the vessel takes off. It tells her to make herself comfortable - Lady Xera was in her private quarters currently, cleaning up. The young Sephi girl might take a seat on the velvet futon, or she might wander the private yacht. Either way, the droid will return with a carbonated fruit beverage shortly after she makes her request. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi takes a seat on the futon for the moment. "Thank you," she says to the droid when it returns with the requested drink. "Do you know when we'll be taking off? I really could stand to clean up, too," she adds, well aware of her now-dirty dress and the condition of her tights, which are not only dirty, but holed in several places, including the feet; the soles are practically worn out of them from being shoeless for so long. She doubts she looks much better than her dress. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The droid nods, and says they'll be taking off in about ten minutes. It then directs her to another refreshers - it's at the end of the hallway across from the lounge area she's seated in. If she makes her way over there, she will pass one of the private rooms. The door to the room is open slightly, and she'll be able to see Thaarin completely passed out on the bed in there... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Oh, Force help him..." Navi murmurs, taking a long look at Thaarin. Remembering how she'd been able to purge her own system of the alcohol back at the club, she tries the cabin door, to see if it will open. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' She might be a little surprised to find the cabin door slides open very easily. In fact, as soon as she touches it, it slides all the way open and clatters loudly in its slot when it hits the opposite end of the track. This causes the tall blue alien to wake, and stir, propping himself up a little. He looks quite unwell. He murmurs something in a language she won't understand or recognize. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Lie down and hold still," Navi directs gently, placing her hands on the sides of his neck. She reaches into the Force, tweaking its flow between herself and him, and within his body, breaking down the alcohol by degrees and flushing it out of his system. "You need to rest. You /way/ overdid it," she advises gently, lifting her hands away as she finishes her work. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "...Navi?" he mumbles, still barely cognizant of his of surroundings. When she touches his neck, he relaxes visibly and obeys. He smiles faintly. "...did you...like kissing me..." But then she finishes using the Force to flush the toxins from his system, leaving him with the worst hangover he's had in ... years. He grunts, and places a hand on his forehead. "...yes, unfortunately. Thank you." He closes his eyes. Outside in the hallway, she'll be able to hear soft footsteps approaching. Lady Xera must have finished in the refreshers. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi makes sure Thaarin isn't likely to fall off the bed, then quietly leaves the cabin, closing the door behind her. She looks for the source of the footsteps once she's back in the corridor, taking a sip of her drink to refresh herself. She can feel a hint of a headache, and tries to ignore it. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' She'll find Lady Graf quite quickly. The woman is dressed in a shimmersilk lounge robe, and looks cleaned up and quite comfortable. Her brows furrow slightly when she sees that Navi has come from the room where Thaarin had been, but doesn't comment. "There you are," she says with a smile. "Join me in the lounge area?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "His door was open, and he was unconscious. Given how much he'd been drinking, I thought I should check on him," Navi says, unbidden. "I don't think he knew just how strong those drinks he was ordering actually were, but I've just spared him from a horrible hangover. He should sleep quietly now." "Thank you. I'd love to," she adds, with a hint of a smile. "Are you feeling all right? You looked like you had quite a terrible ordeal." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Xera smiles, "I'm alright, thank you for asking," she says. She then turns and beckons for Navi to follow her back to the lounge area. "I thought we could revisit our conversation about seeing one another," she says as they walk. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi follows. "I'm glad you're safe and sound," she says warmly. At the mention of revisiting that prior conversation, her smile turns briefly wry, then is sincere once again. "As you wish. What would you like to discuss?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Xera smiles faintly and sits down on the loveseat, gesturing for Navi to sit across from her. "Well, first of all, I wanted to apologize for how I'd behaved prior. Perhaps the demands I'd made of you were a little... unfair." She pauses. "I suppose you can do whatever you like," she huffs slightly, as if it's hard for her to admit. "I can't stop you, after all. However, I would like for you to be exclusive with me as far as partnership goes," she continues, "as you might imagine, I'd like to not have to share your attention with someone else. Mot that kind of attention anyway," she adds softly. "The other kinds, well I suppose I don't mind that." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi takes the offered seat, nodding. "Thank you for understanding," she replies softly. "With absolutely all due respect, if I had asked the same things of you that you asked of me, I very much doubt you would have agreed to them." "But I'm not here to lecture you, and I'll do my very best not to bring it up again. It's in the past now, and I'm sure we'd both just rather forget about it." She smiles gently at Xera. "I'd rather talk about you. Or perhaps us." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Xera doesn't comment about not having agreed to her own terms, if their roles had been switched. Instead, she smiles, perhaps almost sweetly. "Thank you, Navi. I do appreciate your willingness to forgive and forget," she says. "And yes, we will do plenty of that," she says. She stands, and reaches for Navi's hands, and if the young Sephi girl allows her, she'll pull her to her feet. "I'm going to ask my attache to bring up some of the Corellian wine," she says, "this warrants celebration don't you think? Then, we can enjoy a holodrama until we reach Tenoo." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I'd like that very much," Navi replies, returning Xera's smile more sweetly as she lets herself be drawn to her feet. "Do you mind if I clean up a bit first? I'm sure I look and smell at least as bad as I think I do. I wouldn't want to sit next to me right now." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Not at all," Xera says, "I was going to suggest that you clean up, actually." She then leans forward and kisses the young Sephi girl very briefly before letting go of her hands and heading down the hallway towards the refreshers she'd been shown prior. "I'm not sure if the droid showed you earlier, but the refreshers are here. I'll have my attache bring you a fresh set of robes and a towel." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi returns the brief kiss, blushing faintly. She hadn't seen the kiss coming, and it surprises her. "Thanks again for understanding, and your most generous hospitality. I won't be long," she replies, stepping into one of the refreshers. She can't help being relieved to slip out of the once-beautiful dress and into a relaxing hydroshower. But even if her tights are a write-off, she hopes the dress can be salvaged. Dirt is a lot easier to deal with than tears and holes. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' However, when Navi steps out of the hydroshower, she will find that there aren't any clothes for her set out. And she'll have a bit of trouble finding a towel - the only thing she'll find is a sheet - adequate for covering nakedness, but not really ideal for drying her hair or her body. The attache must not have come... but that's odd. There's an intercom in the refreshers, though, so she might call for Lady Xera or the droid. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi toggles the intercom on. "Um, Lady Xera? There's no towels or robe in the refresher?" she says politely. "Just a sheet. It won't begin to get me dried off, and I'd really rather not drip all over the floors of your beautiful yacht." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "The attache didn't come?" Xera says, sounding slightly annoyed. "Well, that won't do. I'll have the droid go looking for her." But Navi will notice that the refreshers adjoins to one of the private quarters, and while the door to that room is closed, she'll hear muffled sobbing. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi presses her ear against the door, wrapping herself in the sheet. It helps with the damp, but not half enough. Someone is weeping on the other side of the door. She doesn't know if the door is locked, but she is sure she wouldn't want anyone to walk in on her if she was crying like that. Studying the intercom panel, she finds a series of channel buttons, each labeled for specific rooms aboard the ship. Touching the button for that room, she keys up the intercom. "Hello? Why are you crying? Is there any way I can help you?" she asks gently. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' No answer. The crying stops. There's some shuffling. Then there's a knock on the door. "I have the towels and robe," a young female voice on the other side says blandly. "I can bring them in if you want." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I would be very grateful," Navi replies gently. "Thank you." She steps back from the door to allow the young woman, probably the attache, to enter freely. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The door opens, and the attache comes in. Her eyes are puffy and red, and it's very obvious that she'd been the one crying just now. She dumps the towel and the robe on the counter. They're not even folded. "Here," she says petulantly, wiping her eyes, her tone on the verge of sobs again. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Thank you," Navi replies, even more gently, but she can't help staring at the poor young lady's face, especially her eyes. "Did Lady Graf upset you?" she asks, just as gently. "Your poor eyes are so red." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The girl trembles, and doesn't say anything for a moment. Then she finally explodes with, "Did he know?" Her hands ball into fists, shaking. "Did he know you used him, to get Lady Xera's attention..." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "If you mean Thaarin? Yes, he knew," Navi replies, still gently. "Actually, it was his idea. Though I don't think he was aware of just how strong the drinks were, but I've taken care of the worst of that," she continues. "He might not feel well when he wakes up, but it won't be nearly as bad as it would've been." She tucks the end of the sheet in at the top, just below her shoulders, to keep her arms free. Gently resting her hands over the girl's trembling fists, she adds, "You care about him a great deal, don't you?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The girl jerks her hands away. "I-I don't believe you," she snaps. " I don't believe you at all! Did you even ask him?" She shouts. "How do you feel," she says, still trembling. "knowing that you've stepped on other people to get what you want?" She turns away. "He could never notice me whenever she was around," she whispers angrily. "It's like I wasn't even there. But that's the role an attache is supposed to play, isn't it? Invisible until they're needed." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I won't lie to you... that's just not how I'm made," Navi says softly, and sadly, resting her hand gently on the side of the girl's neck. Through that contact she channels the Force, tweaking its flow to show her the crucial moments of Thaarin's plan, from the conversation when he'd suggested it to her to the evening in which he put it into practice. She leaves nothing out, not even her worry and the beginnings of fear when he'd almost forced her to kiss him. Especially not the drinks they'd had, and her emotions as she realized just how strong they were. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The girl reddens. And after a moment, she steps back, and raises a hand about to slap Navi across the face. "You stupid, selfish... ignorant...!" But then her hand clenches into a fist and she drops her arm, spiraling into angry sobs. "You lie to yourself," she seethes. "But even so, you wouldn't be with him. It's so unfair, you couldn't be more undeserving!" Then she flees, leaving Navi alone in the refreshers. The intercom blinks, and Xera calls Navi, "Navi? Is everything alright? Did you get the towel and robes?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "It's all true. Neither Thaarin or I wanted to be entangled with one another romantically. But for reasons he never made plain to me, he wanted to show Xera that she couldn't control me. Maybe he just wanted her to know she couldn't control him, either. But he drank too much, and he lost control for a moment. Please, don't judge him for that. If he had known the drinks were so strong, he never would have done it," Navi says softly. She shakes her head as the girl flees, toggling the door of the refresher closed again. Switching the channel on the intercom back to Xera, she replies, "I've just received them. I'll be along in just a few minutes, as soon as I'm dry again." Toggling the intercom off, she removes the sheet and goes to work drying herself. A few minutes later, wrapped in the provided robe and as dry as she can make herself, she leaves the refresher and returns to the lounge. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Xera is sitting there waiting for her, with the holodrama queued up. "I'm sorry about the delay in getting you a towel and a fresh robe," she tells Navi. "My attache has been acting a bit off tonight." Then she shrugs and pours Navi half a glass of the Corellian wine. "No matter," she says, "we won't need her for the rest of the night," she says. Then she starts playing the holodrama, reaching gently for Navi's hand. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "It's nothing," Navi replies, taking the offered seat beside Xera, accepting both the half-glass of wine and Xera's handclasp with a small smile. "Thank you." She turns half her attention to the holo and the other half to Xera. "I don't think I've seen anything on the holo since before we left for Tenoo. This should be very relaxing," she observes softly. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I certainly hope so," she says. After a moment, Xera finally says, "Tell me something, Navi. Why did you kiss Thaarin? Do you really like him so much?" Now, Navi may realize her predicament. If she tells the truth, Xera might realize she's still in control after all and once again start making demands. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Thaarin? He's what some people would call a fine catch... exotic, dreamy, and always the smartest person in the room. But also brave, selfless, and surprisingly gentle. I'm sure you've noticed all of that," Navi replies, with a little shrug. "I would've been lying to myself if I /hadn't/ kissed him." Inwardly she calls herself a liar, and means it. But she also tells herself it will be worth it if she can prevent Xera from being murdered... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Xera's mouth twitches downward for a moment, almost imperceptibly. She sighs. "Perhaps," she says, leaning on Navi a little, "but he's not rich. Remember that." Then she turns up the volume on the holodrama, and fixes her eyes on the screen. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi stifles a chuckle. "You're so cute when you're frustrated," she whispers into the taller woman's ear. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' She smiles faintly, and rests her head on Navi's shoulder, making no further comments. She lets the holodrama play, and for the time being, seems quite satisfied. 
}}

The Past and the Present

2025-07-03T05:40:35Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-06-11 |Cast of Characters=143, 159 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     A few hours after the briefing meeting had adjourned, Cayde can be seen hanging around medical, pondering what he'd overheard about Xera and Weniscio at the tail end of it. Perhaps he should try probing the Graf woman again...he'd noticed some of the colonists' records were a bit suspicious, or susp..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-06-11
|Cast of Characters=143, 159
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     A few hours after the briefing meeting had adjourned, Cayde can be seen hanging around medical, pondering what he'd overheard about Xera and Weniscio at the tail end of it. Perhaps he should try probing the Graf woman again...he'd noticed some of the colonists' records were a bit suspicious, or suspiciously clean.     But anyway, he was looking for the doctor... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Weniscio is there, looking as miserable as ever. But the doctor is nowhere to be found. His droid, the lanky modified nurse and architect droid, Tubi, is present. And his assistant, the pink skinned Mikkian, is bent over a datapad. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Huh, where was Soren? Cayde had requested those records the doctor had said he'd wanted from Coruscant, and directed them sent here to the office so he'd been wondering if they'd arrived yet. His gaze rests on the Mikkian girl for a moment, then drift over to Weniscio.     Then he enters and sits down near the Dug's berth, just waving at him. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, yeah," he grumps, waving dismissively at the young padawan. "Go ahead and tell me all the reasons why I'm guilty for Dresda's death," he says morosely. "Whatever. I don't care." He folds his arms, then wipes his eyes, grumbling. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde's brows go up at that. [....no you tell me...what are they] he signs, watching Wenisicio intently. He at least seems interested in the Dug's story. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I didn't do it!" He replies immediately. "Everyone's saying I'm the one who put Hedicole up to it, but I didn't. He modified that drill bit himself. Nobody asked him to do that," the Dug complains. "I'm not the bad guy. I just owe a lot of money, but so does everyone! Everyone's got some form of credit chit..." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods silently, listening to what he has to say. [Why then] he questions. [Because... money] he asks, fixing Weniscio with an inquisitive look. Is that why he thought everyone was blaming him? Because of the money he owed? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' the Dug seems confused. "Why do I owe money?? Or why does everyone think I'm the bad guy. Damn, what are you? Dumb as a bantha? I wouldn't know, and it ain't any of your business why I owe money!" He gets up grumpily, rubbing his nose and stumbling out of the medical tent, mumbling incoherently. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde just follows him though, as if he were supposed to. [Second one] he continues signing, even if Weniscio isn't looking at him any more. But he just walks with him anyway. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Weniscio doesn't respond. He just continues mumbling incoherently, ignoring Cayde, and babbling about how everyone is stupid and ignorant. He stumbles over to the public transit station, where a small crowd has gathered to wait for the next train to Kublop. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh, well if Weniscio was going to head back to Kublop, he may as well see him off. He taps the Dug on the shoulder. [You leaving] he asks, glancing at the crowd gathered at the transit stiation. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Hm? What?" The Dug says distractedly. "I'm gonna get something good to drink. I'm gonna check out that new cantina..." Then he hobbles towards the train as it arrives at the station. A group of people pile out, and one of them Cayde will find familiar but not welcome. It's that Tholothian man, the one Cayde also disapproved of Navi hanging around with. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Now what was he here for? Cayde starts following Wenisicio onto the train, but as he passes the man, he tries to probe his mind, seeking his intentions. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The man seems to bear no ill will, he's simply looking for Navi, as he hasn't seen her since she'd left for Ilum. But as soon as Cayde probes his mind, his gaze shifts and he faces the young padawan. Without hesitation, he says to Cayde. "What is it that you want?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     It doesn't surprise him. Of course he's looking for her. Why does she let everyone untrustworthy manipulate her?     <She is with another> And he shows him that moment from that party on Vuundalla, where she'd been seen dancing with Thaarin, and potentially doing...other things. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' This doesn't seem to bother him at all, he shrugs nonchalantly. "I asked you a question," he reiterates. "Will you answer?" But at that moment, he might become vaguely aware of someone nearby who is in pain. And its not Weniscio. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <Yes...leave her alone> Cayde answers him immediately.     He then quickly starts trying to identify just who is in pain and why. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The presence is familiar. The Cathar girl...! She was here, hiding somewhere on the platform. She had been injured a long time ago, and stuck in the valley, since. But before Cayde can make a move towards the girl, the Tholothian man reaches forward and clasps his shoulder. <Why> he says. <Is the matter... personal> 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     If she was injured, why hadn't she gone to medical? And why was she hiding?     But then he's interrupted. He frowns and tries to swipe the hand off of his shoulder but doesn't quite manage it. Why? What kind of question was that? <You are a pirate> 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "And she is capable of protecting herself. You know this," the Tholothian man says calmly. "Why are you concerned for her?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde arches a brow at him. Protecting herself? So, he planned to fight her? And why does he care why Cayde is concerned about her, anyway? [Why do you care] 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Tholothian man doesn't respond right away. He might be about to answer, but then the presence that he'd detected earlier suddenly seems to be in even more distress. She'd been discovered by some of the colonists, it would seem... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     It seems now it was the Tholothian's turn to not have an answer. For a moment he just stares at him intensely. [Do you answer] he asks, similarly to how the man had asked him the same question a moment ago. Then he shrugs when he doesn't get an answer. [Leave her alone] he repeats.     Then he turns and tries to find the Cathar girl. What would the colonists do to her? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Tholothian man is about to answer when Cayde turns to find the Cathar girl. He doesnt follow right away, but he watches Cayde from a distance. It would seem the colonists are harassing her. They're people Cayde has seen around Weniscio before. They're pulling the blanket she'd covered herself with away. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Suddenly, the blanket seems to becomes very difficult to pull away. Almost as if someone else besides the girl was holding it down. Someone very strong, even though it doesn't appear that anyone else is holding onto it other her and them.     Cayde stands a few paces behind them, reaching out with the Force to protect her from their harassment. And also trying to ascertain her situation. Why hadn't she gone to a doctor? She hadn't told him her name the last time he'd seen her, either... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' She smiles weakly when she sees Cayde standing there. "I remember you," she says, flicking his chin playfully. The details surrounding her situation are unclear. She'd been sttacked, and fled where she'd been attacked. Then she'd been wandering in the valley alone for months, creditless. She managed to find her way out recently, and make her way to the platform. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     However, he pushes her hand away when she tries to touch him. Just because he helped her doesn't mean she isn't a threat. She's with those pirates, after all.     He hands her a few credits, just enough to take the tram back to Kublop. [Go] he signs, pointing toward the platform. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "You dont want to know more about what I've heard and seen?" she says. "The pirates are stuck down there. Did you know that? They cant really call those birds you use to get in and out, so they're sitting blurrgs right now." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Really?     A brow goes up at this, and he turns back toward the Tholothian. He didn't seem very stuck. Who were they, anyway? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I wouldn't help her if I was you," The Tholothian man warns. "She is a whore who only wants to share your bed for profit." The Cathar girl pouts, shivering, and slinks away. She look abnormally pale, and limps a little when she walks. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Cathar girl is known as Bissie by the locals. The Tholothian man called himself Crane. Most recognized him by his garb - typical of a Disciple of the Whill. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [And you are better] Cayde replies, although it might not be that clear this was meant to be a rhetorical question. He then looks back over toward her as she limps off. Bissie? Crane? He doubts those are their real names. At the very least, hopefully once she could return to Kupblop, she could get medical attention. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Tholothian man's brow furrows slightly. "I am not a whore," he says matter of factly. He peers at Cayde intently. "Don't I feel familiar to you?" he suddenly asks. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [But you are a pirate] Cayde repeats the statement again, turning to fix him with an intense look. Yes, okay, she might be a whore -and- a pirate, but should he try to find out what else 'Crane' might be in addition to a pirate as well?     He nods at the question of familiarity. [Jedha...] he recalls. Oh, right. He put the Tholothian through a wall. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Tholothian man waves a hand dismissively. "No," he says. "Before that. Long before that." His indigo eyes flash. "Search yourself," he says, "and know it." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     That wasn't possible, was it? He'd barely been allowed out of the Temple until recent years, not to mention off-planet from Coruscant.     Cayde shakes his head. Was this some kind of attempt to manipulate him just as he was doing to Navi? Or trying to. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I knew you," he says, "I think. When you were an infant." Then he sighs, and shakes his head, turning to leave. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Well he supposed that was a possibility. Cayde remembers very little of those years...     But he fails to see why it is relevant. <Why does it matter> he asks, as 'Crane' turns to leave. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' But Crane doesn't dignify Cayde with an answer. He just continues walking, eventually disappearing from view if Cayde does not follow. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     He doesn't. He just shrugs and his gaze wanders back over to the station, looking to see what Weniscio is doing if the Dug is still around... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' However, the Dug is gone. He must have boarded the tram when it had arrived. Bissie is still cowering, though. Seems she hadn't managed to make it onto the tram. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     What? But he'd given her money to go back to Kublop. Why hadn't she boarded? Cayde sighs...well, he could only do so much babysitting of pirates, anyway. He'd hoped to convince Weniscio to trust him, but clearly that hadn't worked.     However, based on the conversation during the briefing, it would seem Xera might be more deeply involved. So he starts toward the most luxurious accommodations, as they're bound to be hers. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' She's not there right now, but one of the windows is open. Cayde won't find it difficult to climb in snd access her personal data pad, which is lying on the low table. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Well, that could be useful. Cayde slips in through the window, and picks the datapad up from the low table, beginning to scroll through it. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' There's not much there to investigate, but some of her personal messages are on it snd Cayde will be able to see that shes been receiving of text transmissions from a man named Couda Guon, apparently some city offical from Jedha. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Couda Guon...now what was his position? He opens the messages and tries to look for a signature, as well as reading the message contents themselves. Hopefully it has his title there somewhere. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He appears to be a district supervisor, and most of his messages are wheedling requests to see her soon, and reminders that she'd promised to be less distant and to consider his marriage proposal. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Marriage? For money, he's certain. But this stank of another of her manipulation schemes. He takes a look at the full message history, as far back as it will go... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' There isn't much else. All the messages are about the same in content, even the older ones. But hell hear the hiss of an airlock opening - someone had entered the Graf abode. Xera herself, perhaps. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde puts the datapad back down on the table, and sits down in one of the lounge chairs, much as if he were just supposed to be here. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Its not Xera, thankfully. It's just Xera's attache, and a maintenance droid. She frowns at Cayde. "What are you doing in here? Did Lady Xera call for you?" she asks, annoyed. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde lies, nodding simply when the droid asks if Xera had requested his presence here. But maybe he should wait at the door instead? [Will be home soon] he asks, standing up. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The attache shakes her head. "No," she says, "She's gone to Kublop to meet with the mayor and hes accomodating her overnight," she says, arching a brow at Cayde. "She wont be back until tomorrow, late. So you should come back then. I have to clean, so you should excuse yourself." Then she heads into the bedroom. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde sighs and nods, heading back out to his own quarters. This time, he's looking for Thaarin... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He's not at their quarters, though. The former naval officer was probably back to work at the construction site for the new comms center. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Well if he wasn't home, then he was probably working. So Cayde turns and heads over to the site, looking for Thaarin again. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The young padawan will find him outside, working on an open panel thats sparking. He seems fully focused on his work, and won't notice Cayde right away if he approaches. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde attempts to sneak up on him and abruptly tap him on the shoulder, hoping to startle him in the same way he'd been startled earlier after the meeting. Unfortunately, he steps on a very dry, dead twig on the ground which cracks very loudly as he approaches the young officer. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin turns around, giving the young padawan a faint smile. "You came from our quarters, didn't you?" he says. "What do you need?" he asks, closing the sparking panel. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Thaarin will have caught him in a rather awkward position as he was about to slap him on the back or tap his shoulder or something. His face flushes as it reddens suddenly, and he deflates, glancing away uncomfortably.     [...nothing] he signs. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue alien chuckles softly and embraces the young Padawan gently this time. "You didnt come looking for me just for the sake of finding me and greeting me? How disappointing~" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde returns the embrace briefly.     Oh but of course he had been...intending to greet him. That's what that was. Yep.     [No...of course...] he signs. [Not need anything]     There's a pause. [How are you] he asks. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I see," Thaarin says warmly. "I suppose I don't have to ne disappointed, after all." ".... I'm alright," he says, after a pause. "As well as I can be." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde pats him gently on the shoulder. Then, he pulls out one of those tiles Thaarin had made for him. This one has a simple drawing of several figures standing together with arms around each other's shoulders. It was meant to represent the idea of family...hopefully, that much is clear. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin seems touched by the gesture. "Camaraderie," he says softly, studying the tile. "Or perhaps a bond even deeper? Familial, even. Well done," he says, patting Cayde on the shoulder. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods, his eyes lighting up when Thaarin seems to understand the imagery just perfectly. [I am here for you] he signs. [Stay long as you wish] he continues.     [Better] he asks, after a second or two. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin pats his cheek gently, offering him a faint smile. "I know," he says, "I'll stay as long as possible," he says, but then his expression suddenly becomes sad for a brief moment. "After that, well I'm sure you'll get along just fine without me." He then turns back to the panel again, opening it. " You'd best be going now," he says, "I've work to do, and Im sure Master Rykard has something in mind for you this afternoon." And he goes back to work. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     But...he hadn't answered the question of whether that had made him feel better. And that sad look wasn't very reassuring.     Cayde sighs when Thaarin turns away from him. That's what they always do, whenever they decide they're done talking to him. And then, he doesn't even get to say goodbye. Oh well. He just turns away and heads off to find his master. 
}}

A Rough Interrogation

2025-07-03T05:37:52Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-06-09 |Synopsis=The group partners tenuously with Mondrian and Veena to question Hedicole about Dresda's death. Things don't go as planned. |Cast of Characters=159, 381, 261, 143 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Forty eight hours after having returned to Tenoo, the group that had gone to Vuundalla will receive an urgent text transmission from Master Rykard himself. The Marshal is apparently call..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-06-09
|Synopsis=The group partners tenuously with Mondrian and Veena to question Hedicole about Dresda's death. Things don't go as planned.
|Cast of Characters=159, 381, 261, 143
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Forty eight hours after having returned to Tenoo, the group that had gone to Vuundalla will receive an urgent text transmission from Master Rykard himself. The Marshal is apparently calling for an urgent debriefing regarding all that had transpired with Hedicole and Xera offworld, between all those who are in leadership of the colony save for a certain particular few. He'd summoned them to his own quarters -- a strange place to meet, but he'd stressed the importance of this meeting being somewhat clandestine... 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike arrives at the quarters and is admitted. The Jedi inspects the room's decor. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi makes sure to be on time for this meeting, unsure of what she's walking into. She'd been slightly less reliable in her particular duties since their return, but that was in order to take extra time to look in on Hedicole's family at least once a day, both to see if Hedicole had returned and to help safeguard the family from any danger that might come up. She's never been inside the Master's quarters, and can't help a sense of curiosity. In her mind, it is probably austere and dignified. Perhaps it is what she expected... or perhaps not. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Pike and Navi will probably won't be surprised by what they find inside -- it's very modest. A bed, a rug, a two futons, and a low table surrounded by pillows in the back corner. Shortly after he arrives, the others trickle in - Master Yutelli, Thaarin, the doctor, Taryn San Tekka, the two security guards, Mondrian and Veena. Rykard hasn't yet arrived, but he'd let them know he's returning from the Temple in the valley and would be in soon. And last but not least, Vons, looking like he hasn't slept since anyone has seen him. But before Navi can ponder the room's furnishings too much, she'll feel someone tap her on the shoulder very gently. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "A true Jedi Master's residence," Navi murmurs, inwardly raising her estimation of Master Rykard a few points as she watches the others trickle in. At the tap, she glances over her shoulder curiously... 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike greets the other guests as they arrive. "Master Pike Windu. How do you do?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The two security guards do not reciprocate Windu's greeting. They give him a chilling look, and sit down on one of the futons. Vons gives Windu a lopsided grin. "Good see you made it back in one piece, too," he says. "I managed to convince Hedicole to come back. But I'm not sure if we're going to get anything else out of him..." When Navi glances back to see who's tapping her gently, she'll find Thaarin standing directly behind her. He's cleaned up and no longer drunk or hungover. He moves to exit the tent, and beckons. "A brief, private word, if you don't mind?" he says demurely. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Yes. But only until Master Rykard arrives," Navi replies softly, following Thaarin outside the tent. The looks of the security guards at Master Windu's polite greetings do her sense of impending trouble no favors, and Vons' obvious exhaustion draws a pang of deep sympathy. She pauses long enough to hug him briefly. "Thank you for finding him and convincing him to return. I've been looking in on his family, and they've been worried about him. We're all in your debt for bringing him home," she whispers. "I hope we can talk privately once this is over." She releases him, somewhat reluctantly, and hurries after Thaarin. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Thank the Force we all made it back at all." Pike smiles weakly. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin nods almost imperceptibly, and heads outside. Vons has a pained look on his face when Navi thanks and hugs him, and he watches her longingly as she goes out after the tall blue alien man. Once they're both outside, Navi will find the two of them under a beautiful tree full of exotic looking blue blossoms. Thaarin reaches up and picks one, offering it to her, his expression calm. "I wanted to apologize for my behavior the other night," he says in a tone that matches his expression. "It was foul, inappropriate, and I overstepped your boundaries. And if you feel the need to no longer associate with me, I understand completely and I'll do my best to keep my distance. However, if not, I want to reassure you that my feelings for you remain strictly platonic in nature. I was drunk, but it was all entirely an act. And I'm certain it was for you, as well." A brief pause. "Right?" "Yeah," Vons says to Pike after a moment, looking defeated. "Thank.. thank the Force." But before the Master can further comment, the doctor pulls him aside, his expression anxious and uncomfortable, similar to how he'd seemed earlier. "I need to ask you something," he says gravely. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi accepts the blossom with a faint, sad smile. "It was, partly. Though I think you may want to be more careful of the potency of the drinks in the future. You gave me quite a fright at the end there," she advises gently. "Given how wild things got in that club, I was worried for your safety, but there was no way to go back to help you... not with a full-scale panic inside the club, and security thugs and other varieties of thugs roaming all over the city in the aftermath of the disturbance. I'm glad you were able to get out of there unharmed." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Of course." The Jedi Master bows his head. I will answer the best I can." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin's brows knit together suddenly, and for the first time, he looks visibly uncomfortable and genuinely concerned. "Wait," he says, those burning scarlet eyes of his searching her expression intently, "What do you mean, 'partly?'" But Navi won't really get to answer, as at that moment, Master Rykard appears. He nods at Thaarin and Navi in turn. "Good morning, you two," he says, "Thank you for coming on such short notice. Shall we?" he says, holding the door to his habsuite open and gesturing for them to come back inside. The doctor glances back towards the Master Yutelli briefly, then says to Pike. "Have the medics or the healers at the Temple ever had ... a reason to falsify records? Or omit details?" he asks quietly and fervently. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Master," Navi replies, bowing from the shoulders to Master Rykard as he addresses them. "Right away." She moves to follow him inside, with a hasty whisper for Thaarin. "My fright was quite real... you're quite an actor." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:''' Pike scoffs. "The Jedi Order is thousands of years old. I would not be surprised if it has been done." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin chuckles softly. "Oh, that," he says quietly, "that wasn't an act, actually. I was quite unwell yesterday. But you need not worry about me. I've endured much, much worse than several shots worth of liquor and a hangover. You would have wanted me out of the way, anyway, I can't imagine you'd have liked keeping track of a incapacitated drunk while saving lives." He takes the flower from her hand and tucks it behind her ear, but doesn't take a seat next to her. Instead, he moves to the opposite side of the tent and leans against a bulkhead, although once everyone is seated, there's an open spot next to her... The doctor's frown deepens. "What about recently," he asks, "as in, within your lifetime--" But then Rykard comes in, and the doctor abruptly cuts off, his expression glazing over. He goes back to the lounge area, and takes a seat on one of the futons. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi nods to Thaarin, a bit relieved to know he hadn't suffered too terribly. She hastily takes her seat, leaving the surprising flower perched in her hair. She doesn't want to throw it away, and she has no other practical place to put it. She is a bit surprised to see the doctor hastily leave Master Windu's company as Master Rykard enters, but says nothing to Master Windu for the moment. There will be time for questions later. She hopes. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     When Master Rykard arrives, Pike gives him his full atention. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Greetings everyone," Rykard says, "Thank you for coming at such a short notice," he continues. "The doctor has completed the autopsy of Dresda, and will be sharing the results of it with us today." He then nods at the doctor. The doctor takes a moment to insert a small datastick into a holoprojector on the low table, and a copy of a report flickers into view. "Mostly internal hemorrhaging from a long fall," he says. "He did suffer a few third degree burns but they were not fatal. Seems he was the victim of some kind of explosion." He glances over at Vons, Pike, and Navi, brows furrowing, as if asking them to confirm whether the facts line up or not. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "There is a disturbing rumor that the accident was no accident at all, but I can neither confirm nor deny the rumor. Not yet," Navi states, softly but clearly. "But an explosion does not seem typical of a mere accidental collapse, or a mere deadly fall. It cleaves more closely to sabotage. But who would want to commit such an act, and why?" 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Alerted by the doctor's question, Pike reaches out with the Force to sense if the doctor is holding something back. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "No, that makes sense," Vons chimes in. "Remember, Hedicole had said that Weniscio wanted him to modify a piece of equipment for him. He said that the task sounded like something he shouldn't have done." His brows furrow. "Unfortunately, this probably does implicate him in Dresda's murder." The elder Master Jedi will find that even though the doctor seems fully present in the moment, his mind is chaos. He is thinking about other things. He'd received Cayde's full medical file from the Temple, and whatever he'd found in it had greatly displeased him. And the Arkanians. He's afraid of what they are attempting behind his back. He also has reason to believe that they'd exacerbated things the day that Dresda had died. Harrah is paralyzed from the waist down, but maybe that could have been avoided... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Hedicole is a good man desperate to protect his family. He admits he made a mistake in trusting Weniscio, someone he considered a friend. I'm hopeful we can persuade him to cooperate with our investigation, and that we can protect him and his family, whom he cares about above and beyond his own life," Navi adds. "I can only ask that Hedicole is shown mercy for what was clearly a terrible mistake on his part, one he would not have made if he were aware of Weniscio's actual intentions." "I also recommend that Weniscio be taken into custody. We do not yet know the full extent of his role in this tragedy, but he clearly had ill will toward his victims, and that is more than enough to see him jailed," she adds. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike nods in agreement as he considers the information he has. He decides to attempt a sharing with Navi. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The blonde security guard, Mondrian cuts in rudely, almost cutting Navi off. "That's not how the justice system works," he growls, "you can't just 'show mercy' to a sleemo just because he says it was a 'mistake.' Plus, you're entirely basing this whole assumption of 'he wouldn't have done it if he'd known' on good faith. Which won't hold up in court, because he could have asked, he just didn't. He actively chose not to. And in my opinion, that's -worse-." He leans forward, scowling. "You also can't just convict someone based on intent alone. I could want to murder you right now," he says in a dangerously calm tone of voice, "but if I never make any threats or actions that reveal I do, you can't throw me into a correctional vessel. We have no concrete evidence, other than Hedicole's word, that he's responsible." He then leans on the back wall of the hab suite. "But sure, we can see what Wenisicio says." As if on cue, a couple of the Graf security droids storm into Master Rykard's quarters, dragging in the hapless Dug, Wenisicio. "What's the meaning of this!" Master Rykard says, standing suddenly. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Is that so, Mr. Mondrian?" Navi retorts. "It just so happens I've heard a few rumors about /you/, too... ones I doubt you'd want this council to hear! Most of them are to the tune of, 'utter contempt for the rights of Republic citizens', 'eagerness for arrests to boost his reputation', and, 'abuse of his authority'. Perhaps you'd best be grateful I can't substantiate /them/. Yet." She's probably just made herself a target in the arrogant security man's eyes, but better herself than Hedicole and his family! "I also recall stating that said mercy should be based on cooperation with our investigation, something you rather conveniently failed to mention. Perhaps you have found out something relevant recently? Something you are willing to share with the council?" She has no chance to say more, or even to await an answer, because just then Weniscio is dragged in by a pair of Graf security droids. "That was quick," she murmurs. "Please do explain yourselves, Master Droid? You clearly were not expected here, especially with a guest in tow," she adds, at a more conversational volume. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Mondrian just smirks at her, folding his arms. He doesn't seem to feel threatened by her at all. The droid doesn't respond to Navi. It just stares at Navi, then turns around and then leaves. Vons regards Wenisicio with furrowed brows. "We talked to Hedicole," he says. "he tells us you put him up to modifying a piece of equipment illegally. Is this true? And related to Dresda's death?" The Dug coughs and shakes his head, to regain his composure. "That kriffing Chadra Fan is just telling his side of the story!" he cries. "He's just as wrapped up in all of this as anyone else might be! He hated Dresda's guts. He serviced the speeders used by the Sarlacc's Fangs, the bitterest rivals to Dresda's people, the Flowering Mandalorians. I know, stupid name. They're not Mandalorians. But you can ask him yourself... he won't deny it.... " 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I didn't think so. For someone with the word 'security' in your job description, you don't appear to do very much actual securing of this colony or its people," Navi adds. She watches the droids leave, then looks to Wenisicio. "Is that so? I wonder just how much of a role you played in every last bit of those accusations. And just who else had a hand in them." She looks to the council, ignoring Mondrian. "And just when did this colony become the centerpiece of a gang conflict? Those names he just rattled off don't sound in the least respectable. If anyone has any answers, I'd very much love to hear them." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Weniscio points angrily at Navi. "Don't you put the blame on me for this!! This was all before we came here. And he asked for it. And if he didn't want to take them as clients, then he shouldn't have. But he did! And that's not on me!!" Mondrian gets up, and saunters slowly over to the Dug. "Sarlacc's Fangs, huh? And the Flowering Mandalorians, too. You wanna tell me exactly how you got so familiar with them...?" Weniscio's averts his gaze. "What? I didn't.. I didn't say I was," he babbles, "I know 'bout them, but--" And then suddenly. Mondrian strikes the side of the Dug's face so hard that he collapses, his nose bleeding. "Ah!!! O-Ow!!" He whimpers. "Let's try that again," Mondrian starts. But before Weniscio can answer, Thaarin steps in, his gaze steely and his eyes burning like hell's flames. "You'll stop," he says. "Treat him like a sentient." Mondrian frowns, and for the briefest moment, looks intimidated. He backs away. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike listens closely and says nothing for now. When Mondrian strikes Weniscio, he is startled and steps forward to kneel over the injured al ien. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Hedicole was desperate enough to protect his family that he was seeking a way off of this colony," Navi says. "By any means necessary. We only just saved him from taking passage with a trafficker in sentients... a slaver! Me, I want to know what he was afraid of, and I'm damned sure it wasn't Republic Security." She moves to kneel beside Wenisicio. "I have no intention to beat information out of you, even if I doubt you'd spare any similar pity or mercy for me or anyone else, if our roles were reversed," she says, her tone low and angry. "It's clear to me that you know a lot more than you're telling. You know what Hedicole was afraid of. And you will tell us everything you know, or I'll gladly let Mondrian have you... or Xera Graf and her droids!" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Oh please!" Mondrian growls when Pike comes to kneel in front of Weniscio. "You're gonna treat him like some kind of VIP over a bloody nose? C'mon!" The Dug growls. "Are you stupid, girl? What do you -think- he's afraid of?! It's -you-. It's -him-." He points emphatically at Mondrian. "It's all of you. You do gooding types! You have no idea what's it's like to never have... have nothing!!! You don't know what it's like, to have the system against you. To be afraid of gettin' jailed for bein'... bein' hungry! To always be looking over your damn shoulder, wondering if the BPIC is on your ass for just existing where they think you shouldn't!" "Okay, look people. We're clearly not going to get anywhere without both of them present," Vons says. "Let's figure out a time and place for a joint interrogation, but after all of this. Yeah? Okay." "I'll take him to medical," the doctor offers. "Master Windu, will you accompany me?" he says, getting up and helping the Dug to his feet. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike shoots a glare at the security man. Then he nods at the doctor. "Certainly." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Somehow I doubt hunger is your usual motivation," Navi retorts softly to the Dug. Rising, she looks to Pike and the doctor. "Take every precaution against his escape, Master. The only thing we can trust about Mister Wenisicio is that he cannot be trusted, least of all to behave himself." "Thank you Vons, Thaarin. That was promising to get extremely ugly," she adds gratefully to the two men. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The doctor then hastily as possible exits the tent, helping the moaning Dug along. He glances at Pike. His expression is full of tension, repressed frustration. "Look," he says to Windu tenuously. "I know you don't like me very much. But I am going to need your help." "I agree with Vons," Rykard says, "We can arrange a time to talk to both of them. It doesn't seem helpful to interrogate them individually." Thaarin then stands, his expression becoming far away for a moment. Then he turns around, addressing everyone. "This is just a notion for the time being," he says, "but I have a suspicion, that Dresda dying did not surprise Xera at all. This could be because she knew it was going to happen, and said nothing, or, she knows more about your colonist's histories than she's letting on." "I spoke with her the other day," he says, "and with some persuasion she told me about the man she'd gone to visit at the nightclub. He was a former lover of sorts, I think. And he'd done a number of favors for her in regards to recruiting for the Tenoo Initiative," he says. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As Soren and Pike turn to take Weniscio away to medical, they'll find Cayde standing near the doorway, leaning against one of the structural supports. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:''' Pike grunts. "I am a Jedi. I will help anyone, no matter my feelings for them, if helping is for a good cause." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Wait... recruiting? Was he behind the heavy recruiting drive on Jedha? I was there for that, and it was almost as chaotic as a riot," Navi adds. "It was one of a number of things that has given me great concern for the success of this colony. It's quite well known now that the initiative was close to failing in its recruiting numbers, until it very suddenly ballooned to the necessary levels. This individual may be behind that sudden recruiting spike." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Thank you," The doctor says, sounding relieved. "Look. I'm worried about the Arkanians. They poached some of the medical supplies from the main storage cache, and told no one. When I asked about it, they made the excuse that it was reasonable to think that we weren't in imminent danger of an emergency -- " And then Cayde turns up from out of the blue. He straightens, and turns to face the young padawan. "Hello, Cayde. Is everything alright?" he asks. "Yes," Thaarin says demurely. "I believe he, and perhaps a number of others he's connected to within the Jedha government, were responsible for those numbers ballooning. Now, what that could mean, I'm not sure. I'm going to keep visiting her, and see if there's anything else I can glean from her." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike frowns. He is about to answer when they see Cayde. "Padawan." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods briefly toward both of them when Soren asks if everything is all right. However, it may seem odd as he is wearing his robe with hood up although it is a rather warm and clear day out. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Thank you for looking into this, Thaarin. Please keep us informed of anything else you may discover," Navi replies, nodding. "I think I speak for everyone here when I say that this information is troubling. If this colony can become a safe home for sentients with no other place to go, I'm all for it. But I'm not sure that's what's happening. Not in light of recent events." She looks sharply at Mondrian. "I also think that you and your people should make yourselves useful. No matter who you answer to on Coruscant, you are living /here/ right now. If this colony fails, you're in quite as much danger as the rest of us. Best you conduct yourselves accordingly... as contributing members of this colony." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Soren sighs, shaking his head. Cayde won't need the Force to discern that he doesn't believe him, but he's too busy, stressed, and frustrated at the moment to try to addressing right now. He starts following Pike as he heads back to the medical ward with Weniscio. Thaarin nods imperceptibly, Mondrian just scowls. "Well, it's certainly not you," he remarks sarcastically. Rykard then stands, frowning at Mondrian, but nods at Navi's comment. "We will make this colony a safe haven, no matter what it takes," the elder Ikkrukki Master says. "For now, this meeting is adjourned. I must bring these matters before the Council." He then gets up, goes out of his habsuite, and the others file out after him. He sees Cayde in the hallway, and beams. "Cayde! Did you find anything remarkable at the ruins?" Navi and Thaarin will find themselves last to leave, with the tall blue alien just ahead of Navi. He hesitates in the doorway. "Navi..." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [Master] Cayde signs in reply. He nods and takes out a datapad, beginning to show him some scans he'd taken of several ancient texts he doesn't know how to read, and more of those birds that look like the one they'd ridden on the first time. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Of course not... I wouldn't want the responsibility for cleaning up your messes," Navi retorts to Mondrian. "But I'm hardly the only one in this colony with eyes and ears. If you continue to treat sentients like they're nothing to you, you'd best be prepared to have those feelings reciprocated if this colony fails. Consider that warning with all due care." She nods to Master Rykard as he adjourns the meeting, waiting her turn to leave. Finding Thaarin wishing to speak with her, she pauses. "What is it?" she asks softly. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Oh!" The elder Ikkrukki Master says, clearly delighted. "Excellent... these look to be at three thousand years old. Well done," he says to Cayde with a chuckle. He then peers at the scans of the birds. "They seem to have quite an affinity for you," he says, "did you find where they roost...?" Thaarin sighs quietly. "I'm so sorry for using you in the manner I did," he says, "I got what I wanted, but at what cost? I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I went along with your plan in spite of my misgivings, because I felt it was the only way. I've already forgiven you for any wrong you may have done me," Navi replies softly to Thaarin. "Please, don't beat yourself up on my behalf. I know you meant no harm. And it looks like we did accomplish something for our efforts... we cracked Lady Xera's shell. With the blessings of the Force, we may yet save her, and this colony." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Yes, it is a bit strange, but perhaps his new feathered friends are drawn to his ability to connect with them without the need for any civilized language.     He nods at the question, and opens a map of the valley, where it appears he has marked a few different nesting locations around the ruins. But what were they? Had anyone yet classified them? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin forces a faint smile, but it's so utterly convincing that Navi won't be able to tell it is. "You should be less cooperative~" he says teasingly, sofly, sweetly. "You should be less forgiving, less kind, less feeling." He affectionately adjusts the flower in her hair, as it had been sagging a little. "Lest a vile creature or animal come and destroy you, for being too pure and good." "You should ask the locals," Rykard says with a nod. "My young padawan, you've done so well in the past few days. Finding Hedicole, helping rescue him from the slavers even though he was not grateful for it. And then the ancient texts you found. I'm quite proud of you... But now I must send a report to the Council." He pats Cayde on the shoulder and then heads out. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I'll take care of that when it happens. Probably with a lightsaber," Navi replies softly, with a faint smile of her own. "Someday you'll make some sweet girl very, very happy, Thaarin. Please invite me to the wedding when that happy day comes." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Right, maybe someone in Kublop knows. But when his master pats him on the shoulder, he winces just a little bit. But it quickly passes, and he takes out one of those small tiles Thaarin had given him and starts a simple but accurate as possible representation of the giant yet friendly birds from the valley. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He chuckles softly. "Well, you will," he says. "but I won't. If I stay here in the Outer Rim until the day of my death, I may. But I cannot. And I will not." For the briefest moment, he looks wistful and very sad. But as quickly as the look comes, it goes. "There will come a day, when I have to leave, and you'll never see me again. I hope that by then, you'll have found someone and discover that forgetting me is quite easy." He brushes a stray strand of her hair away from her face, and then exits the tent. He sees Cayde, and comes up silently behind him, observing the drawing without saying anything for a moment. Then suddenly, he says, "Those are the birds that take you to the valley, aren't they?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi hugs Thaarin tightly as he looks sad. "It'll happen wherever you go, Thaarin. I'm sure of it," she whispers. "Even if I never get to see you together, I'll be happy for you. May the Force be with you." She releases him and watches him walk out of the tent, brushing a tear from the inner corner of one eye. Mastering her emotions, though not without effort, she leaves the tent at last. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde startles rather dramatically, dropping the tile and stylus. They clatter to the floor as he jumps and turns suddenly to face Thaarin, his eyes wide. He surely would have screamed if he could. But as it is, he just scrambles to pick up the items he'd dropped. Ugh, he'll never get used to that.     When Navi leaves, he watches her momentarily, considering following her for a moment. But this time he doesn't. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin laughs, which isn't something that happens very often, and hugs the young padawan tightly from the side. He squeezes his shoulder affectionately. "Isn't precognition one of the many specialties the Force lends to the Jedi?" he teases. "That was a nice drawing," He tells him, "perhaps we could go into Kublop Springs to find out more about them, what do you think?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde flinches slightly again when Thaarin squeezes him, then shakes his head.     [Not everyone] he signs, pouting a bit. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue alien smiles faintly and releases him. "Then perhaps one day you'll learn it," he says softly. "I'll see you later, alright? Perhaps you'll feel like going into town then ..." and with that, he heads out. 
}}

Bridal Duel

2025-07-03T05:35:27Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-06-05 |Synopsis=Caine and Volken duel at Thaelin's wedding. |Cast of Characters=159, 321, 296 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Volken won't get much of a chance to gather his thoughts - mere seconds after the baron turns on his heel and heads for the ballroom, the massive Mandalorian will hear the sound of glasses clinking, typically the signal given before a toast or speech was given. He'll be..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-06-05
|Synopsis=Caine and Volken duel at Thaelin's wedding.
|Cast of Characters=159, 321, 296
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Volken won't get much of a chance to gather his thoughts - mere seconds after the baron turns on his heel and heads for the ballroom, the massive Mandalorian will hear the sound of glasses clinking, typically the signal given before a toast or speech was given. He'll be able to hear the room hush, and as he presumably makes his way inside, he'll see Caine standing to his feet and approaching the dais, apparently to give some kind of speech as best men usually do. A few glances are cast Volken's way - some of them probably had seen the dossier while he and Caine had been arguing. But no one comments, at least. Meanwhile, when Varen arrives at the spaceport, the infatuated young Mandalorian male immediately says to Ellari, "Well? I'm here, are you going to tell me where we're going? And why?" 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Mm..." Volken merely does a dull rumble of discontent as he watches this happen and moves his great bulk towards the back of the room. He stands there, arms folded and head bowed slightly so that his chin rests atop his enormous chest. Overall - a fairly stand offish presence as he glowers towards the speech being given and then begins to search the room with his eyes to see the looks being given his way. He says nothing, however. A remarkable feat, really. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari nods and motions for Varen to follow her onto her ship.     Once inside, assuming he follows, she finally begins to explain. "We will be headed off-planet, to Jedha to meet with Master Trassa Volk. We believe he may be able to help us."     There's a bit of a pause before she continues. "Now that I have been honest with you, why don't you do the same and tell me if you really are an expert slicer or not." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Lady Solstice approaches Volken with a smile, and pulls out a chair for him. "Why don't you sit?" she says quietly, just as Caine comes to stand just behind the podium. His gaze scans the crowd, resting briefly on Volken with an unreadable expression before addressing the crowd. "Many of you may find it distasteful that I've been given this honor," he begins, "But that is not why I'm grateful and undeserving of it..." "A... Jedi?" Varen follows, then says, his brown furrowing. He lowers his voice. "We would go to our sworn... enemies?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari sighs and rolls her eyes, having expected that reaction. "Yes, I know it sounds crazy and it probably is, but we have very few options at this point. We need an outside party, and the Jedi are rather keen on justice and defending the innocent and all that, I'm sure. They are not the sort to lie or backstab, unlike some of -us-..." she shakes her head. "Besides, based on what I have heard from Volken, some of them may not be all that bad." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Her arrival is timely. He had -just- been about to message Ellari but he immediately freezes as she arrives. "Ah...well... If The Lady insists." he says after an awkward pause. He then slowly lowers his great bulk down into the offered chair before turning his gaze back towards the podum just in time to see Caine's glance. Volken merely arcs an eyebrow but says nothing and then he leans backwards to test the sturdiness of the chair beneath him. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "So... What will the Jedi help us with? Deciding if Jorn is truly guilty or not?" he says, looking more and more uncertain by the passing second. The Lady smiles, ignoring the moment Volken had frozen in middle of messaging Ellari, and takes a seat next to Volken. Well, so much for messaging Ellari back in a timely fashion. "There has been no truer vod than Thaelin Thyssel. We've known each other since birth, and he has never failed to be loyal or righteous, even when the choice was hard. And I'm truly happy he has found a fine woman, equal in merit and honor to himself to wed. Best wishes to my brave, kind, and unwavering cousin and vod, Thaelin Thyssel, and his beautiful bride, Sanza K'oen." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Let's be fair now." Ellari folds her arms. "It's your turn. You answer my questions first, then I will answer more of your questions." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' THe giant looks at Lady Solstice for a few seconds as she sits next to him but then turns his attention back tot he podium as the speech is given. Volken inclines his head, listening and then is forced to shrug lighlty to himself while lifting an eyebrow. It was a good speech..though he's not surprised at Caine's ability there. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "...fine," Varen says. He avoids eye contact with Ellari, then shrugs. "I can get by. That's all I'll say about that," he says. Caine holds up his glass as he concludes his speech to propose a toast, and everyone once again clinks glasses. Lady Solistice, who's sitting next Volken, offers hers up next to his. "To their happy union," she says, "and prosperity. May their generosity never exceed their wealth," she murmurs. "Say, I heard you were getting a share of the dowry, just like the rest of the wedding party. What do you plan to do with that districts promised you?" 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Not sure yet..." answers Volken after he lowers his drink and....truthfully speaking honestly there. "..I hadn't thought that far ahead. I tend to...take things one step at a time as I get inspired. At least I'll have it to do somethin' with it I suppose.." he rumbles. He then casts a quick glance down at her, "...Hm...why do you ask? Like you said, I'm not the only one getting something...." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Mm. Fine, then the best answer I can give you is that I am not sure yet at this point. That is why we are going to meet Mast Volk, and see what he has to say. Then I will know more." Ellari tells him. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I was just curious," the Lady says, her helmet masking her expression. She does, however, take it off after a few seconds to take a sip of her drink. "You seem like the type averse to politicking and bureaucracy in all forms, but correct me if I'm wrong," she says. "Besides, that'd require for you to be on Mandalore more than than just once a year too, you know. Varen seems a bit skeptical of her answer. "Alright, then," he says. "We're leaving, now? Just us?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "No, Volken and Jorn should be joining us soon." Ellari replies, shaking her head and checking her commlink to see if either of them have updated her... 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "What can I say. I like money." remarks Volken, giving her an almost sharkish grin as she questions him. He studies her as she removes her helmet. His hadn't been on in quite some time so the full expanse of his expressions has been on display.. including his narrowed eyes and smug smile as he answers her. He then looks away, "As to being on the planet..I dunno. Maybe. Maybe I wanna settle down. Maybe I wanna find me a wife of my own. Maybe I hire folk to sweat the small details while I do my thing and bring in more credits from off world efforts. Who knows. WHy? You got some tips?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Varen sighs, deflating. "-Both- of them?" He rests his chin in his hands. "But why? Surely shouldn't one of them stay here to keep on eye on ... things?" Lady Solstice smiles. "Well, not really. Unless you're looking for some? I did, however, want to you let you know that if you're looking for a wife, a real estate agent who knows the lay of Mandalore like none other, and hired help to help manage things while you're away -- I can help arrange that. I do happen to know a wide variety of folk around here." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Oh yeah? I'll keep that in mind. Maybe I can get you to put in a good word for me with ..... Ellari Zin. She's kinda cute. As to the rest, I'm sure I'll lean on you for some advice...pretty soon. Course Thaelin's been raised pretty well. He probably owes me a few tips considerin' what I've been through for his wedding." Volken grins, full toothed at the Lady and then finally begins to rise, lumbering up to his full height. "'Scuse me for a minute. Gotta go drain myself, if you know what I mean." He collects his helmet and bows his head respectfully to Lady Solstice. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "If they both wish to come, yes. Jorn has to, as Volk needs to speak with him face-to-face. As for Volken, it is his choice." She arches a brow at Varen. "Why, do you have a problem with it?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Lady Solstice's brow goes up when he says he'd like for her to put in a good word for him with Ellari. "Interesting," she says, "I'll see what I can do," she says with a nod. "Very well. We'll speak soon, then, Mons." she says demurely. "Hurry back. The first dance will commence soon." Varen pauses. "No," he says. "It's... not a problem. Jorn I understand, but Volken ... " His lips press into a thin line. He must have still been jealous over that little incident. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "No promises. Takes me awhile but I'm sure you dont' want to hear all the details." Volken's grin is mildly goofy now but he turns and starts off before she can say anything else. To his credit - it looks like he -does- head for what passes for the rest rooms though upon entering it, he slows to see if anyone is around and then waits for it to become empty before moving in fully, unzipping upon finding a full sized urinal and then...proceeding to find relief. Hands free even! It's a good excuse and one that works well for him as it's unlikely anyone will dare to approach him. <<I'm stuck at the wedding.>> he finally answers Ellari. <> 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari rolls her eyes. Speaking of Volken, her commlink lights up and she checks the message. "Well it seems you are lucky, he is otherwise occupied at the moment so perhaps he will not join us at the moment."     |I see. If they require persuading I will be sure to remind them. I certainly hope you are victorious over that sorry excuse for a fighter...please do not hold back. Anyway, let me know once you're finished. If Jorn has not yet arrived we may as well wait. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Outside, Volken will start to hear music playing. He should probably head back... at some point. Varen doesn't say anything. He simply folds his arms and looks way haughtily. "So... we leave as soon as Jorn arrives?" he says. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Yes." Ellari confirms, nodding. "Look, stop with the long face. If you want to be here, then act like it. If you don't, then please be on your way. No one will hold anything against you if you do." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' He waits. Stil going. Going. Going. Then the the commlink picks up her response. Volken reads and then rumbles mildly annoyed before typing out another message back to her. <<If Jorn arrives don't wait for me. I'm in the wedding party so if I bail on the wedding it'll just make things worse. Lady Solstice is still trying to smooth talk and manipulate me. I'll be needed here to deal with some other factors that have come up. >> "Ugh...why am I doing this again?" he complains, needing the occasional reminder. He just shakes his head and continues. Still going, going, going.... The music starts playing but he can hardly go out just yet! Plus ..this is quite literallly the last thing he wanted to do. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Fine," Varen says. He folds his arms, and doesn't reply to her comment. "Well, while we're waiting, I might as well have a crack at whatever it is you did want me slice." A minute or so after the music starts playing, Er'gi comes in, and sees Volken at the urinal. "Do you think he'll keep his word?" he asks. "The Baron, anyway." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Volken grunts, placing one hand on his hip and letting the other arm fall to his side now to now fully attend to this momentary reprieve. Still going! "Er'gi!" he rumbles at the arrival of the other large man, rolling the r in his name in a playful manner. Clearly the giant has become fond of the other one, starting to file him in the same category that contains Thaelin. But he grows serious soon enough, looking up slightly to glance over his shoulder. "..I dunno vod. Well. No. I doubt he will but...I have to try vod. It was Thaelin's idea, it was. Smart kid." He falls silent save for the sound of him doing his business still and then he adds, "Course if I lose somehow...I guess the real question is will I keep mine." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     |Yes that is what I meant. If Jorn arrives we will go, but you know where to find us once you are finished. Good luck, Volken...     "That will have wait until Jorn arrives, but I will tell him to fetch the drives from his ship." She then turns to her comms and starts to do just that. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "You must," Er'gi says, although whether that's in reference to winning or keeping his word, the other doesn't specify. "You're second on the dossier. The first dance is ending soon... I look forward to seeing you fight again, vod." Then he finishes his business and exits the refreshers. For a moment, Varen looks impatient. "Well you said we could visit the refectory around the corner," he says after a moment. "And we're doing nothing but waiting, so..." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "I don't know when Jorn will arrive. Perhaps you should go, and pick out something." Ellari offers. "Then we can enjoy it together on board." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Nngh." Volken's grunt is non committal as he hears Er'gi's words. The premise of just abandoning his promise to Caine if he would lose hasn't completely left him. As a Mandalorian he's always been on the fringe of 'proper behavior' after all .. But at the same time, he realizes now that if he -was- to break his word it might bounce back on Thaelin and the others. Damn. "I guess I just gotta win then." he rumbles, still continuing his business ...and doing so for a good while after Er'gi leaves. When he's -finally- finished, he proceeds to attend to sanitzation - he's not a barbarian after all - an then starts to slowly tromp back outside to the rest of the party. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Varen pauses briefly, deflating just a little. Then he finally says, "....alright," quietly, and makes his way out of the ship. He returns half an hour later, with a box full of expensive looking pastries. "I hope you like jogan fruit," he says, chuckling softly. When Volken arrives on the scene, he'll catch the tail end of the first dance. For the first time in days, Thaelin actually seems happy, though that look of tiredness still hasn't left him. Once the dance has concluded, both he and Sanza don their traditional clan armor for their first fight - a staple of Mandalorian wedding culture, apparently. Volken might notice that most of the guests are relatively drunk, as well, and being as loud as possible when making bets on who'd win the first fight. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' He had been drinking quite a bit - as evidence by his recent activities - but Volken doesn't get drunk easy. This gives him a good bit fo clarity and amusement as he observes the guests. IT's only a matter of time before something gets out of hand. He'd almost welcome that, actually, considering the other things that lay ahead. With Er'gi gone and the others attending to their business...there's little for him to od and none for him to speak to so he just watches as the fight readies itself to begin, slowly folding his arms again as he does so. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "I like it just fine." Ellari replies, examining the pastries he has purchased. Well, he certainly hadn't spared any credits. She is still somewhat full from the party, but they do look enticingly delicious. "Thank you." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' At the end of the first fight, things already start to escalate a bit. A few drinks are thrown, someone gets a bloody nose and stumbles to the refreshers without retaliating. But Volken won't have much time to think about it, since Caine is already making his way to the ring, donning his armor and drawing his sword. "...fine?" Varen deflates a little again. "Well, why don't you try them, at least? Let me know what you think?" He gives her an anxious look. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "I'm sure they're delicious. At least they look it." Ellari replies, taking one of them and tasting it, then nodding.     "So, tell me...have you ever been to Jedha?" she asks. "Tell me what you've been up to all these years. And actually tell me this time. Stop being so frustratingly vague. If you think that will somehow impress me then you're sadly wrong." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Seeing this, Volken lifts his helmet up and dons it and then begins re-fastening his own armor back on and then slipping his hands down into his energized knuckle dusters. "Wish me luck, vod." he says after passing by Er'gi..and then he starts to make his way towards the dueling ring to join Caine and any others who may be up on it. He takes a moment to briefly look for Thaelin..but then refocuses his attention on making his way over 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "No," Varen admits. "I haven't ventured outside of Mandalorian space. Well.. except for maybe a couple of times." He sighs. "In all honesty, I haven't done much, Ellari. I graduated from primary school, went to work as a janitor at a local repair bay in Sundari, then eventually was hired as security at the impounding yard." A pause. "What have -you- been doing all these years?" Er'gi nods in silent well wishes, watching Volken enter the ring. Thaelin at the north side of the ring, watching, lips pressed together in a thin line as if to say, "Do what you must." Caine surveys him quietly, his weapon draw but angled down. He's clearly waiting for Volken to make the first move... 
}}

The Tenoo Frontier

2025-07-03T05:32:38Z

Sindt:

The Republic is sending at least two thousand colonists to an Outer Rim planet called Tenoo, to found a new colony there alongside the existing one, Kublop Springs. But the Jedi and their allies have reason to believe that many of the colonists are not who they seem to be. They hope for the best, but expect the worst, as relational tensions begin to develop and possibly jeopardize the Republic's effort to found a new colony on Tenoo.

===== Logs =====
* [[The Tenoo Initiative]]

* [[Registration Day]]

* [[Recruitment Day]]

* [[The Preliminary Seminar]]

* [[A Dual Role]]

* [[Boarding the Legacy II]]

* [[Quarantine]]

* [[Quarantine Visit]]

* [[Communication Relay]]

* [[The Vergence and the Temple]]

* [[Conflict]]

* [[The Start of Something Bad]]

* [[An Excursion to Ilum]]

* [[An Attempted Assassination]]

* [[Rescue Mission]]

* [[Playing Hooky]]

* [[Unknown Aliens]]

* [[Ding Dong! Dresda is Dead]]

* [[Stopover On Jedha]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 1]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 2]]

* [[Fake IDs]]

* [[A New Lead on an Old Friend]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 3]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 4]]

* [[Return to Tenoo]]

* [[Confrontation]]

* [[Founder's Day]]

* [[Jedi Temple Revealed]]

* [[Nightclub On Vuundalla]]

* [[Suitemates]]

===== Colonists =====
<gallery>
File:Soren.png|Dr. Cassias - well renowned doctor formerly convicted for falsifying Heydan Seegil's toxicology report.
File:Vons.png|Arsok Vons - private investigator who helped exonerate Navi in a murder case and aided in exposing the marauders who attacked the Temple of the Kyber.
File:Fan Four.png|Fan Four - four teenaged Chadra Fans who helped Navi discover who was behind the raid on the Temple of Kyber.
File:Xera.png|Xera Graf - Primary financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. A powerful member of the notoriously rich and influential hyperspace prospecting Graf family.
File:Unknown.png|Taryn San Tekka - The other major financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. He is a member of another rich hyperspace prospecting family, rival to the Grafs.
File:Unknown.png|Gael - Mal's older sister, also a Nightsister and assisted the Jedi in entering the Force tear below Jedha.
File:Mal.png|Malgabar - Nightsister with terrible amnesia who helped the Jedi previously in entering a corrupted Force tear
File:mondrian.png|Mondrian - Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black to investigate the colonist roster.
File:Veena.png|Veena - Mondrian's partner and Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black.
File:Unknown.png|Yvon - Ugnaught navigator for the Legacy II.
File:Unknown.png|Jahni - Ugnaught pilot for the Legacy II, fraternal twin brother of Yvon.
File:Unknown.png|Oona Yutelli - elderly Mirialan Jedi Master, formerly a Seeker and Temple archivist.
File:Thaarin.png|Thaarin - A mysterious, charming, blue skinned alien the Jedi found stranded on Ilum who has relocated to Tenoo to help with Republic frontier efforts.
</gallery>

Nightclub On Vuundalla Pt 1

2025-07-03T05:31:34Z

Sindt: Sindt moved page Nightclub On Vuundalla Pt 1 to Nightclub On Vuundalla

#REDIRECT [[Nightclub On Vuundalla]]

Nightclub On Vuundalla

2025-07-03T05:31:34Z

Sindt: Sindt moved page Nightclub On Vuundalla Pt 1 to Nightclub On Vuundalla

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-05-26
|Synopsis=Navi and the Jedi visit a nightclub offworld to chase down one of the suspects associated with Dresda's death.
|Cast of Characters=159, 261, 143, 381
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' With the return of the Jedi to Tenoo revealing that some rather unfortunate events (a murder, perhaps, to be specific) had occurred during the months while they were away, those who had been away would find their work cut out for them as soon as they'd touched down back at the colony site. There'd been rumors circulating, about whether the lead engineer who'd died (a rather suspicious Volpai named Dresda) had been murdered, and about two particular individuals (A Chadra Fan Navi is familiar with, and a Dug named Weniscio) having been involved. Why, and how, were the questions of the day. The local private investigator, Arsok Vons, thankfully, had found a lead on the Chadra Fan - somehow, he'd gleaned intel about him leaving the planet this very night, presumably temporarily, to visit another more established planet in the Bri'ahl sector - Vuundalla. The Zeltron private investigator had immediately brought it up to the Jedi and their allies, and hastily made plans to discreetly follow the Chadra Fan to his supposed destination - a nightclub in the capital of Vuundalla, not far from the royal palace. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Being familiar with the Chadra Fan, Navi came along to try to reason with him if it became necessary. So far she's had a good relationship with most of the colony's Chadra Fan population, and just maybe that's enough to prevent any trouble. "Wonder why he decided to go here? I hope he's not running away from the trouble in the colony," she observes softly. She's wearing a dark hooded cloak over her normal clothes to make her distinctive features harder to recognize. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde is along with them as well, since if the suspicious Chadra Fan was unwilling to speak openly about it, there was always the more direct route. The padawan also has the hood of his robes up, and he keeps his gaze lowered, and does his best to keep the noise of the drunk, partying, and stars know what else out. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Once the group has arrived at the nightclub, they'll find themselves in the lobby, barred entry to it by two muscular Zeltron bouncers and a crystalline reception desk. A Pantoran woman with garish makeup sits behind it, giving them condescending looks. Vons takes one look at the bouncers and the receptionist, and then ushers them into the small hallway adjoining the lobby that leads to the men and women's refreshers. He grumbles, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Okay, have any of you -actually- been to a nightclub before? You know what, don't answer that." He waves a hand dismissively. "Just... wait here. I'm going go get some clothes that you all can actually -wear- inside the club." And with that, he exits the club, leaving Navi and the Jedi to think what they will of what had just happened. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike glances down at his attire and hmphs. "Jedi clothing is never out of fashion. I've worn this in nightclubs and dives." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Nice crowd..." Navi murmurs as Vons ushers everyone into an alcove. "That's a good idea, actually... Please do. I don't think I can actually afford any new clothes on my total lack of a salary." "Master Windu is not wrong... I've actually worn my Brotherhood robe into several clubs on Coruscant, and my present outfit should be acceptable," she adds. "I wasn't aware of any strict dress codes in force here." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde arches a brow at Vons as he leaves to get 'acceptable' clothing. He hasn't been into clubs personally, but he's certain others have gone into clubs with the Order's usual attire. If the bouncers needed 'convincing', he could take care of that, couldn't he? Besides, if Vons has so much experience in said clubs, why hadn't he told them to prepare beforehand? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' However, while Vons is gone, a familiar but unexpected face will appear in the lobby - Thaarin. He's dressed up and looks very nice, but the Jedi and their allies may wonder what -he's- doing here. He'd made no mention of coming to this exact location, and certainly did not seem like the kind to venture off world simply for the sake of a good time. He's about to approach the receptionist with a charming smile but then notices them lingering in the hallway near the refreshers. Frowning, he makes his way over, and says quietly to the group, "What are you all doing here?" His brows furrow deeper. "Whatever it is, I hope you're aware that you'll attract quite a bit of attention with your current attire. This nightclub is only for those who can show that they have deep pockets for their credits." "I can probably still get you in, but depending on what you've planned, you might want to change." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Thaarin? Wow... nice clothes," Navi says, impressed. "I didn't know you were into clubbing... or are you here for a different reason?" She shrugs at his comments on their outfits. "Vons has gone to procure some outfits for us. I hope he won't be too long. He could've saved a lot of trouble if he'd mentioned the dress code at the spaceport instead of the lobby... then we could've acquired the clothes on the way here. He probably still would've had to pay for mine, but it would've saved time and bother." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike glances at himself again and hmphs. "This attire has been accepted from royal court to Hutt audience chamber. If my status as a Jedi isn't impressive enough, too bad." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde absently wonders how Thaarin had managed to get himself such expensive clothing. He'd arrived with no Republic credits of his own, hadn't he?     Well anyway, he is getting bored of waiting here so just as Pike finishes his bit the padawan simply starts heading into the club. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin smiles faintly at Navi, "I dislike dancing," he says, "I hope that sheds light on why I'm here. But you haven't actually answered my question about why -you- are here," he says. To Pike, he says, "I.. don't know who the Hutts are, but what I've observed about this nightclub is that there are many folk here who would avoid the prying eyes of the Republic," he says, "and if you are identified as Jedi, word will spread that the Republic is peering into what most here would not like them to look into. Then, whatever or whomever you're looking for may elude you, having been scared off by the simple premise of Jedi presence." But then Cayde peels away, and the tall blue alien quickly follows, just as one of the bouncers barring entry to the nightclub stops the young padawan. Thaarin gently edges himself in between himself and Cayde, and after a short conversation, the bouncers reluctantly step aside to let Cayde and everyone else through. But as they are going, Thaarin will motion for Navi to fall back a bit. "Navi," he says quietly, "a brief, private word? This shouldn't take too long, I promise." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     <"There is hope for you yet, Padawan.">     Pike, approval on his face, throws up his hood and follows Cayde in. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi shakes her head slowly as Cayde hurries off toward the club entry. Thaarin's intervention gets him a grateful look, in spite of the danger to their mission that may result from the visible presence of Jedi on the club floor. She nods at Thaarin's request, letting him guide her further away from the desk. "We came to find a Chadra Fan I know who seems to be somehow mixed up in the so-called accident that killed a colonist. I don't think he did anything terrible... I know him, and his family, and he always seemed a decent being. They all are," she explains softly. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde was about to discreetly 'convince' the bouncer to let him pass, when Thaarin steps in and does so without any mental manipulation required. With that, he makes his way inside and starts scanning the patrons' minds, searching for the suspicious Chadra Fan.     It occurs to him that if the Republic knows this is a common place for people to come to hide from it, then what sort of hiding place was it, anyway?     But then he recalls that Vons had gone to find 'appropriate' outfits for them. Hopefully he has not gone far, so Cayde tries to contact him through the Force to let him know that they had gone into the club because Thaarin had convinced the bouncers to allow them inside. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Pike and Cayde will find this nightclub to be the worst of sorts, for Force sensitives with mind powers. It's crowded, loud, hot, and many, many beings are drunk, high on spice, or both. It will take a certain amount of concentration to sift through the chaotic minds here, and find their quarry. Cayde may feel a familiar presence in the likeness of the Chadra Fan's on the edge of his scan radius, but pinpointing where he is exactly will prove difficult. It's just so wild and uncontrolled in here!! Thaarin frowns. "I hope you find him only to discover that his name is still in good standing," he says, "I wasn't aware, but I wish you good luck with that endeavor. However, I meant to speak to you about something different." He pauses, and leans nearer to her, lowering his voice. "I don't know if Xera has approached you similiarly," he says, "but my guess is that she already has told you not associate with me, as she has told me not to associate with you. I didn't agree to anything, of course, but I thought you should know. As to why I'm here, she's here tonight meeting with an individual that so far, I'm unable to know much about. Hopefully I'll be able to learn more about him tonight." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "She has. It was the first condition on my being formally considered to be in a romantic relationship with her, actually. I didn't agree to it, either," Navi replies, blushing faintly. "Did she tell you to do so for similar reasons? I've noticed that she seems really taken with you, and she is very controlling." "May the Force be with you. I'm tempted to join you in that meeting, but I stand out too much here. I plan to wait for Vons to return before I go in," she adds softly. "And I'm wondering if she's here to see the same person we are." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns, his head beginning to throb from the effort of preventing himself from becoming overwhelmed by the cachophony of thought, emotions, and all manner of sensation from the various club patrons.     But wait! There it was, the one they were looking for. He was here, for sure. Maybe in the back, or out one of the balconies. Or...upstairs....the padawan starts heading in one of those directions. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike senses Cayde's teep scans and follow's the Padawan's example. The Master senses the Chadra Fan's presence and smiles. Keeping to the shadows, he makes his way to the stairway leading to the VIP lounge where he pauses to alert his companions. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Pike and Cayde will soon find themselves in front the entry to the VIP lounge. There's an ornate staircase, guarded by three more Zeltron bouncers! Apparently access to the nightclub didnt guarantee entry to the VIP lounge. They look both unfriendly and disappointed. "What business do Jedi have here?" one of them barks. Perhaps they should find a different way into the lounge. Or wait for Vons. Or both. Theyre attracting... looks. "She didn't say anything about a relationship, but I can read between the lines. I know you don't like deception, but what did you agree to? What would you like to do? I for one, wouldn't like to hardly ever see you." His expression softens, and he touches her face gently. Outside, she'll be able to see Vons approaching the nightclub, looking a bit annoyed. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Likewise. You've been nothing but kind and courageous since I met you, and I think your presence enriches the colony tremendously. You're worth any three scientists and techs when it comes to know-how, and you aren't afraid to speak your mind when something is wrong," Navi replies, blushing faintly at his touch. "I said I would be willing to consider it if I could explain the situation to you, but she wouldn't let me do that. So in the end I agreed to nothing at all." She glances up as Vons returning. "Oh, good. He's here. I hope he's not too upset that Master Windu and Cayde already went in," she says. "But it's probably an empty hope." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Immediately as they approach the disgruntled looking bouncers, Cayde attempts to enter their minds and...well, change them. No, these were not Jedi, but simply wealthy patrons who had just come from an important meeting at the palace, and dressed like it too. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike doesn't exactly know what Cayde is up to. But he reaches out with his own power to help          <"Believe him,"> in fluent Zeltran. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Willing to consider it?" For a moment he looks slightly surprised, and maybe just a little hurt. But then he composes himself and nods. "I... understand," he says. "And thank you, for not agreeing to anything. I--" But then Vons enters the lobby, looking even more miffed when he sees Thaarin's here too. He arches a brow at Navi. "Why'd you wait for me?" he says, but he doesn't let her answer. "Here," he says, handing her a garment bag. "Put this on, and make it quick. We don't have a ton of time." Thaarin chuckles when Vons arrives. "How odd, that fate would have me meet my roommate here, of all places," he says goodnaturedly, but Vons just rolls his eyes and quickly heads inside the nightclub after paying his fare. He sends a text transimssion to Cayde and Pike, asking the where they are and what they're up to. Once Vons is gone, Thaarin reaches out and places a hand on Navi's arm. "Look, I know you won't like this. I don't, either, but we both know that jealousy is a strong driver for Xera, and depending on how things go right after this, I may need her to be just that, tonight. I'm sorry if this is a lot to spring upon you all of a sudden, but will you at least consider it? And let me know." Meanwhile, Pike and Cayde are jointly successful in convincing the bouncers that they're patrons having just come from the castle. Unfortunately, it's the wrong card to play. "Authoritarian sympathizers!!" one of them roars, balling up his fists. "Take -this- message back to the king and Queen!" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Because you said to wait for you," Navi replies, accepting the garment bag. "Thank you. I'll try to be quick." She blinks at the exchange between Vons and Thaarin. "I'd no idea you were roommates. You're both assuredly in good company." She watches Vons stalk into the club entryway. "I /do/ understand, and I agree. Just so we both remember that we are friends above all else, and will remain so after this is over. And that you explain just what the jealousy is so necessary for after this is over," she says at last, nodding firmly. "I need to change. I won't be long," she says, giving Thaarin a quick hug and slipping away to the women's refresher. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Ugh, of course it had to be like that...     Well now he doesn't have time to come up with another elaborate delusion, so he instead resorts to attempting to force them all into a deep slumber. Hopefully Pike has his back for this... 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike doesn't want to attract anymore attention. "Be calm. We are just a dream. Your eyes are heavy." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Thank you, Navi," he says gratefully, returning the hug. "I'd explain it all now if we had the time," Thaarin says. He hears a crashing sound coming from inside the club and frowns slightly. "May all of the Force be with you," he says, "certainly sounds like you will be needing every ounce of it you can get tonight..." Vons rushes up holding their garment bags just as the Zeltron charging Cayde falls asleep midstep. He inadvertently falls into a waitressing droid carrying a tray of fine Corellian wine in crystal glasses. It goes flying through the air and lands on a low table in front of a bunch of patrons lounging on couches nearby. Someone screams. The other two Zeltron bouncers aren't immediately rendered unconscious, and in their dazed and confused state accidentally end up tasing a couple of random bystanders just before Pike's mind trick causes them to collapse, finally. More people scream. But the chaos is serving as excellent cover to dart up the steps. Unfortunately, both Pike and Cayde will feel their quarry's mind become alert. The shenanigans on the lower levels have become cause for concern... "What the kriff?!" The private investigator grumbles. "Right, that's -so- not going to make sure the Chadra Fan tries to make a quick exit..." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Navi will find that what's in the garment bag perhaps the most revealing and attention seeking kind of tiny, tight dress she will have ever seen (or worn). It's so short, that it barely covers her backside! Not only that, but it's so tight, she can barely breathe in it. It's iridescent, sleeveless, and designed to be worn without undergarments. The neckline is sweetheart, bedazzled with gems, and the wiring in the chest area will make Navi feel like she's twice as endowed as normal. To top it all off, there's a pair of five inch silver high heels in the bag as well, along with glitter lined translucent tights. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike groans as the Jedi cause a scene. But he wastes no time and hastens up the steps. He reaches out again to confirm their target's location. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde immediately takes the opportunity presented and starting rushing up the stairs, already reaching out toward the Chadra Fan and attempting to keep him calm. Nothing was amiss, it was just some overly drunken Trandoshan bumbling into a waitress. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Yikes..." Navi murmurs, staring at the glittering outfit in something well beyond surprise. "It's so pretty... and tiny..." she adds softly, blushing. "I hope Vons didn't have romance in mind when he picked this out." With a little sigh, she steps into a bathroom stall and goes to work slipping out of her clothes... Several minutes later, she emerges into the now-empty lobby, leaving the garment bag and her clothes hidden in the bathroom. Aware of just how much her medic's satchel clashes with her shiny, shimmery dress and tights, she approaches the door and enters the club. Unless the scowling security try to stop her, of course... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' But wait! the Jedi will feel it in the Force. There was someone else there with the Chadra Fan, making their mind trick even more effective. They're telling him to calm down, to simply move to the 2nd balcony of the VIP lounge on the upper levels. The Chadra Fan is comforted, and they'll be able to sense him retreating, heading into the elevator and going up one floor. Vons hurries after the Jedi, shaking the garment bags. "Okay this is seriously mandatory. Put these on before too many people figure out -Jedi- are here and vanish like womp rats into a boggy swamp," he says, reaching forward to grab Master Windu by the arm. "Cayde had better kriffing be nearby. Y'all are a damned hot mess trying to be undercover," he grumbles. The bouncers don't stop Navi. They do stare at her, though, for a moment, before stepping aside and letting her go inside the nightclub. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     No, Cayde doesn't wait. He continues up the steps, but he doesn't intend to get -too- close, only as close as necessary. Just who was he with? He continues onto the first floor, and then about halfway up the stairs to the second floor, as he reaches out with the Force and attempts to enter the Chadra Fan's mind and search for whatever he might know about Dresda's death. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike glares at Von. "You are the most...very well." And the Jedi snatches the bag to change his clothes. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi feels herself blushing at the bouncers' stares, but proceeds inside the club anyway. "I hope I can find everyone... it looks and sounds like half the planet's in here," she murmurs, letting her eyes adjust to the darker interior of the club and hoping her ears won't be permanently damaged by the music. Maybe that's why she doesn't notice the ruckus near the VIP Lounge entrance. It's dark, there's hints of a light show, and it's /loud/. "I just don't get the appeal of places like this," she murmurs. "Why would anyone want to destroy their hearing like this?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, yeah, you can thank me later," Vons says, waving dismissively at the Jedi Master. "Now where the hell is the kid--" What Cayde will find won't be terribly conclusive. He'd known - sort of. But he'd chosen to believe the best about Weniscio, who'd been an old friend who borrowed money from him but usually just paid him back in favors instead of credits. When Wenisicio had come in asking for a favor and promising to give him two in return, he'd caved. The other feeling that Cayde will observe is fear. The Chadra Fan is very afraid. Not just for himself, but for his family.... However, while Cayde is deeply immersed in the Chadra Fan's mind, he might not notice a waitressing droid approaching. "Sir," it drones. "This lounge is only accessible to those with VIP permits. Please show authorization..." At that moment, Vons grabs Cayde and drags him away from the droid and into the refreshers where Pike is likely in one of the stalls changing. "Are you out of your damn mind!?" the private investigator grumbles. "Put this on!" And he shoves the garment bag into Cayde's hands. Meanwhile, Navi will barely be able to hear herself think. She'll find herself on the dance floor, next to gyrating, sweaty bodies. On the balcony above her, she'll actually be able to see Xera talking to what looks like another rich, and beautiful looking bureaucrat dressed in a shimmersilk gown. Their conversation seems heated. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi feels the faint beginnings of a headache coming on as she tries to make her way through the crowd on the dance floor. The sight of Xera Graf and another beauty wrapped in shimmersilk draws a mix of emotions. "Okay, so I know where /you/ are," she murmurs. "But where is Thaarin? Hopefully not too far away..." After a moment's looking around, she spots him at the bar and approaches to take a seat beside him. "I found Xera, but not the Chadra Fan," she says. "I doubt she's going anywhere until she wins the argument it looks like she was in the middle of." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike steps out of the stall looking...dignified. "Is Cayde ready?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Weniscio...that was who they needed to find next. But why is the Chadra Fan afraid for his family? Who is with him at this club? Cayde was in the middle of trying to find out when Vons wrenches him unceremoniously from his trance and jerks him back to the present moment.     Unfortunately, this startles the padawan so much that his lightsaber immediately flies out, the blade energizing into existence with a loud crackle. Well-trained as Vons is and clumsy as the flustered young Jedi's swing was, he will likely manage to dodge out of the way without getting singed. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Hm? Oh there you are," Thaarin says, grinning and turning to face Navi. "I was about go looking for you," he says, "You look wonderful, by the way." Navi will immediately notice that there's a few empty shot glasses next to Thaarin -- he'd been drinking and that seemed intentional. But why? "Probably not," he says, "she's some investor Xera made promises to a long time ago regarding the colony. I doubt she'll be finished convincing her everything is going swimmingly until at least sunrise," he jokes. The bartender suddenly brings another rack of shots, six to be precise, over and sets it on the counter next to Thaarin. He suddenly moves in close, placing a hand gently on her waist and whispering in her ear. "I imagine you might not want to remember tonight," he says, "and Xera needs to be thrown a bone. If we did this while sober minded, there's a chance she'll give up." He squeezes her waist gently, then leans back, pushing a shot glass in her direction. "My tab will stay open tonight," he says, "just for you." Navi might remember Pop's words about hedonism, and drinking a lot... Pike will likely step out of the stall just as Cayde swipes at Vons with his lightsaber. "N--" The private investigator begins, about to reply to Pike, then lets loose a string of unholy curses. He barely manages to evade getting sliced. "Will you calm the kriff down?" Vons cries. "I'm not trying to lose any limbs tonight, especially not to my brand new roommate. Gods...now for the love of light and life, put this -on-." He holds up the garment bag. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Or stay here and keep the Chadra Fan calmed. But decide now, Padawan." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I'm glad you like it. It's pretty enough, but I keep feeling like the skirt's trying to crawl up under my armpits," Navi replies, blushing faintly. She eyes the shot with some trepidation, then picks it up a bit cautiously. "If you think this will work, I'll try it," she says. "But you might have to carry me out. I'm not exactly an experienced drinker." Looking at Xera and the woman in shimmersilk for a moment, she stretches out with the Force, searching for Cayde, Pike, and Vons, who seem to have vanished for the moment, and also for the Chadra Fan. The mental noise of the club, however, proves impossible to sift through. "I can't feel anyone I need to find," she says dispiritedly. "I may need to refrain from any drinking for a moment more." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As Vons curses profusely at him, Cayde just stares at him with a vacant look, but after a few seconds, he finally seems to snap out of it. He glances down at the garment bag and frowns. But what for? He was already onto something, if Vons hadn't interrupted!     [Why] he signs simply. But at the same time, he again begins searching for the Chadra Fan, hoping to learn who he was with and who was threatening his family. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Vons backs away, throwing his hands up in the air. "Okay, I'm actually thinking that our walking anachronism here has a pretty good suggestion. So I'm gonna leave this here for you just in case you decide to go out-- you -do- need to wear it if you go out," He reiterates. "While me and Master Windu go on the hunt for the Chadra Fan." He then turns and goes out of the refreshers, but not before calling back to Pike, "I thought being old didn't equate to being the speed of a ... Trodatome without caf. I mean, come on! We don't have all night....!" Cayde will be able to sense the Chadra Fan is still here, but he feels farther away than before. He's still afraid, and still with whoever he'd been with prior. Thaarin smiles and suddenly gets up, placing a hand on her back and standing mere centimeters from her as he guides her towards the dance floor. "Care for a dance in the meantime?" he whispers in her ear. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike slaps Cayde on the back. "Find out what you can. Keep him calm. And change your clothes if you leave here." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi blushes faintly at the request, but nods. "I've never had dancing lessons, so you may have to guide me a bit," she confesses softly, letting him lead her onto the floor. As they move, she tries again with her telepathy, reaching out through the Force to touch the minds of her companions and the Chadra Fan. It's a moment before she smiles wryly. "My people are working hard at... something, I'm sure. Cayde's habit of complicating things hasn't deserted him," she observes. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods vaguely at Vons and Pike, his mind once again focused on the Chadra Fan. But he's moved farther away now, so once the two of them are out of sight, he starts back up the stairs again, trying to delve deeper into the colonist's mind and pushing harder this time.     Who was he with? Who was threatening his family? He needn't fear, the Jedi would protect him, but in order for them to protect him, he needed to yield. No, no he must not resist. Resisting would only cause pain... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Pike will find Vons hurrying down the hallway once he leaves the refreshers. But once he sees the elder Jedi, he slows his pace. "Okay so... you know where he is, right? So you lead the way. Use your space wizard magic, or whatever." He then comes to a halt, and waits for Pike to take over. "I know," he says softly, pulling her in, and placing her arms around his neck and wrapping his arms around her waist. "They'll handle it, I'm sure. But right now, I want you to be with me. I need this," he whispers to her softly, swaying both of them to the rhythm of the music. She'll be able to see from her vantage point that Xera is watching both of them closely. She's still talking to that other beautiful woman, but it's clear she's distracted. Then Thaarin says to her, "Tell me about that girl you loved, Imoen. What about her did you love?" The person that he's with is not the person who's threatening him, apparently. And despite Cayde's urging for him to not resist, the Chadra Fan resists anyway. He's pretty convinced the Jedi can't help, and that doesn't help things. There were just so many nuances and details and feelings. He'd made a mistake. No one would understand. If only everyone would just leave him alone, he and his family could be safe. However, resisting Cayde is hard and actually detrimental, and is causing him to go into a catatonic state, which is causing the person who's with him to be concerned. Oh, no... he's being taken away, towards the hangar for the nightclub -- and Cayde is now starting to be out of range. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike leads the way into the VIP lounge. Empty. The Jedi reaches out with the Force to locate the Chadra Fan. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     No...no...     Cayde quickly hurries out onto one of the balconies and jumps up onto the roof, using that as a shortcut over toward the hangar. If he can just get close enough...     He switches over to whomever was accompanying the Chadra Fan. Perhaps they know something. At least a name. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi tries to follow along with the dance, blushing a little more as she's drawn so close to Thaarin. She tries to let the music flow through her, much like the Force, but it's not so easy as that. Eventually her sense of rhythm begins to take over, and it becomes easier. "You need this? Please forgive me if I don't understand," she says softly, just loudly enough to be heard over the music. "Imoen? Everything, I think. She was clever and sweet and lively. Nothing seemed to ever get her down," she replies. "It didn't hurt that she was very pretty, too, but it was the kind of beauty that isn't just skin-deep. It touched every part of her." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Vons will follow Pike, presumably towards the hangar as the elder Jedi locates their quarry. He does, however, notice that Cayde is right behind them, and scowls as Cayde heads for the roof. "That kid is going to be death of us, I swear," he mutters. This individual seems to know surprisingly little. Their mind is a dark place, and Cayde will be able to tell they're not a good person, at all. But they care about credits, and the Chadra Fan has promised to pay them, somehow. For that reason alone, this individual is interested in helping the Chadra Fan. With what, exactly the young padawan won't be able to know. Not yet, anyway. They're going inside a ship in the hangar - for more privacy, probably. Pike will be able to sense them going inside the vessel, as well. Thaarin whispers to her again, softly. "She's watching..." His gaze flicks up towards Xera very briefly. He guides her back to the bar after the song is over, and standing close to her, brushes her hair out of her face. "I'm not Imoen," he says, "but I can certainly try to be some of those things, tonight." He pushes a shot glass towards her with a smile. "Accept my generosity, please?" he asks, tipping her chin upwards, gently. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike breaks into a run, deactive lightsaber in hand. "The hangar." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns, finding this individual to be rather repulsive. All he cares about is credits. He follows them toward the hangar, lingering near a window. Again, he goes back to the Chadra Fan, trying to calm him.     <The Jedi will help...we always help...what is your name?>     Come on, at least a name. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I'd rather you be you," Navi replies gently, tilting her head lightly against his hand as he brushes a few locks of hair away from her face. "You're not Imoen, and I don't expect you to try to be her, but you're a beautiful person, too. I'd rather you be true to yourself." She takes up the shot glass, hesitates a moment, then takes a sip. She isn't quite prepared for the burning sensation in her throat, and can't keep from coughing a little as it goes down. But it passes, and she takes another drink. This one isn't as bad. "Very well," she whispers, looking into his eyes. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Okay, I get it you love your lightsabers, but can you guys seriously take a trip to Hoth with them?! The whole point of dressing up was to hide the fact that you're Jedi! Dammit...." Vons grumbles. Then Vons sees that Cayde is lingering near a transparisteel viewport on the vessel and he groans. "Seriously?? I told you, the get up... nevermind..." he mutters, massaging his temples. Pike probably won't want to miss a beat though, the gangplank is actually down, and the Chadra Fan plus whoever is with him isn't in his direct line of sight. The Chadra Fan is frightened. Cayde's presence in his mind is not anything he's experienced before. He manages to stammer out his name, Hedicole, but he says it out loud, and whoever is with him suddenly is on high alert again. He doesn't know exactly what's going on, but he suspects that there's an outside party involved, somehow. He tells the Chadra Fan to stay put, while he goes to investigate. The tall blue alien man does the same as Navi, downing a shot. Then he says, "But what if I don't want to be me," he says, leaning closer. "I want to be whoever you want me to be," he says. "How can you call me beautiful," he continues, "You are a goddess. Don't you know that? Beauty has no meaning in your presence." He's giving her a look she's never seen before. It's sultry, and his eyes seem to say he wants her without any words. If this is all an act, it's a splendid one. Navi might find her head swimming. She might realize too late that the glasses aren't single shots. They're doubles. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike hides his weapon up his sleeve as he steps onto the gangplank . 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi feels the room sway, or at least it feels like it's swaying. The look in Thaarin's eyes is both enticing and mildly disturbing to her, and she has to force herself to remember that this is Thaarin. "If you want to be who I want," she whispers, "then I want you to be Thaarin. Good, brave, thoughtful, selfless Thaarin." "I'd no idea the liquor was this strong... I may have already overdone it," she observes softly, taking another sip. Her eyelids feel heavy, and it's becoming hard to sit up straight... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <Hedicole....please....let me help...let me in...> They could protect his family, but he needed to know who was threatening them first. Cayde lets their faces flash before his mind's eye. The Force could make anything possible...and all the more because of the vergeance...that is, for those who could attune themselves to it.     As he sees the other man going to investigate, he slips farther away from the window, moving toward the top of the ship. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The timing couldn't have been worse, but how could Pike and Vons have known. The moment the elder Jedi steps onto the gangplank, the individual who had been with the Chadra Fan rounds a corner suddenly and comes to stand in the entry of the vessel. Pike may or may not be intimidated. The alien standing before him is a very tall Zygerrian. He's well dressed, and wears multiple gold bangles on each wrist. He frowns when he sees Pike, and immediately is on guard, but doesn't react aggressively. At least not right away. However, when he sees Vons, his eyes flash and he growls. "Arsok -Vons-?!" he bellows. "What the kriff are you doing here? If you're here to meddle with my business, I'm going to make sure that this is the last time!!" Vons seems stunned speechless, but he barely has time to react when the Zygerrian suddenly pulls out a blaster and opens fire on him. Hedicole seems partially convinced when he sees familiar faces flash before his eyes. "It's... it's you... " he mutters. "You... the Jedi... they followed me here... why..." And then he hears the sound of blaster fire and is snapped out of his reverie. "No... no... no..." he cries, cradling his head in his hands. "It wasn't supposed to be like this...!" And he suddenly gets up and bolts from where he is, down the gangplank, and back out towards the main lounge of the nightclub. Thaarin sits down, suddenly pulling Navi into his lap. She'll be able to smell the liquor on him. Or is that her? They'd both had too much to drink. "I'm none of those things," he murmurs, "but you are. You are...." And then he kisses her. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     SNAP-hiss     Pike's lightsaber slips into his hand and ignites. The Jedi easily turns the blaster bolts away. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde isn't even aware of the confrontation between Pike, Vons, and the Zygerrian. When Hedicole bolts, he rushes after the Chadra Fan, hurrying back toward the main lounge.     <Wait...> he projects, continuing to try to calm the colonist. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Eep!" Navi squeaks as she's suddenly pulled into Thaarin's lap. She wasn't nearly expecting /that/! She wasn't expecting to be kissed, either, but neither can she resist it. She feels herself reciprocating, returning the kiss in kind. She's not sure if it's the alcohol or the sheer magnetism of the man, but she cannot resist. Only when the kiss is broken off does she begin to realize just how quickly things are moving. "Thaarin... please, stop. This is going too far..." she says softly. "I like you, very much... but I don't /love/ you... is this why you said I would want to forget this night..?" She's so confused now, and the shot and a half of double shots isn't helping. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Jedi!" The Zygerrian roars angrily when Pike takes out his saber and easily deflects the bolt. "You piece of druk!" He bellows at Hedicole as the Chadra Fan rushes from the vessel and back out into the main lounge area. "You come to me asking for help, but instead you lead me into a trap!" He pulls out a commlink and speaks into it. "Hedicole set me up to be caught by the Jedi, and the Republic! Do not let him escape...!" The private investigator doesn't hesitate when Hedicole bolts. "Thanks!" Vons yells back to Pike as he rushes after the Chadra Fan. But he comes to the balcony just as Thaarin starts kissing Navi. And when the young Sephi girl pulls away from tall blue alien man, she'll see him standing up there, his expression like that of a man whose heart had been shattered into a thousand pieces. But there's no time for grieving -- the guards the Zygerrian had called are rushing into the nightclub now armed and shooting. People are screaming. Cayde will have a hard time both reaching and calming the colonist -- there's just too much going on now. "Excuse me," Thaarin mutters drunkenly, suddenly getting up. He looks ill, as if he's about to vomit right then and there, but he disappears into the crowd in the direction of the refreshers... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde continues rushing after Hedicole, all the while trying to reach him again and reassure him that the Jedi can help him and his family. Somehow, through all the chaos and screaming, he manages to remain focused on the Chadra Fan colonist. Well, that 'somehow' is bowling over several droids and carts of food and drink that he didn't quite realize existed. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi is left aghast, looking between the departing Thaarin and the shattered Vons. But the sound of blaster fire and screaming penetrates the fog of drink, and she realizes she is very much needed... And she draws upon the Force once more, focusing on the alcohol coursing through her system and breaking down the toxins, flushing them from her mind and senses. A moment later, her head clear, she pulls her lightsaber from her medical satchel and ignites it. Thaarin and poor Vons will have to wait... innocent people are in danger! 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Drinks and food go flying as Cayde barrels after the Chadra Fan, who is desperately trying to evade the Zygerrian guards. People are screaming, as blaster bolts fill the air with the smell of ozone. It doesn't take the guards long to notice that the Jedi are here, and a couple of them peel off from the chase in an attempt to bar Cayde's path. "Stay out of our business, Jedi!" One of them hisses, and opens fire on the young padawan. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     The blaster bolts are easily deflected away, although Cayde tries to shove them out of the way with the Force so they don't get hit by their own shots. He would rather avoid bloodshed as much as possible, after all.     All the while he does his best to keep mental tabs on Hedicole. Where was the Chadra Fan headed? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Zygerrian guards are knocked aside by the Force, sending them sprawling into the counter in the bar area. Some of the glasses stationed there are knocked aside and fall to the ground, shattering. One of them manages to heave himself to his feet after a few moments, and rasps. "Forget the Jedi! Get the Chadra Fan!" It would seem the Chadra Fan is just desperate to find a way out of the nightclub, and to get to somewhere where the Zygerrians wouldn't find him. But that's hard to do with all the chaos unfolding, seems like almost every exit is blocked by hordes of panicked patrons. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Right, a way out...that's what Hedicole needs. Cayde will try to find that for him. Thankfully the Zygerrians seem to have decided to ignore him, so the padawan again tries to search for the Chadra Fan's location, attempting to let him know that he intends to help him escape his pursuers... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Chadra Fan barely seems to register what Cayde is trying to tell him - he's so desperate to find a way out of this crowded nightclub. The young padawan will be able to sense that there's a Zygerrian guard who's very hot on his tail, and he's doing what he can do not get shot by him... It would appear Hedicole is in the kitchen of the nightclub, where all the staff prepare all the food for the people who hang out in the VIP lounges. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     The kitchen, got it. Deal the guard, and get Hedicole out of there. Cayde hurries to the kitchen, jumping over several overturned tables and other pieces of furniture and decor. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Once Cayde reaches the kitchen, he'll hear the sounds of blaster fire and the muffled screams of panicked staff. Hedicole is here somewhere nearby, he'll be able to sense him in the Force, frightened and running, making a beeline for a maintenance closet where he hopes the Zygerrians will stop chasing him. But suddenly, in the middle of it all, Vons will materialize through a kitchen backdoor, accidentally putting himself directly in the young padawan's path. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Fortunately, Cayde had become somewhat aware of Vons' presence before he appeared and is therefore able to avoid bowling into him. He sidesteps, then reaches out into the Force again, attempting to grab ahold of the guard he'd seen was chasing Hedicole and pull him back toward himself. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The guard stumbles backwards, crashing into a shelf full of serving trays filled with entrees. They come crashing down, and food goes flying. "Hey!!" Vons shouts unhappily as a plate of blue pasta lands on his shoulder. "Watch it...!" But delaying the guard who had been chasing Hedicole has bought the Chadra Fan time to run into the maintenance closet and barricade the door while he tries to find a way to pry the small window in there open. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Should the guard try to get back up, Cayde will attempt to clock him in the side of the head. You know, to really make sure he is down for the count in case that shelf full of trays wasn't enough. Then he starts hurrying back outside, looking for the window Hedicole is trying to crack open... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Unfortunately, Cayde's attempt to punch the Zygerrian isn't quite enough to knock him out. He climbs to his feet, and attempts to chase after the young padawan. "Jedi /scum/!" he howls. But then Vons shoots him in the back, and he collapses. Cayde will be able to espy the tiny window in the maintenance closet from the outside, and see that Hedicole is trying to wedge it open with a metal dustpan. They'll have to hurry, though, the young padawan will be able to hear shouts coming from the kitchen. The other guards must have wised up and come running... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Fortunately, Cayde is able to focus in on Hedicole's mental presence and pick up on the Chadra Fan as he pries at the window. The young Jedi reaches into the Force and does his best to push up on the window together with the dustpan he's using. Hopefully it will be enough to get it open. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' The alcohol finally cleared fully from her system, Navi draws upon the Force, reaching out with her mind to find her friend, and the father of her friends, as he flees the Zygerrians in a panic. It's a few moments before she gets a sense of him, and is direction and speed. "He's probably trying to get out of the building and get away from here," she muses to herself, putting away her lightsaber for the moment. The sight of it is likely to only further fuel the panic. Hastily removing her high-heeled shoes and securing them inside her satchel, she hurries after her friends, hoping she can get through the crowd to reach them... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Hedicole yelps as the window suddenly jerks open. The diminutive Chadra Fan suddenly falls forward through the now open window, but unfortunately, his girth is a little too wide. "Help!" he yelps, his body stuck between the window frame and the sill. Navi will find herself in the kitchen if she heads towards where Hedicole, and discover Vons in a badly outnumbered firefight against four other Zygerrian guards, two whom seem hellbent on eliminating the Zeltron man, while the other two try to break through the barricaded maintenance closet door. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns and pushes on the window more, trying to open it farther or even remove the panes completely so that Hedicole can get through. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Seeing Vons' peril, Navi hastily draws her lightsaber and, putting herself between Vons and his enemies, bounces their blaster bolts away with her lightsaber, sending them into hooks holding a wide variety of cooking equipment above their heads. Deprived of their support, gravity takes over, and the different tools fall right onto the heads of the opposition! Unfortunately, they're just not heavy enough to knock them out, which had been what she was aiming for, almost literally, although the one who had the hand mixer land in him will have quite a knot on his skull! "Bother..." Navi grumbles, and sets herself for the next exchange... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Ah!" Hedicole cries as the window pane pops open even wider, allow him to tumble onto the ground below. If Cayde goes to inspect him, he'll discover the Chadra Fan is rather dazed and disoriented. "....what... just happened..." he moans pitifully. "About time," Vons grumbles, getting up and dusting the pasta on his shoulder off his jacket. He then sprints for the hallway with the maintenance closet, where the other two are trying to break down the door. At the very least, Navi's maneuver has bought them some time. "You Jedi are too meddlesome!" one of the guards cries out angrily, as he staggers to his feet and attempts to shoot at Navi, this time, now that Vons has removed himself from the vicinity! 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Good thing Chadra Fans are rather small. Cayde just picks him up and starts running away from the club.     <I'm helping you> he projects to Hedicole, trying to calm him and make sure he doesn't freak out thinking he's being kidnapped or something. At the same time, he searches for somewhere quiet, somewhere the Zygerrians wouldn't find them. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi takes half a step back and deflects the incoming blaster bolt away. This time it cuts the hook holding a large stock pot. Gravity brings right down over the Zygerrian's head! With a moment's reprieve, Navi steps forward, grabs one of the side handles of the stock pot, and whacks it several times with the pommel of her lightsaber, causing it to ring loudly, with the accompanying vibration! This Zygerrian is likely to be dazed for quite a while... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "N-No..." Hedicole whispers, but he doesn't struggle when Cayde just picks him up. "You won't," he laments. "You won't..." The spaceport isn't too far from here -- it's probably the best place to go, since sticking around the capital in Vuundalla probably isn't a good idea. The Zygerrian guard yowls and then finally collapses. Now it's time to check on Vons, who appears to have taken care of the other guards while Navi was occupied with one of them in the kitchen. He bangs on the door of the maintenance closet door, but upon getting no response, presses his ear to the door and frowns. "He's out," he says wiping some blood from a nasty gash on his eyebrow, "the Jedi probably got him. Let's go," he says, heading for the same back door he'd come in through. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <Yes I will...I did already> Cayde points out to Hedicole as he starts hurrying toward the spaceport. They should be safe back on the ship.     He reaches out to Navi briefly, trying to let her know that Hedicole is safe with him and they're headed back to the spaceport. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I'm /not/ a Jedi!" Navi retorts at the downed Zygerrian, extinguishing her lightsaber as she notices that the firefight has died off. Hurrying to Vons' side, she nods at his comments and follows him through the door. "Let's hope I can find him. If Cayde has him, he's likely to head for the spaceport," she says, already trying to reach out with the Force... And Cayde makes contact with her just as she's beginning to get a sense of Hedicole's position. <I'm with Vons, and we're heading that way,> she replies. <Master Windu being the Master among us, he's probably there already. Since Thaarin came here separately from us, he probably has his own way home, if he's not too sick to travel. He really overdid the liquor.> 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It won't take them very long to get to the spaceport, although they'll have to hide a few times to avoid being seen by some of the other Zygerrian guards who have left the nightclub in search of Hedicole. But when they arrive, they won't have much trouble finding Cayde, who has likely made his way back to the Jedi shuttle they'd taken here. Hedicole seems mostly unharmed, though he looks rather miserable. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh...that's right...Thaarin. He'd had too much to drink. Maybe someone should go back there after everything has calmed down to check on him.     But for now, he turns his attention back to Hedicole. He still needed to find out who was threatening the Chadra Fan's family. [Please...let me help...your family] he signs. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi takes a knee and hugs Hedicole gently. "Papa, I know you, and I know your family. You're a good person. I know you'd never willingly do anything wrong. Please, tell us what's going on. If your family is in any kind of danger, we can save them... I know it," she says softly, hoping to soothe him. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Hedicole stares at Cayde and Navi, shaking his head. "..." "If you want to help me," he says shakily. "Then get me and my family off of Tenoo, permanently. Help me find a place in Wild Space or the Outer Rim where no one will find us. No questions asked. If you can do that," he says softly. "Then maybe, just maybe, my family can be saved." Vons comes in, the wound on his head dripping a few spots of blood onto the carpet. There's a purple abrasion forming under his left cheekbone, but his eyes are alert despite the fact that he looks like he was just pressed through a caf grinder. "Just how desperate are you?" he asks, brows furrowing. "Zeek and his crew are traffickers. Did you know that?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde glances at Navi and then back at Hedicole, nodding. Well, they'd have to know where his family is first, right?     [Where are they] he asks. [We will help] 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Last I knew, they were back at the colony. I hope they still are," Navi replies to Cayde. But when Vons adds his own question, she looks at him in horror. "Traffickers? In sentients? Is Zeek that troublesome Dug we've seen in Kublop Springs more than once?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Back at the colony," Hedicole says, still looking forlorn. "They should be fine. For now..." Then he buries his face his in his hands. "By the light, I had no idea. I didn't know..." He says. "Traffickers... to think I had almost sent my family with them..." he moans softly, and pitifully. "No," Vons says, "Zeek was the Zygerrian. I've run into him before. He runs a covert slaving operation under the guise of smuggling for a good cause. Victims will usually be enticed by his modest fee for quietly taking them anywhere they want that's not Republic Space." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Ah, well that wasn't surprising. Why would Hedicole trust a Zygerrian of all people? Didn't he know they were infamous for being slavers?     [We will help them] he assures the distraught Chadra Fan. [Who will hurt them] he asks. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Well, you don't have to worry about Zeek anymore, Papa... knowing you have Jedi friends, he's likely to never go near you again," Navi says, hugging Hedicole tighter. "But why is your family in danger at the colony? Once we know more about the threat, we'll know who and what to look for." She looks to Vons, wincing at the sight of his injuries. "I'd better have a look at your face, unless Master Windu gets back soon. You could use some medical attention," she says gently. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I told you!" Hedicole says persistently, "no questions! You're either going to help me on my terms, or you aren't, at all. Which in the latter case, I wouldn't blame you." And then he goes back to looking forlorn. Vons waves a hand dismissively at Navi, even though the wound on his eyebrow is still bleeding rather profusely. "You have to tell us why you were running in the first place," he says. "What do you know about Dresda and Weniscio's relationship?" But Hedicole just keeps shaking his head. "No questions," he says, "or I'm just going to try to find my own way off of Tenoo...!" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde sighs. They were only trying to help him...really, he would rather not have to dig for the answers. But he touches Hediscole's mind again, making his presence known. It's just a reminder that he will know one way or another--whether freely given or forced. How else did he think Cayde found him so quickly in that club? 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Papa, we'll help you no matter what. You know that," Navi whispers, "But you and your family may not be the only ones in danger. If the threat is that dire, we can try to force an evacuation of the settlers that aren't involved in whatever sinister thing is going on there." "And there IS something sinister going on... that's very clear," she continues. "I've been warned already that something terrible is likely to happen, and there are others waiting to take advantage of the chaos. The worst partt is, I don't know what that something terrible will be. Only that others believe it is inevitable, and are waiting to move in its aftermath. The death of that colonist may only be the beginning of what may come." She looks back to Vons, gently releasing Hedicole and reaching for the first aid kit in its wall locker. "You're bleeding like a wine tap. I'll see if I can do something about that," she says, already opening the kit and reaching for a coagulent spray. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "D-damn you!" he cries. "Damn all your do-gooding!" he cries. "It.. it doesn't help..." He seems to think that Cayde is boxing him in, forcing him to choose between worse and terrible. And the young padawan will sense that he resents him greatly for it. "That's not -news-." he says to Navi. "You'd have to be a blind and deaf fool to have no idea about the happenings around the colony," he says to Navi. "I--I... I messed up," he confesses. "And it's too late for me, there's nothing you can do get me out of this mess. But my family, you have to promise me that nothing terrible will happen to them because of me!" "You messed up? What do you mean?" Vons says. The Zeltron PI won't even sit down. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [You do not know us] Cayde tells him, shaking his head. Well, it seems he will have to do this the hard way, then. At least he'd warned the Chadra Fan father. He starts searching through Hedicole's memories, looking for information about who is threatening his family and how. And why... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Papa, bear in mind we've been gone a few months, and we've never had anything like a complete picture of everything that happens in the colony," Navi reminds Hedicole gently. "Just a lot of suspicions about how much political pressure was being exerted to even get this colony venture to work at all, how quickly the colony muster was filled, how shifty both of those things looked, and Xera Graf's overwhelming interest in seeing this colony become fully self-sufficient, in spite of a healthy trading hub on the very same planet, no matter what it takes. And that was /before/ we discovered masked raiders camping out near the colony." "And then there's Xera Graf's desire to get that Arkanian medical lab working close to the Vergence, and her sudden disinterest in fulfilling her promises to the Jedi Order about reopening the Temple there. It's all got the look and smell of a disaster waiting to happen." She continues to work on Vons' eye and forehead as she speaks. "Papa, you know we're going to save you /and/ your family. No matter what. You don't have to tell us anything for that to happen. But anything you know, about messing up or anything related, may serve to help others in just as much danger." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Cayde might be surprised to find that no one is currently threatening him, but he had not been lying when he'd said he'd messed up. That fear was there, overwhelming, like a thick. oppressive blanket in his mind. There had been a series of things that he'd done, in the name of protecting his family... "I grew up poor. My great grandfather, and then my grandfather, and then my own father, all they ever knew was poverty. The outskirts of Jedha are a mean place to grow up. Competition for even the simplest of services, like the repair bay I run, is fierce, even savage at times. The constabulary won't look into an undocumented worker's complaint about a broken window, or sabotaged equipment. And quite frankly, I wouldn't want them to. With the BPIC cracking down harder than ever this year, it was the last thing I wanted. Putting food on the table for three little ones is enough of a headache as it is. Weniscio wasn't the best sort but he certainly wasn't the worst. He could never pay for anything, but he was always good for whenever I wanted to cash in a favor." Vons bats Navi's hand away, then comes over to squat next Hedicole. "What does this have to do with ... anything?" "I don't really trust him. But he is an old friend. So I don't ask why when he asks for something anymore. I just know that the next time circumstances are dire, he'll be there. And it's never a matter of if, it's just a matter of when." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns, he knew this was likely to have something to do with Weniscio. He folds his arms and waits for Hedicole to continue. What did this have to do with the murder? What did Weniscio want? 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "What favors has he asked for before, at least at the colony? And do you think it might have anything to do with the supposedly accidental death of that colonist?" Navi asks, after a moment, rubbing her hand and glaring briefly at Vons. "For what my opinion's worth, it sounds like we'd better get you and your family away from there as soon as possible, if not sooner." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "There was this piece of equipment," he begins, "that he wanted me to modify. It didn't sound like something I should do but that's how all the favors he's ever asked for sound like--" But then he'll be interrupted, when Xera Graf herself suddenly rushes into the ship, looking like a frazzled wreck. This is the most disheveled anyone will have ever seen her. Her bun is falling apart, and her makeup is smeared, as if she'd been crying just prior to this. "Navi!" She cries, running to embrace the young Sephi girl. "Are you alright? I saw you at the nightclub, and then suddenly everything was--was--" She squeezes her tightly. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Ugh, what piece of equipment?? When Xera comes rushing in looking like a disheveled mess and interrupts the conversation, Cayde rolls his eyes and suddenly finds himself entering Hedicole's mind and searching for the answers himself out of sheer impatience.     Hmph, as if Xera even cares about Navi at all. It's just an act. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi finds herself all but crushed by the extremely frazzled Xera, and hugs her tightly after a confused moment. "I'm fine... or at least I'm not hurt. But are you all right? Clearly you've had quite a rough evening." She reaches into the Force, and then into Xera's head via Telepathy, and wonders at what she finds there... some of her emotions and concern are genuine. And some are not. "You needn't have worried for my sake. I've learned resilience and resourcefulness from my friends," she says softly. "Have you been crying? Let's get you to the refresher and get you cleaned up a bit." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The young padawan will be able to glean that there was some piece of equipment that the engineering and construction teams had been using to drill into the hillside, that Wenisicio had asked him to modify in a fashion that would have been illegal on Jedha. But since they're in the Outer Rim... However, Hedicole does not appreciate Cayde reaching into his mind, and actively resists. "You clearly don't trust me or any of what I'm saying!" he says. Then, using Xera's intrusion as a distraction, he rushes off the ship and disappears into the night. Xera wipes her eyes. "I'll use the facilities on my own ship," she says, "And I'd like for you to come with me. No need for you to ride in this civilian transport when there are better options available," she says with a soft chuckle. There's a pause. "I'm sorry for the way I treated you before. All those demands... that was cruel of me," she says quietly. "I was hoping that perhaps we could have a talk on the way back to Tenoo," she says. "And come to a mutual understanding." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     But why would Cayde trust Hedicole, anyway? After all it is quite clear that he was involved in the murder, even if not fully intentionally. If he hadn't probed, he'd have no reason to believe any of what he'd said about his family, either. But this time he just lets the Chadra Fan go. If he wanted to risk getting re-captured by the Zygerrians again, then that would be on him alone now.     But now Xera is asking Navi to come join her on her private ship. Is that why she came here? He resists the urge to invade Graf's mind and make her leave and forget everything she'd just done, and instead he pulls on Navi's shoulder and shakes his head desperately.     <Do not trust her...please...> Navi will sense that he has a very strong repulsion toward Xera, although that probably doesn't come as a surprise given the way she has treated him. He sincerely believes she is out for no one but herself and seeks only to manipulate everyone including her, to get what she wants which is control of the colony and everyone in it. The last thing he wants is for Navi to also become one of her pawns. Well, he doesn't want that for anyone but for whatever reason he feels especially strongly about her. She'll be able to tell that it also doesn't help that he's still distraught about the last ...discussion they'd had about Xera. Enough now his trust in her is at risk of eroding away. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' <I /don't/ trust her, Cayde... you don't need to worry about that, or about me. I've gotten out of much worse situations than her ship. I'm not doing this because I trust her... it's because I'm trying to make her see the error of her ways, including the way she's treated you,> Navi replies telepathically to Cayde, in what she hopes is a soothing tone. <Not to mention save her life. There are things and people at work behind the scenes on Tenoo, and some of them like her even less than you. And I have a feeling if she dies, things are going to be very bad for the people in the colony. This might also be my chance to get some answers about a few other things.> She looks regretfully after Hedicole. "I hope he'll be okay. He's a good man, even if he doesn't always make the right decisions," she murmurs. She looks back to Xera. "We can talk," she says at last. "I'd like to know what happened to you after we made our necessarily hasty departure." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Xera smiles at Navi, looking relieved. She takes Navi's hands in hers and squeezes them. "My vessel is parked in space C-15," she says, "I'll let you gather your things, then I'll be seeing you shortly." Then she kisses the young Sephi girl on the cheek briefly before turning and heading down the gangplank. Shortly after Xera leaves, Vons starts going down the gangplank as well, carrying the small backpack he'd brought with him. The bandage Navi had half secured to his eyebrow is falling off, and he looks like he probably should probably sleep in the next five minutes. "I'm going after Hedicole," he says to them. "But you two should head back to the colony." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     See the error of her ways? No, no...there was no way to make her change, other than...well, brute force telepathy. Cayde steps away from her, shaking his head. <You cannot change her...she change you> But that is the last she will hear from him, as she will find him closed off to any further attempts to project to him.     His brows go up at Vons. If Hedicole didn't want to cooperate, there wasn't much use in actually kidnapping him. But he just shrugs and doesn't try to stop the Zeltron. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Be extra careful," Navi advises Vons as he moves to leave. "Those Zygerrian guards seem to be almost everywhere, and I doubt they're in a talking mood after that mess in the club." She looks to Cayde, shaking her head sadly. "No, Cayde... no, she can't," she says softly, and then moves to get her things. That's likely to take all of five minutes. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Vons spares Cayde a backwards glance, but then turns to Navi. "Don't worry about me," he says, shaking his head, even as the bandage she'd half secured starts to fall off even more. The wound on his brow is still bleeding even more. Once Navi has gathered all of her belongings, he walks her to the gangplank, his expression sad. "Look, I'm--" he glances back at Cayde again. "Glad you're going. And I thought you should know, that even though he's jealous, I'm not. We might feel similarly about you, but where the similarities ends is I'm done being jealous and I trust you. I trust you not to do something you'll regret for the rest of your life. Just ... be careful, okay?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi carefully resecures the bandage over Vons' wound. "It's not just jealousy," she explains softly. "There's some there, but that's not nearly the whole story. I'm sure of that. In his own way, Cayde's as complex as you." She hugs him quietly. "I will be. I promise. Thanks for trusting me. I'm just hopeful that I can find out something meaningful from her." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     The response Navi gets is the usual unreadable look, and now that he has shut her out of his mind there is nothing more. He simply turns away from her and retreats into the passenger compartment, his expression downcast. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I don't know about that," Vons says softly, returning the embrace weakly, "I think he might like you even more than me." When she resecures the bandage over his wound, he gives her a fond look of utter longing. He suddenly leans towards her, and just barely touches the tip of one of her ears. "Me... me too," he says. He wanted to kiss her so badly, but he knew he shouldn't, she was an impossibility. All this will be obvious to Navi, and she won't even need the Force to observe it. "... I hope you liked the dress." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi sighs quietly, hugging Vons tighter. "I wish I could give you what you crave... I wish there were a lot more of me, and they were twice as loving," she whispers, tears in her eyes. "One who would love you completely... one to love Cayde... one to love Thaarin... and probably one or two more to love another couple people just as much. Damn me for not being what you all want... then everyone could be happy." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As much as he doesn't want to, Cayde finds himself listening in to the conversation between her and Vons. He just sighs and shakes his head...if someone didn't know any better, they probably would've taken that as some kind of sarcastic guilt trip. But that wasn't like her, was it? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Vons wipes away her tears with his thumb gently. "Hey," he says softly and soothingly, "no, don't say that. You should remain special and unique. The only Navi there ever was, is, and ever will be in the entire galaxy. And don't you worry about giving a damn about what other people think or want -- you just be you, and do what you know is right." Then he smiles and steps away from her, heading down the gangplank. "See you in a couple days," he says, "and take care of yourself... or else." Then he winks, and disappears into the night. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi manages the ghost of a smile for Vons. She watches him go, sniffling a little, until he's out of sight. "I know you're right," she murmurs, brushing away more tears. "I know you meant so well... that your words were meant to make me feel better. But they..." She sighs softly, dispiritedly. "... they didn't." Dabbing at her eyes, she shoulders her small duffel and walks down the ramp and off of the ship. 
}}

The Tenoo Frontier

2025-07-03T05:31:10Z

Sindt:

The Republic is sending at least two thousand colonists to an Outer Rim planet called Tenoo, to found a new colony there alongside the existing one, Kublop Springs. But the Jedi and their allies have reason to believe that many of the colonists are not who they seem to be. They hope for the best, but expect the worst, as relational tensions begin to develop and possibly jeopardize the Republic's effort to found a new colony on Tenoo.

===== Logs =====
* [[The Tenoo Initiative]]

* [[Registration Day]]

* [[Recruitment Day]]

* [[The Preliminary Seminar]]

* [[A Dual Role]]

* [[Boarding the Legacy II]]

* [[Quarantine]]

* [[Quarantine Visit]]

* [[Communication Relay]]

* [[The Vergence and the Temple]]

* [[Conflict]]

* [[The Start of Something Bad]]

* [[An Excursion to Ilum]]

* [[An Attempted Assassination]]

* [[Rescue Mission]]

* [[Playing Hooky]]

* [[Unknown Aliens]]

* [[Ding Dong! Dresda is Dead]]

* [[Stopover On Jedha]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 1]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 2]]

* [[Fake IDs]]

* [[A New Lead on an Old Friend]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 3]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 4]]

* [[Return to Tenoo]]

* [[Confrontation]]

* [[Founder's Day]]

* [[Jedi Temple Revealed]]

* [[Nightclub On Vuundalla Pt 1]]

* [[Suitemates]]

* [[Nightclub On Vuundalla Pt 1]]

===== Colonists =====
<gallery>
File:Soren.png|Dr. Cassias - well renowned doctor formerly convicted for falsifying Heydan Seegil's toxicology report.
File:Vons.png|Arsok Vons - private investigator who helped exonerate Navi in a murder case and aided in exposing the marauders who attacked the Temple of the Kyber.
File:Fan Four.png|Fan Four - four teenaged Chadra Fans who helped Navi discover who was behind the raid on the Temple of Kyber.
File:Xera.png|Xera Graf - Primary financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. A powerful member of the notoriously rich and influential hyperspace prospecting Graf family.
File:Unknown.png|Taryn San Tekka - The other major financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. He is a member of another rich hyperspace prospecting family, rival to the Grafs.
File:Unknown.png|Gael - Mal's older sister, also a Nightsister and assisted the Jedi in entering the Force tear below Jedha.
File:Mal.png|Malgabar - Nightsister with terrible amnesia who helped the Jedi previously in entering a corrupted Force tear
File:mondrian.png|Mondrian - Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black to investigate the colonist roster.
File:Veena.png|Veena - Mondrian's partner and Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black.
File:Unknown.png|Yvon - Ugnaught navigator for the Legacy II.
File:Unknown.png|Jahni - Ugnaught pilot for the Legacy II, fraternal twin brother of Yvon.
File:Unknown.png|Oona Yutelli - elderly Mirialan Jedi Master, formerly a Seeker and Temple archivist.
File:Thaarin.png|Thaarin - A mysterious, charming, blue skinned alien the Jedi found stranded on Ilum who has relocated to Tenoo to help with Republic frontier efforts.
</gallery>

The Reception

2025-07-03T05:30:11Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-05-29 |Synopsis=Volken challenges Caine to a bridal duel, Ellari and Jorn make plans to visit Master Volk. |Cast of Characters=159, 321, 418, 296 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' As Jorn is making his exit, he'll pass the building where the reception is being held. He'll see that of all of the guests who'd been outside in the front are now heading for it, and he may espy Volken among them. It wo..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-05-29
|Synopsis=Volken challenges Caine to a bridal duel, Ellari and Jorn make plans to visit Master Volk.
|Cast of Characters=159, 321, 418, 296
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' As Jorn is making his exit, he'll pass the building where the reception is being held. He'll see that of all of the guests who'd been outside in the front are now heading for it, and he may espy Volken among them. It would appear that something important is happening - though from this vantage point, he won't be able to tell exactly what. As for Volken, he will find himself buoyed by the crowd heading inside for the bridal duels, and catch sight of Jon'as and Er'gi. The latter calls out to him. "You're on the dossier," he says, "naturally. Will you make me a rich man tonight, Mons?!" 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Of course, vod! I'm all about elevatin' my friends with a little bit of violence." Volken's response to the other giant is cheerful and energized. A good act considering the heaviness and worry on him regarding what he agreed to do. Of course ... A little bit of violence always lifts his spirit. "Watch and learn and maybe you'll get biceps as big as mine." he rumbles while reaching for Er'gi's back. He then turns, searching for the dossier to see the names on it and if it's viable to enact the plan that was suggested. JOrn, naturally, escapes his notice -- especially disguised as the man is. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn will head out and just try to keep a low profile. First, he needs to make contact with the Jedi. That's paramount. As he tries to move past everyone. To him, that's something they can worry about. He'll try to contact the Jedi over message. If luck is on his side, the Jedi will talk back again. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Is that so?" Er'gi, says, slapping Volken on the back in a friendly fashion. "How much should I bet? The pot on you is currently at a thousand credits," he says with a smirk as he heads inside the building. When Volken comes to the dossier, he will see that his bracket is actually entirely filled up except for a single slot. Perfect. He could easily fill Caine, or Kasseady's name in that slot. Unless someone tries to stop him. However, the coast looks clear. It would appear that Force is looking kindly upon Jorn today. The Jedi Master replies in a timely fashion. <This is a bold request> he says. <And I find the nature of your communication with me suspicious and strange. Your comrade, Zin, I assume, reached out to me prior. You, however, I know nothing about. And now you wish to speak with me face to face? You know you cannot summon me to Sundari. You must come to Jedha if you wish to speak with me> 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn doesn't sigh when the response comes, but boy does he want to. <True. I know I will need to go to you. Part of why I want to meet. So you can make your assessment.> He keeps on the move. <I'm making my way to you soon.> Jorn needs to figure out what to do about Ellari and Volken. Another message will head out to Ellari, That's what he needs to do. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Ooh....well look at this...." Volken is distracted from answering Er'gi and he glances around to see who else is nearby aside from the other Mando. Er'gi also makes for a good wall .. let alone his own width being what it is. "Don'd mind if I do.." he drawls before reaching up to begin punching in Caine's name. "A thousand eh?" he asks, finally absently answering Er'gi as he goes about this action. "Mm...I dunno vod. How 'lucky' do you feel? How much do you want to motivate me to make sure I win?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari was on a tram back to the hotel when she received Jorn's message. Jedha? Well...     |I take it you spoke with Volk. Very well then, let us take my ship. No one else can know you have left Mandalore.     |Have you considered my previous message? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' <Assessment?> The Jedi Master replies <Of what exactly? I assume you are the man Zin said was wrongly accused. I know nothing of this matter. Care to enlighten me?> But just as Jorn may be about to reply to the Jedi, another message lights up his commlink. It's from Revara. <Jorn, my love, where are you? My mother told me you spoke with her. You haven't left Mandalore yet, have you? I want to see you. Please?> Er'gi sees what Volken is doing and adjusts his position so that no one can see what he's doing. He leans toward Volken and whispers in a low voice. "Best to ensure no one knows you did this, you aren't supposed to nominate your own opponents--" Then he steps away and laughs loudly. "Vod, more than the number of years the Jedi have been sworn enemies of the Mandalorians," he says good naturedly. Just then, Volken will see one of the Barons elbowing their way towards the dossier. He notices his name under Volken's and his face pales. "Who did this," he demands. "Who would--" then his eyes narrow at Volken. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Volken Mons says, "I knew I could rely on you vod. Separated at birth we were. Must be it. RIght bit of troublemakers at a ton and a half between us both" Volken's grin is full toothed as he finishes working the dossier and then he steps back and away from it to turn towards Er'gi as the other man laughs. "Yeah? That's a long time I hear and so a lot of credits..." A slight twinge of irony and guilty hits him there though. Best keep that little plan under wraps for now. The twins provide a good distraction and Volken turns towards them to incline his head and then raise an eyebrow. "..There a problem?"" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Er'gi chuckles. "Alas! If only I could go back in time and rewrite fate -- I could have been Clan Mons!" And then Caine approaches, looking disgruntled. "You," the baron growls. "Did you put someone up to this?" he says, pointing at the dossier angrily. "And you call -me- dishonorable." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' <You said you knew nothing of me. Thus, you need to learn about me. That's why I spoke of 'assessments.'"> Jorn pauses at the message. <Why are you at the edge of it all? Why are you not with your mother?> Jorn is very cautious right now. He keeps his stride going. Trying to figure out the path to speaking to a jedi. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Have I ever called you dishonorable? I may have called you a coward, a weakling, greedy and untrustworthy but I don't now if I've ever said -dishonorable-." Volken rubs his jaw, scratching at his scruffy dark beard as he considers this in a sense of mock soul searching. "Anyway...what're you worried about? You've not had a problem tryin' to stab me with your beskar blade before and this is for fun. I suppose we can make a wager out of it if y'want... Or you can just...back out I guess..." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' There's a beat, as if the Jedi Master is thinking. <Very well> he finally says. she asks. But Jorn may owe Ellari a response, first. His commlink is blinking with many unread messages. Who knew a wanted man could be so popular... This just seems to anger the Baron even more. "As if you're any better, aruetii!!" He glares at Volken. "I knew it," he seethes. "You wanted something, that's why you're doing this." He lifts his chin haughtily. "What do you want," he says in dangerously quiet tone of voice. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Everything...." rumbles Volken with a low resonant tone to his already unreasonably deep bass voice. He grins at Caine. "Besides....You -owe me-. I got Revara out of that Coruscant prison where she'd still be while you and Khalo Fett would still be brawling in the under city. If it wasns't for me you'd never even have gotten her off of the planet but let's set aside even that. I want the truth. No games. No subterfuge. You tell me exactly what happened with the Dark Saber and what Lady Solstice is doing... and if you're lucky I might help get you out of this trouble you both are clearly gettin' wrapped up into..." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn responds. Then he pauses. <No one knows I'm leaving.> He keeps going and will continue the messages. To the Jedi, It's simple, to the point and the Jedi laid out his terms. Jorn won't argue because this may speak better of his own character. That's good enough. <Your mother made it sound like you took refuge there for other reasons. I did not know about that location. Not really.> Jorn's a little suspicious. That's just the nature of everything lately. To him everythings a blur and that's the funny thing about the setup. Jorn doesn't know the planet well enough do what he's accused of. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     |Sundari Spaceport. Meet me there in an hour.     The tram stops near the hotel, and she goes to start gathering up her things. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' A muscle in the baron's cheek twitches, and his glare becomes icy as he regards Volken. But the Mandalorian behemoth will know he's got the cat cornered now. "If," he finally says, "you win. If -I- win..." his gaze flicks around at the murmuring crowd of guests around them. "You forget this nonsense and focus on the more pressing matter at hand," he says, stepping closer and lowering his voice, "Lady Solstice's campaign to seize power of Mandalore," he says too quietly for even Er'gi to hear. "And you'll be at -my- behest." Revara pings Jorn back. she reiterates. <Please. We can meet wherever you want to meet> 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn pauses thinking on it. <You didn't talk like this before everything happened to me. What changed?> That's the one thing that's different. He's honestly not sure if it's absence making the heart grow fonder, or if there is something going. That's the one thing Jorn hates about all of this. Everything he analyzes is through a borderline paranoid lense. Seeing if something is real. Genuine. He was already duped once before. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     As she is packing up, Ellari sends off a message to Volken.     |Jorn has been summoned to Jedha to meet with Trassa Volk so that he can further assess the situation. We will be taking my ship from the port in Sundari. Will you be joining us? 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Information in exchange for having to potentially act as his muscle for an indeterminate amount of time -- seems unbalanced. Though at the same time ... "That seems kinda...like we're walkin' the same path .... vod ... Seems t'me that we're both thinkin' about that. Whose side are you on, exactly?" Volken likewise keeps his voice low... trusting Er'gi to take a hint and keep his distance there. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' <What do you mean?> She messages him. While Ellari is packing up, she'll receive a text transmission from Varen. <I'm leaving the wedding now. I think... Volken will do a fine job of keeping an eye on the twins. Where are you?> Caine's expression hardens. "If we become allies temporarily, you'll not forget that I am /not/ your friend. I have no interest in expunging Jorn's name. I'd be happy to see him dead, honestly. If he isn't in league with Lady Solstice yet, he soon will be, and I will not have any qualms about ending his pitiful existence," He says quietly. "What I mean by forgetting this nonsense is you drop the investigation regarding how Jorn got the Dark Saber and align with the general public's view that he stole it and is a dishonorable hut'uun worthy of at best exile, and at worst, public execution. Do you understand?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari hesitates, wondering if she should really trust Varen...     |If you still want to help, meet me at Sundari Spaceport in an hour. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' <What made that feeling change> Jorn responds. Then he just keeps going forward. Thinking on it, he waits for a response. Temptation lingers in him, but he has been burned before. Plus, Ellari's warnings were taken to heart. They're something that actually keeps him in check despite how it may look. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Volken hesitates. HIs connection to Jorn is tenuous at best. HE finds himself doing this mostlyf or Thaelin's benefit and it was them that put him up to this. He's attempted to get to know Jorn better but circumstnaces keep conspiring to keep them apart and each time he has had direct contact he's...not been impressed with the choices Jorn has made. Again, the temptation to just walk away and let them all fall to whatever madness is happening here is strong. But things have also been set in motion - if they follow up on it - so if he does have to openly change his stance... "That's a big ask." he rumbles finally. " I'll drop the Dark Saber investigation and beome neutral on it but I won't lie or support a lie. That'll have to do. I won't put bein' dishonorable on the line for information that I don't even know if it's of any value yet. You impress me and maybe I'll change my mind but for now that'll have to do." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' <I'll see you there, then. We're going off world, I suppose. But to where? And why?> Varen asks Ellari. <I... don' t know> Revara replies. <Love can't be explained, Jorn. All I know is that one moment I didn't know you. Hated you, even. Just like everyone else who ever said they cared. And then what felt like a lifetime later but in reality was only a few weeks, you were my new constant. The north star I'd always been looking for. I don't know how else to describe it. But please just trust me when I say... I love you> Up ahead, Jorn will see a public transit station. A transport is pulling into the station - direct line to the spaceport. "It's not an ask," Caine huffs, tossing his curls haughtily. "It's a mandate. If I win, you'll do as I ask. If you win, I'll do as you ask. Simple, just as Mandalorian tradition should be." A beat. "I'll see you in the ring." Then he turns on his heel and heads for the ballroom, where Thaelin and Sanza are about to have their first dance. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     |I will tell you once we arrive.     Ellari leaves it at that, grabbing her bags and heading back toward Sundari. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn gets on the public transit. All Jorn does is stare at that message. <I'm making a stop first. I may need some backup.> The message goes to Ellari. Afterward, he will send a message. <This is where I will be.> The coordinates of one of the stops before the space port. Jorn needs to know if this is all a ruse by her mother, and he's just screwed. Or maybe Jorn has more allies than expected. He does not expect a happy ending. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Ellari won't be able to see Varen rolling his eyes, but he is. Regardless, he heads for the spaceport, hoping this misadventure doesn't land him in more trouble that he can't get out of. <I'll be there> Revara tells him. Hopefully he's right, and this isn't all just a ruse by her mother. Either way, he's about to find out... 
}}

Suitemates

2025-07-03T05:26:37Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-05-28 |Synopsis=Cayde, Thaarin, and Vons become suitemates |Cast of Characters=159, 143 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It's been exactly two hours since the group that had gone to Ilum had returned. While everyone else was getting settled back into their temporary housing units, the tall blue alien known as Thaarin, along with the smaller robed alien whose name they still had not been able to..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-05-28
|Synopsis=Cayde, Thaarin, and Vons become suitemates
|Cast of Characters=159, 143
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It's been exactly two hours since the group that had gone to Ilum had returned. While everyone else was getting settled back into their temporary housing units, the tall blue alien known as Thaarin, along with the smaller robed alien whose name they still had not been able to figure out, had reported to the structure designated for administration, and are currently waiting in the lobby. Accommodations for the two of them still had not yet been sorted... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Much has changed since they've been gone, and Cayde had just begun catching with his old Master. However, with all of the elder Ikkrukki's new responsibilities, he did not have much time at the moment. So the padawan was looking for his old hab, but realizes that the tents have been replaced with actual buildings now and he's not sure which one he has been assigned to. Well perhaps he should have asked Master... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He'll feel a tugging in his mind through the Force. The small robed alien they'd brought back with them, seems to want to let Cayde know that they're irritated. They've been waiting in the lobby area of the administration unit for over an hour, but no one's come to tell them what to do, or where they'll be staying... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     An hour? Oh, that was nothing. Clearly, this individual has never been to the starport in the Federal District. If one didn't have the luxury of a private ride, waiting hours on end for public starliners was quite common. Especially if you didn't pay for the premium class.     He himself still hasn't even figured out where he should be staying, so he starts peering at the doors to see if there are any names assigned somewhere. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The small alien prods Cayde in the Force a bit more aggressively this time. They reiterate to Cayde that it wasn't concerned for themselves, but Thaarin seemed rather unwell and they are concerned for his mental well being. Thaarin is a hard creature to read, but over time, they'd learned to read his body language and understand when he was feeling stressed, depressed, or overwhelmed. The young padawan will discover there are no such names, just numbers, that did not have much meaning to him. His previous temporary housing unit had not had a number on it. Since Rykard was away tending to other matters, perhaps he should go ask administration... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     If Thaarin and his friend had been waiting a long time, then clearly administration was busy. But maybe, there was something he could do to help, if Thaarin was unwell. He goes to the offices and looks for the blue-skinned man. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The two aliens won't be hard to find -- the lobby is practically empty to Cayde's surprise. And Cayde probably won't need the Force to see the glazed over, unreadable look on Thaarin's face as he stares out one of the windows in the temporary structure. The young padawan might wonder what is taking administration so long to assign them accommodations with the lobby being so empty, but just as he might be about to inquire about it, he'll see the source of the hold up. There's a couple at the desk, and they both seem very agitated and upset. Cayde definitely won't need the Force to see that. The female is crying, and the male is shouting rather aggressively at the receptionist at the desk, who looks overwhelmed and uncomfortable... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns, seeing the source of the problem. He first enters the mind of the male who is shouting aggressively, trying to see what the problem is and calm him down at the same time. Becoming angry and raising voice in such a way won't help the situation. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Well, it would appear that the female and male are a married couple, who had come to the colony site as a family with their two children. But apparently, he'd cheated on his wife, and they're now wanting separate habitation. He calms down when Cayde intervenes, but it would appear that the receptionist is having a hard time trying to rearrange things so that everyone still fit in a fashion that made sense for everyone. The small robed alien tugs on Cayde's sleeve, wanting to know if he'd remediated the situation. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns and pulls his arm away. This creature needed to learn patience. And this would go faster if it would stop interrupting his concentration.     He approaches the office clerk, glancing at the workstation. [I can help] he signs. Surely, there must be a way to make it work. There were quite a few rooms now it seemed. And if not, well, it wasn't the administration's job to handle personal family issues. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The small robed alien finally shakes their head and goes back to their seat next to Thaarin. The administrative clerk seems shocked when Cayde suddenly comes over and says that he can help. "Ah--I mean, this is my job," she says, "and you're not familiar with the system or how we've organized the rooms alphabetically, by race, family, and age--" The male looks peeved though. "How's this any of your business, Jedi?!" he grumbles. "She was in the middle of assigning me my quarters!" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde arches a brow at her. Well, she was clearly having trouble. But then he shrugs and backs away. Fine then, if they didn't want his help. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Suddenly, her commlink blinks urgently. She sighs. "Look, I'm sorry both of you, but I have to take this. I'll be back shortly." And then she gets up and goes behind the partition to take the holocall. The male fumes angrily and points angrily at the female, starting to rant aggressively in his native language at her while she continues to sob uncontrollably. The young padawan will notice that the receptionist had left the datapad with all the room assignments on the desk, and he'll be able to see that there are multiple vacancies. He might even spot his own room assignment - a large triple tent with a full private refreshers, across the hall from Rykard's quarters. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde moves behind the desk and sits down in the clerk's seat, picking up the tablet and starting to scroll casually through the room assignments. Oh, there's his...it seems nice. No complaints there.     He tries to see what assignment the clerk had been about to give the man. Glancing at the tablet, then up at the angry man, he points at the vacancies. [Your name] he signs. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The crying female finally composes herself somewhat, and the male finally seems relieved. "Kriff, finally," he mutters, "guess I can't complain about the Jedi if the receptionist won't do her job. My name is Herrin Parth, and her name," He says, jabbing a thumb and scowling at the woman, "is Tarrin Wintz." The small robed alien in the back perks up, looking hopeful, and Thaarin snaps out of his reverie. "Cayde...? What are you doing over there?" Cayde may notice that his quarters seem... rather oversized. There's three bedrooms, though it looks like the other two are unoccupied, and he's the only one staying in it. The other thing he may notice is that though there are lots of unoccupied rooms, many of the units they belong to are occupied by couples, and there's an annotation on them that denote that they're expecting. Well, that might not be ideal for a man who'd just cheated on his wife... There are also a number of studios, with single occupants, but they're all filled. But maybe he could move one of them... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh, yes a studio. That would be perfect for Herrin Parth. And since, it seems the suite he's staying in has 2 empty spots, he could just move whomever it is into his suite. Hopefully, they have not settled in too much yet. He nods and looks at the datapad, casually selecting one of the studios at random and re-assigning its occupant to an empty unit in the triple he's assigned to, then moving Herrin into the studio. It seems the system is even set up to automatically notify the relocated individual.     Upon finishing the arrangement, he places the datapad down on the desk in front of Herrin and points at the minimap where his new assignment is now displayed. [Okay] he signs, watching them expectantly, and pointing at the assignment again. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The datapad pings, and a small automated voice emanates from it, saying, "Colonist notified. Relocation effective, immediately." Herrin leans over the datapad, and nods with a grunt. "Nngh. Looks good to me," Then he turns on his heel and storms out of the lobby, the female hesitating momentarily before following him. She calls back to Cayde. "Thank you!" Well, the receptionist hasn't returned yet, and the small robed alien comes over to the desk. They poke Cayde, and point at the datapad, then at themselves and Thaarin. Since he seems to have taken over her duties, maybe he could just assign them a room, too. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Yes, that was exactly what Cayde was planning to do. He looks over at Thaarin, motioning him to come up, too, then shows them the datapad. There are a few open spaces left, including one in the triple suite that he's staying in. [You choose] he offers. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue alien chuckles softly. "Oh, but--" he pauses. "Surely you want space... and privacy," he says. There's a pause, and his expression suddenly grows mildly sad. "You should do as you please," he says. "I'm acutely aware of my status as an outsider, and perhaps inconvenience," he says softly, giving Cayde a faint, sad smile. The small robed alien then comes over to peer at the datapad and points at Cayde's triple suite, indicating in the Force that the choice for Thaarin is obvious. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh, but Thaarin is the only one who won't be a bother to him and won't be bothered by him, either. Cayde nods and just puts his name in that last open spot, and leaves the rest for his small companion to choose from. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The small robed alien quickly picks up the datapad, and finds himself a room with an expecting couple who luckily happened to have a third bedroom. They seem satisfied, and pleased with the outcome of the situation. They pat Thaarin on the arm reassuringly, before hurrying out of the administration unit, apparently quite excited to meet their new roommates. Thaarin turns to Cayde, offering him a faint smile. "You're too kind," he says, patting the young padawan on the shoulder in gratitude. "I left your duffel near the entryway to the residential block," he says, "shall we?" He then turns, gesturing towards the exit of the unit. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods and leaves the datapad on the desk, then turns to follow Thaarin out. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Once they're outside and heading towards the residential block, Thaarin turns to Cayde with another faint smile. "There's something I've been meaning to show you," he says, "I started working on it on the way back from Ilum. There was much time to pass, and I figured I might as well, since my studies of Basic weren't enough to span the number of hours it took to return to Tenoo." "I know communication can sometimes be difficult for you, so--" But before he can finish his sentence, they'll both hear a loud shout coming from one of the housing units half a klick away... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As Thaarin begins to tell him about something he's been working on, Cayde watches him with interest. But then, a shout draws his attention, and he frowns, looking toward the source of the noise. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It's the Zeltron private investigator, Vons. He's in front of his studio, looking mortified. Some of his clothing is lying in a heap on the front step of the habsuite. "Hey! Sleemo, that gundark leather doesn't come cheap, you know! ....-Shit-...!" He leans over to pick it up and dust it off carefully. The muffled voice of Herrin from inside can be heard, but his words, though indistinct, are aggressive. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh...oops. Cayde had hoped Herrin would've given the studio's previous occupant some time to gather up. But clearly he was impatient.     He hurries over, giving him an apologetic look, then glancing back over at the studio where Herrin now is settling in. [Come to new room now] he signs. Then he starts trying to help Vons carry his things. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Hey! I said careful..!" He snatches the jackets away from Cayde, scowling. "Who.. what the hell is this all about...!?" He then glances down at his commlink, which is blinking. Then he groans, and puts a hand on his forehead, cursing under his breath. "I'm certain your new accommodations will be better than your previous one," Thaarin reassures Vons. The Zeltron man frowns, blinking. "What? You again?" He grumbles. "Alright.. fine.. I'm coming, okay? Just give me a second..." And goes back inside his studio, gathers up his belongings, then comes back out with everything on a hovercart. He arches a brow at Cayde. "Sooo... where to, Supervisor?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde points over toward the triple hab that the three of them are now assigned to. [There] he signs, nodding to Thaarin when he assures Vons he will like this one better. It's much bigger, anyway. The studios are so small. [Yes bigger...is better] he continues, then starts heading over toward the new place. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Vons arches a brow at the young padawan and follows him, his skepticism growing. "Ooooookay," he says slowly. "So... like, why do you know where my room is? The message I got several minutes ago was from administration," he says, "Last I checked, the Jedi don't oversee that kind of stuff. Unless there's been a leadership re-org that I wasn't aware of..." he trails off, following Cayde into the triple habsuite. The triple habsuite, by far, is much more space than the studio. It's also fully furnished -- not something that Cayde or others would have expected, but a nice touch and the young padawan may be left wondering who might have sponsored funding all the furniture and interior design. Thaarin seems surprised and slightly overwhelmed. "Cayde, I--" he turns to the young padawan. "This was clearly a gift intended for you, I can't take any part of that from you," he says. "That'd be too generous of you." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     It's....almost -too- nice. Cayde isn't accustomed to staying in such fancy accommodations. Jedi weren't supposed to do that. But if he could share it with others, then he supposed that would be okay. He could just take the smallest and most plain bedroom.     When Vons asks how he knows the room assignment, he turns to the Zeltron man, hesitating a moment as he struggles to find the words to explain what happened. [...When busy...I can help them... I can give it to you] he answers, then nods and gestures toward the already furnished suite. [It is nice...good space]     He pats Thaarin on the shoulder. [Yes you can...yes you will] he signs, and starts taking his bags and going toward one of the bigger rooms. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Vons stares at Cayde. Then he blinks and shakes his head. "I have ... no idea what you just said, but okay," he says. But his lips press into a thin line and he folds his arms when Cayde starts taking Thaarin's bags towards one of the biggest rooms. Thaarin gives Cayde a fond look and a kind, faint smile. "I suppose I can't argue with that," he says softly, then starts helping Cayde take the bags to the room he's heading towards. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde deposits the bags in the room, looking around it and nodding. [You are here] he signs, pointing toward the bed. Then he goes back out, and tries again to explain to Vons what happened.     This time, he takes out a datapad and draws a picture of himself sitting at the housing office desk where the receptionist had been holding the tablet she had been using. And it even includes her a little ways off, talking on a holocall. It's rather rough, but somehow, it is actually fairly accurate and easily recognizable. He adds some words at the bottom: "I am helping them" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Thank you," Thaarin says warmly. "Really. You shouldn't have," he says. "Okay...but why?" Vons asks, arms still folded. He looks rather unhappy, despite the fact that the triple habsuite is larger, and accommodated much more luxuriously that his old studio. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     "Because I always help" Cayde writes below the first set of words, then shows it to Vons. He arches a brow at the Zeltron. Why is he still so unhappy? The space is obviously much larger, and also nicer. He will still get his own bedroom, as there are three rooms.     The padawan taps him on the shoulder and the points toward the other larger room, which seems to feature a good-sized wardrobe. For all of those fancy jackets he wears, you know. He waves a hand toward it, and it opens, showing off several shelves and rods for hanging clothing. A full-sized mirror, too. The young Jedi points at the bag with all his jackets, and then points again at the wardrobe. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Even when you shouldn't," he suddenly grumbles, taking a couple boxes off of the hovercart. When he shows him to the other larger room, and reveals the mirror and the wardrobe, he frowns. Especially when he points out the mirror. "What are you trying to say? I'm vain, or something?" He makes a shooing motion at Cayde. "I don't need help with my shit, thank you very much." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     What? No...no of course not. Cayde shakes his head desperately. He hadn't even known there was a mirror in there, so why would he be trying to make some kind of point?     But he wouldn't even know where to start with trying to tell Vons that or defending himself with that fact, so he just sighs and turns away sadly. [Sorry] 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' the Zeltron man arches a brow at Cayde, but a sense of remorse doesn't settle over him until after the young padawan has turned away and likely gone out of the room. Thaarin is calling Cayde over, anyway. "Remember when I said there was something I wanted to show you," he says, "that I've been working on these past few weeks." He makes a beckoning motion at the young padawan, for him to come into the lounge are where there's an ornate greel ebonwood low table surrounded by a couple of Ghorman canvas loveseats. He's setting a small container on the low table, motioning for Cayde to come look at it. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh, right. He'd nearly forgotten about that.     Cayde approaches the small container, although he hesitates to open it, looking over at Thaarin in case he wanted him to wait or something. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue alien smiles and nods, his eyes bright with anticipation. It seems he's anticipated Cayde seeing it for the first time for quite some time now. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods and opens the box carefully, peering inside briefly before reaching in to pull out one of the items... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Cayde might not exactly know what it is when he first takes it out. It's small, flat, square shaped and there appears to be some kind of pixelated grid touch screen on one side of it. He'll discover he can draw on it, but using his fingers isn't effective, the tile is too small. But another look in the container will reveal many more of these small tiles as well as a stylus. Some of them already have images on them, and the young padawan may recognize some of them as common objects or places he knows. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde studies them pensively, picking up the stylus and drawing a simple image of the Order's insignia on one of them. Huh...     [You made this...thank you] he signs, looking up at Thaarin and smiling gratefully. Very few people would create something specifically with him in mind. He flicks a wrist, and all of the squares float out of the box, spreading themselves out on the table in front of him. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin seems quite pleased. "Yes," he says with a soft chuckle. "What do you think? I'm not finished, of course," he says, "but I thought we could work on it, perhaps a little every day, or however often you'd like," he says kindly. Spreading the tiles will reveal that there are more than just common objects. There are people, too. The doctor, Master Rykard, himself. The likenesses aren't very good though. "Here," he says, showing him a button on the back of the tiles. "Pressing this will allow you to edit the front of it." He presses it and the tile glows briefly before the drawing on it disappears. Then he takes the stylus, and draws an image of waves on it. "Then pressing it again will lock the image." He presses the button on the back again, and tile loses its glow. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Well, at least they're recognizable.     [Very good] he signs, nodding. Cayde watches as Thaarin demonstrates how to reset the images. Oh, but there wasn't a way to just edit the current drawing? They weren't worthless, just could use some improvement.     He picks up the one of Thaarin, and tries adding to it without erasing the existing image. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin gives Cayde a wistful look, "Unfortunately, I haven't added that kind of functionality yet," he says, "I figured the drawings should be kept simple, simple enough that starting over wouldn't be a significant effort." He offers the young padawan a faint smile and picks up a blank one. "Here," he says, "there's not one for Navi yet, why don't you make one?" From the hallway, Vons lurks, watching them with mild curiosity, arms folded without saying anything. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods and draws the Sephi girl's face on the square, although it doesn't turn out quite as he'd hoped. Perhaps because the tile is so small and it's hard to hold it right. He pouts slightly and resets it, then starts again. He doesn't notice Vons watching just yet. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin arches a brow at Vons, then smiles faintly. "You could join us. If you'd like," he says. The Zeltron man seems reluctant at first, but his curiosity about what Cayde is drawing gets the better of him and he comes over to look at what the young padawan is working on. Thaarin's scarlet eyes gleam mischievously and he snatches the tile from Cayde while he's drawing on it. "You could try something simpler," he says, and taking the stylus, just draws a heart on it. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde arches a brow at Thaarin when he snatches the tile from him and just puts a heart shape on it. But, that was too vague. What would he use for generic affection? He shakes his head and pulls it back with the Force, then starts another drawing again. This time, the likeness is much better, as he tries to steady his hand more. Though he does add a heart near her face. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Vons grumbles and slinks onto the couch, rolling his eyes and slouching unhappily on the loveseat, arms folded. He still makes no comment, but keeps watching Cayde, as if he wants to say something, but can't, for some reason. Thaarin chuckles softly, clearly amused. "Tell me about that," he says to the young padawan softly, while Vons tries not to act like he isn't laser focused on what Cayde will say next. "Tell me why you chose to illustrate her with -that- next to her head," he says, pointing at the heart. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde glances between Thaarin and the drawing a few times, unsure of how to answer that. Perhaps, it had just been to tease him since he was the one who had drawn only the heart to begin with. But also, she kissed him once. And that wasn't a complaint. Anyway, she's just generally a very affectionate person, right?     He picks up another blank piece and draws the heart on that one and then puts it next to the one with Navi on it. [It fits her] he signs. He notices there is already a piece with a lipstick print icon on it, and he glances at it momentarily but doesn't move it. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' But both Thaarin and Vons are too observant to not catch Cayde's gaze flicking to the tile with the lipstick print on it. Vons visibly stiffens, but Thaarin's eyes just glitter with amusement and fascination. "Alright," he says, "let's put this prototype to the test, shall we? I want you to use the tiles to tell me how you feel about Navi." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [Okay] Cayde signs, and looks over the squares. He finds the one that has a question mark on it and just picks that one to place next to hers. Yes, that was the most accurate way to explain it. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I see," Thaarin says, smiling faintly at the young padawan. "Now why do you feel like that about her? Use the tiles..." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     What? What did he mean 'why'? A brow goes up at Thaarin, and he just shrugs. How would he know why, if he doesn't even know to begin with? He just looks back down at the question mark, and looks back up at Thaarin. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Hm," Thaarin says. "Let me ask a clarifying question. Have you always not known how you felt about her? Or did something happen at some point, that changed how you felt about her?" He smiles faintly at the young padawan. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Well....she'd always been a very affectionate person, but there -was- that one time...     Cayde flushes, looking reluctant but he eventually puts a finger on the lipstick print icon, pulling over toward himself slightly. [Do not tell master...] he signs, looking somewhat sheepish. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin's scarlet eyes light up, and he seems pleased when Cayde points at the lipstick print tile. "Don't worry, I won't," he says, chuckling softly, "You can tell me anything with confidence that it will stay a secret, Cayde." Vons suddenly sits up, looking offended. "Wait, aren't you bound by some chastity protocol? Aren't -all- Jedi?" he says sourly. "Like, aren't you not supposed to be messing around??" Thaarin shakes his head, still smiling. "Ease up, my friend. If it becomes an issue later, I'm sure his Master will take responsibility for disciplining him. But not to worry," he assures Cayde, "If Master Rykard ever hears about it, it certainly will not be from me." He stands, but leaves the tiles on the low table. "Feel free to fiddle with them as you please," he says, "for now, I think I'd best take some time to get properly settled in. It's been a long day." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde flushes even more when Vons points out that wasn't supposed to happen. But then he moves the kissing symbol over toward Navi's image. [She started it] he signs. Well it was true.     Then he shrugs and gets up as well, then starts taking his few belongings over to the smaller room so that he can get settled in. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "What?!" Vons sputters angrily. But he doesn't further comment as Cayde gets up to take his own belongings to the other smaller room in the triple hab suite. 
}}

Nightclub On Vuundalla

2025-07-03T05:22:51Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-05-26 |Synopsis=Navi and the Jedi visit a nightclub offworld to chase down one of the suspects associated with Dresda's death. |Cast of Characters=159, 261, 143, 381 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' With the return of the Jedi to Tenoo revealing that some rather unfortunate events (a murder, perhaps, to be specific) had occurred during the months while they were away, those who had been away wou..."

Commitment

2025-07-03T05:19:23Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-05-21 |Cast of Characters=159, 261 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It's a sunny afternoon at the colony site, with little having transpired since the Temple's rising out of the valley. And for once, it would seem that Xera has made herself available. She's sitting just outside her penthouse sized temporary housing unit, reading from a datapad and drinking some expensive tea that looks..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-05-21
|Cast of Characters=159, 261
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It's a sunny afternoon at the colony site, with little having transpired since the Temple's rising out of the valley. And for once, it would seem that Xera has made herself available. She's sitting just outside her penthouse sized temporary housing unit, reading from a datapad and drinking some expensive tea that looks to have been imported from Coruscant. She's got a large umbrella set up, of course, to protect her from the sun, and seems to be in a good mood... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Good afternoon," Navi says softly by way of greeting as she approaches the housing unit, offering a casual smile. "You look like you're having a good day, and I very much hope you are." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Xera looks up from the datapad she's reading, and smiles at the young Sephi girl. "I'm well... enough," she says. She pats the table across from her. There's a seat there, so Navi will be able to sit down across from the Graf bureaucrat. "And what about yourself? How was the visit to the Temple?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi takes the offered seat. "Thank you. The Temple visit was... eye-opening. Not to mention roof-opening, and earth-opening. It seems the sanctum of the Temple was actually underground, and reopening it did quite a number on the valley. If it weren't for some friendly giant birds, we'd still be up there," she explains. "I couldn't see if the lab building was affected by the shifting and faulting of the valley. I hope no one was hurt." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Oh?" Xera says, arching a brow at her. "How so?" She glances up at the Temple in the distance then shrugs. "Oh... well, I see, I guess. That's lucky, I suppose." She smiles. "I wouldn't be concerned about it," she says, but she won't look Navi in the eyes. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I wouldn't be concerned if I knew if everyone from the lab was alive and unhurt, or at least accounted for," Navi replies softly, but she doesn't miss Xera's avoiding eye contact. "We had no warning that the Temple and the land would be so radically restructured when we opened the sealed door. I've never even heard of a temple constructed in that way." She sighs quietly, regretfully. "And now we're going to have to build a bridge or something like to be able to access the land around the Temple, because there's a big chasm where there used to be solid ground. I can only apologize for the damage done. It wasn't our intention to change things that way. Or at all, really." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "We'll figure it out," she says calmly, although there's something in her expression that says otherwise. She doesn't seem overly concerned about the Temple in general. "Or we won't. Either way, it doesn't significantly impact the colony site." "And the Arkanians are just fine. Their pride pricked, that's all." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I'm glad to know they weren't hurt," Navi says, quite sincerely. "And that they weren't trapped in the valley." She swallows a lump in her throat before continuing. "There was something else I was wondering about, too. I know you've taken an interest in me since our return from Ilum, and I'm both flattered and grateful for it. I think you already know I'm fond of you, and I'm aware of how important this colony project is to you, even if I don't fully understand why." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Oh yes," Xera says, absently, glancing at Navi briefly before looking back to her datapad. "I suppose," she says with a shrug. "But I'll have you know, I have... some requirements, if you're actually interested." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I'd like to know about them," Navi says, nodding. She hasn't forgotten the woman's frightening level of jealousy, or her lack of trust in her paramours' honesty. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Xera smiles and finally puts the datapad down. "Well the first thing you should know," she says, "is that I don't want you around Thaarin. I don't want you to pursue him, I don't want you to be his friend, I don't want you around him at all, unless it's an emergency." She smiles sweetly, but it doesn't seem very genuine at all. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Why?" Navi asks, confused. "I helped save Thaarin's life, and he and I have been friends ever since. I think he would be upset if I suddenly never saw him again." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Because I said so," she replies immediately. "If you want to start seeing me more formally, then your committment to me has to matter. That's my first term, and if you can't agree to even that, then... well." she settles back in her chair again and picks up her datapad. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Hmm... I understand if you are romantically interested in him, even if I am not. He is a beautiful person, inside and out. Is that why you don't want me to have any contact with him?" Navi asks thoughtfully. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "No," Xera says a little too immediately. "I just told you, your committment to me is what matters. And committment to -me- means you don't associate with -him-. Is that clear? Those are my conditions, and if you can't agree to it, then we can't see each other formally." Then she smiles again. "I hope you aren't offended, but I have my rules for how I run my life, as I'm sure you have yours." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I see. And yet I don't see," Navi replies. "Perhaps you'd better tell me about the other conditions. Or at least if there is anyone else you don't want me to associate with." "I quite understand your having rules to run your life. But these conditions aren't about running /your/ life... they are quite literally running /my/ life, and I very much want to understand why you want so much control over me. I was a Jedi once. I'm more than familiar with control over my life. But I knew the reasons for it back then. These reasons just aren't clear to me." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Xera sighs. "Listen, if you can't even agree to my first condition, then there's no use listing the others. If your hope is that whatever starts betweens us right now will become serious, then you have to agree to all of my conditions not just a few." She shakes her head. "You're failing to understand that if you are to start seeing me formally, it won't just be all about your and your own rules anymore. We'll be a pair, and there will just have to be compromise." A pause as she sips her tea again. "Now. If you can't agree to disassociate yourself from Thaarin, then this conversation is over. I've some pressing business to attend to in a few minutes, anyway." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I do understand, Xera. But understanding isn't the issue here. Compromise isn't one-sided; it's mutual," Navi replies patiently. "But if I must not have contact with Thaarin, then I suppose I can do that. I'll have to speak to him and explain the situation, of course." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Well good, then," she says, suddenly smiling and completely ignoring what she'd just said about about compromise not being one-sided. "I have your word, then? You promise to never see or go near him, unless I say so, or if it's an emergency?" But before Navi can answer, she stands and dusts herself off. "Explain? What is there to explain? All he needs to know is that we're talking about becoming exclusive and that means from now on, contact with certain people will be completely off limits. There are, of course, other stipulations, regarding when you can see me and everyone else you know, that you'll have to agree to later, but I've a meeting with the matriarch of our family in a few minutes." "We'll speak some other time," she says flippantly, not even looking at Navi, before she stands up and goes inside her temporary housing unit. Navi might be in the middle of processing it all when she hears some rustling in the bushes behind her... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Explain why I will no longer have contact with him," Navi esplains. "I respect him too much to just break off contact with no explanation." She has no time to say anything more before Xera ends the meeting. "Good luck with your meeting, then." The rustling of the bushes startles her, and she glances back at them, wondering if she will see the person she expects to be responsible for the sudden disturbance... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' And she will indeed, see the person responsible. A masked marauder - not Zealot, but she may recognize her in the Force as familiar. "Welcome back," the modulated voice says, as the individual comes to lean on a tree not even a few yards from where Navi is sitting. Their presence doesn't seem menacing although their apperance does, despite the clear lack of weapons. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Oh, it's you... I was wondering if your people were all right after the reopening of the old Jedi Temple," Navi observes, slightly irritably. "It made quite a mess of the valley, which we didn't remotely see coming. Is there something you want?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The marauder chuckles, but Navi will be able to hear the sarcasm in her tone of voice when she says, "Oh how -sweet- of you to worry," she says. "We're... fine." And she leaves it at that. "No," she says coyly. "Was just checking in, as per usual. I've been watching you, you know. Zealot's not here right now, but he wanted to make sure nothing happened to you while he was ... gone." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Maybe you prefer not to believe it, but I do care about what happenes to Zealot and his people, including yourself," Navi adds, irritated by the woman's sarcasm. "As for checking in, I'm afraid there isn't much to report at the moment. We've only been back from Ilum for a few days. The Arkanians set up some kind of cloning research lab while we were gone, and we were able to reopen the Temple ruins... with unexpected and dramatic results. I'm sure you witnessed part of that." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Yes I know," Pop says, sounding bored. She slides into the chair Xera had been sitting in prior. "And that's awfully presumptuous of you. I don't have a preference either way." She pauses. "That's not really what I was checking on your for, anyway," she says. "I only complied with Zealot's request because first of all, I think you're interesting, and secondly, I wanted to see just how wildly unsuccessful you were at your little... project. I know what Zealot told you. He told me, actually." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I've been gone for weeks. Clearly nothing was going to move on that front until I returned. It probably wouldn't have been so long if we hadn't run into some interesting complications, one of which has been a tremendous boon to us all," Navi replies, shrugging. "And for what it's worth, I'm glad he told someone else. Or maybe everyone else. Transparency's usually a good thing." "I can't say I've never been called interesting before, but this has to be the first time it's come from such a compelling person as yourself," she adds. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Perhaps for you and the Republic," she scoffs. She leans back in the chair lazily, shrugging. "Listen, dear, I tolerate you so consider yourself lucky to receive some advice from me. You can make all the excuses you want. Perhaps that tall blue handsome alien was worth all the extra time you wasted, perhaps he's not. Regardless, you're running out of time. It's been.." and she counts on her fingers. "Thirty weeks exactly, and how far have you gotten with miss rich and incorrigible?" She waggles a finger. "Don't answer that. We both know what you're going to say, and it's not what either of us want to hear. You need to change methodology." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "He's alive when he could've died; that makes the time more than worth it," Navi replies, shrugging again. "And what was I going to say? Elaborate, please." "I'm also very interested in your ideas on an effective methodology," she adds. "Getting close to her is its own little time-gobbling nightmare, given her jealousy and trust issues, and her response to even the most constructive criticism is worse." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "That you've made little to no progress," the female marauder says frankly. "She's playing games with you, Navi," she says, "and in order to beat her at her own game, you have to make your own." "Jealousy works wonders, you know. If you just went and did the opposite of everything she wants, well that will just show her how little control she really has over you. And I know her types. She won't walk away when she sees you rebelling, because that will mean she's lost. And she won't take that. You can make her behave," she says, her nails now digging into the table. "And the cost is indulging in a bit of hedonism. But that's hardly a negative, in my opinion. Besides, why not? What else would you have left the Order for, anyway?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I left the Order for a number of reasons, but none of them were related to hedonism, and /all/ of them were related to loyalty. But the short version is that the leadership of the Order abandoned me at a time when I needed their support most," Navi says. "I refuse to be led by a group of sentients who used me so poorly." She gives Pop a thoughtful look. "Thaarin had a similar idea to yours. It goes against everything I believe in, but the price is saving a lot of lives. I'll try it. I'd welcome some suggestions, though, because I'm extremely new to hedonism." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Well good for you," the female marauder purrs. She seems pleased, and amused by Navi's reaction. "I always pegged the Order as a bunch of religious idiots, anyway." She snickers. "Oh it's easy, actually. If she's got eyes for Thaarin, make sure she sees that you're taking him from her. But don't stop there. Kiss lots of boys, and lots of girls. In fact, any being you find attractive, associate with them intimately. -Very- intimately. Drink, excessively. Try spice. Perhaps a deathstick or two. Visit a nightclub, for -enjoyment-, and not just to chase down a quarry. Take a warm body home for the night. Then, rinse, and repeat." "Oh, and do come by our vessel in the valley every once in a while. We do like to play sabacc and on occasion, Mandalorian-style dueling. I'm sure you've figured out by now, that we're stuck down there for the time being, so having a visitor around sometimes will help pass the time." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "There is a slight flaw in that plan; Xera's mercurial temper. I want to make her change her ways for the better, not put out a contract on me," Navi replies. "Maybe I should start with just spending time with Thaarin, since I know that makes her jealous pretty much instantly. Possibly branch out from there, keeping in mind just who she's got her wandering eyes on." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Oh please! The woman can't and won't do anything to you for indulging yourself in physical pleasures, now can she? She's not an idiot. If the initial pressure she put on you only served to make you rebel more, then she'll realize applying -more- pressure isn't going to work. Besides, what's she going to do if she doesn't like it? Not like she can confiscate a bottle of Corellian whisky from you without being accused of theft." "But I suppose if you're feeling shy, you could start there." She stands up, "Regardless, my invitation stands. The others I'm sure, will have plenty of advice for you as well -- and not just the hedonistic kind. Maybe you'll learn Huttese." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Thank you for your help, which I must admit is something I never thought I'd say to you," Navi says softly, standing. "Be careful on your way home, too. I'll try to come by the camp when I have time and the ability to do so. Maybe the giant birds we encountered will be willing to help me with that." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The female marauder chuckles softly, and this time it doesn't sound demeaning or sarcastic. "Indeed," she says softly. "You're wondering about a particular unforunate event,  I'm certain. Well, I might know someone who saw... something." And with that, she turns and disappears into the bushes. 
}}

File:Veena.png

2025-07-03T05:16:09Z

Sindt: Sindt uploaded a new version of File:Veena.png

File:Veena.png

2025-07-03T05:14:46Z

Sindt: Sindt uploaded a new version of File:Veena.png

The Tenoo Frontier

2025-07-02T07:34:31Z

Sindt:

The Republic is sending at least two thousand colonists to an Outer Rim planet called Tenoo, to found a new colony there alongside the existing one, Kublop Springs. But the Jedi and their allies have reason to believe that many of the colonists are not who they seem to be. They hope for the best, but expect the worst, as relational tensions begin to develop and possibly jeopardize the Republic's effort to found a new colony on Tenoo.

===== Logs =====
* [[The Tenoo Initiative]]

* [[Registration Day]]

* [[Recruitment Day]]

* [[The Preliminary Seminar]]

* [[A Dual Role]]

* [[Boarding the Legacy II]]

* [[Quarantine]]

* [[Quarantine Visit]]

* [[Communication Relay]]

* [[The Vergence and the Temple]]

* [[Conflict]]

* [[The Start of Something Bad]]

* [[An Excursion to Ilum]]

* [[An Attempted Assassination]]

* [[Rescue Mission]]

* [[Playing Hooky]]

* [[Unknown Aliens]]

* [[Ding Dong! Dresda is Dead]]

* [[Stopover On Jedha]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 1]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 2]]

* [[Fake IDs]]

* [[A New Lead on an Old Friend]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 3]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 4]]

* [[Return to Tenoo]]

* [[Confrontation]]

* [[Founder's Day]]

* [[Jedi Temple Revealed]]

===== Colonists =====
<gallery>
File:Soren.png|Dr. Cassias - well renowned doctor formerly convicted for falsifying Heydan Seegil's toxicology report.
File:Vons.png|Arsok Vons - private investigator who helped exonerate Navi in a murder case and aided in exposing the marauders who attacked the Temple of the Kyber.
File:Fan Four.png|Fan Four - four teenaged Chadra Fans who helped Navi discover who was behind the raid on the Temple of Kyber.
File:Xera.png|Xera Graf - Primary financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. A powerful member of the notoriously rich and influential hyperspace prospecting Graf family.
File:Unknown.png|Taryn San Tekka - The other major financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. He is a member of another rich hyperspace prospecting family, rival to the Grafs.
File:Unknown.png|Gael - Mal's older sister, also a Nightsister and assisted the Jedi in entering the Force tear below Jedha.
File:Mal.png|Malgabar - Nightsister with terrible amnesia who helped the Jedi previously in entering a corrupted Force tear
File:mondrian.png|Mondrian - Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black to investigate the colonist roster.
File:Veena.png|Veena - Mondrian's partner and Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black.
File:Unknown.png|Yvon - Ugnaught navigator for the Legacy II.
File:Unknown.png|Jahni - Ugnaught pilot for the Legacy II, fraternal twin brother of Yvon.
File:Unknown.png|Oona Yutelli - elderly Mirialan Jedi Master, formerly a Seeker and Temple archivist.
File:Thaarin.png|Thaarin - A mysterious, charming, blue skinned alien the Jedi found stranded on Ilum who has relocated to Tenoo to help with Republic frontier efforts.
</gallery>

Jedi Temple Revealed

2025-07-02T07:34:03Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-05-19 |Synopsis=Navi and the Jedi use the pontite crystals to open the inner chambers of the ancient Temple. |Cast of Characters=159, 381, 143, 261 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The moment has arrived. With the rare pontite kyber crystals now in their possession, the doors to the ancient Jedi Temple ruins in the valley not too far from the colony site itself can be opened. If all goes to plan..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-05-19
|Synopsis=Navi and the Jedi use the pontite crystals to open the inner chambers of the ancient Temple.
|Cast of Characters=159, 381, 143, 261
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The moment has arrived. With the rare pontite kyber crystals now in their possession, the doors to the ancient Jedi Temple ruins in the valley not too far from the colony site itself can be opened. If all goes to plan, that is. Hopefully the massive Gangul they'd encountered the first time they'd ventured down there will stay out of their way, and if the Force willed it, no other malicious lifeforms would impeded their journey there. Master Oona Yutelli would have rallied the small group, summoning them to gather at the ridge overlooking the valley before they started hiking back down to the ruins. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Master Pike Windu has returned from a house call. The Jedi stands a ways behind Master Yutelli, hood up and great coat closed. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde is there on the ridge as well, standing with Master Rykard as they prepare to head down into the valley and hopefully start exploring the ancient temple. Already, he begins reaching out with the Force, attempting to determine if there are any dangerous lifeforms lurking down there... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Master Yutelli lingers a little as they start making their way down to the Temple Ruins. "Master Windu," she says softly, "how have you been? It seems a lot has been on your mind since we've returned," she says, slowing her pace so she can walk alongside him. Cayde will only be able to hear the cacophony of life deep in the valley - it's thick, rich, and vibrant. He won't be able to tell if there's anything malicious in particular down there... not yet. They're not close enough for anything to know they're coming. Rykard inquires after it, anyway. "What do you see, my young padawan..!" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde sighs, shaking his head. He'll just have to keep monitoring as they approach. <Nothing in particular...> he admits. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Master Windu shakes his head, careful to keep his footing on loose ground.     "I have thrown myself into my work to keep my mind off the research going on here. It troubles me, Master." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' They may notice that the vegetation has grown significantly since they last hiked this trail. It's so dense, that they might find themselves having to hack away leaves and branches with their sabers just to get through. And everything here is huge. The plants, the insects, even the scurrying kibbins that dart to and fro the bushes, seem abnormally large... Rykard nods sagely. "Continue on, then," He says, "but as always, we must be mindful of everything in the Force..." Master Yutelli's expression falls. "What do you mean?" she says. "I heard rumors. But... they're just rumors, surely...!" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <Yes of course Master> Cayde answers, starting down the trail that is now partially overgrown. He watches the suspiciously large flora and fauna warily, trying not to touch any of it as he continues to monitor for anything potentially hostile. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Master, the Arkanians leading the research have been quite clear to me. They mean to clone beings. As a healer, I can see the medical benefits. But the Arkanians have spoken of going much further, bringing back the dead." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' As they continue down the trail, Cayde will hear a rustling up ahead. There's something large there... whether it's hostile or not, the young padawan won't be able to tell -- yet. "Cloning? Bringing people back from the dead...?" Yutelli says quietly, in disbelief. "It's not possible...! No one has ever been able to clone any sentient, alive or dead, successfully. They will not be able to do this, Master Windu. Why do you worry?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns and tries directing his efforts toward the source of the noise, attempting to ascertain the nature of the potential threat. What or who was it, and could it be dangerous? 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     SNAP-hiss     Windu activates his lightsaber as something with many legs scurries by.     "Master, you are right that all previous attempts have failed. But, Master, we are talking about research that borders on the Dark Side. Isn't that reason enough to take lightsaber to their lab?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Rykard halts in his tracks when he hears the sound of something farther up ahead on the trail. He glances over at Cayde, then back at Oona and Pike. "What is it?" he asks the young padawan. Cayde will be able to sense it's some kind of creature -- albeit one that has more sentience that others he had encountered before. It is in distress and is aware of their presence, but does not seem to want anything other than help. Master Yutelli frowns. "We must tread carefully," she says. "Is there any proof of their work, yet? What did they show you?" She pauses. "The vergence," she murmurs. "You've concluded it could be an outside factor - one that could tip the scales in their favor...!" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Now any lifeform in distress warrants further investigation at least. <A creature...in distress> he informs his master as he focuses on trying to discern the situation before he tries to approach. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi has been walking at the tail end of the group, mostly watching the greenery for anything that might object violently to their presence and listening to the conversation between Masters Windu and Yutelli. The conversation fills her with more foreboding than the jungle, although she is still struck by the size of the flora and fauna here. In her mind, it can only be the influencce of the vergence. Or, as she increasingly thinks of it, the cause of all their trouble. Noticing Cayde and Master Rykard growing suddenly more alert, she rests a hand on her own lightsaber, where it rests on her medic's satchel. "Is something wrong?" she calls forward. "More than usual, I mean?" 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Windu is distracted by another creature of unusual size.     "Pardon me, Master." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Rykard nods and motions for Cayde to go ahead of him. When Cayde gets closer, he'll be able to push aside the bushes and reveal what appears to be a giant bird that's the color of flames and embers. Its wing is clearly broken, or twisted, somehow. Upon seeing Cayde, it chirps softly. "There's something in the bushes," Rykard tells Navi. "Cayde is investigating it." Master Yutelli nods. "The vergence may make things that are not possible elsewhere, possible here. Is this what you fear, Master Windu?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <It's...a bird...of some kind> Cayde tells his master. <Broken wing, maybe>     He reaches out to its mind, trying to calm it. Maybe Navi or Pike could help. However, he doesn't contact either of them, at least not yet. In fact, even Navi may find that he's harder to read than usual. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "The confluence of beings, their motives, yes, in this place. It leaves me with unease, Master." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "It's definitely what /I/ fear... I'm sure everyone's noticed just how big and healthy the wildlife is around these ruins," Navi adds softly. "If this vergence can make a Ryshian tomato grow bigger than a protocol droid's head, it just might make a few other impossible things possible. I don't find that a comforting thought. It's making me wonder just why the Jedi left this place alone for so long." Master Rykard's reply draws her attention forward once more. "Pardon me, Masters," she murmurs to Masters Windu and Yutelli as she makes her way over to speak to Master Rykard. "Any idea what it is?" she asks. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The bird, weirdly, doesn't seem to be afraid of Cayde. In fact, it seems to be less distressed upon the young padawan's approach. The closer Cayde gets to it, the more he'll be able to discern about it -- it's not very old, perhaps the equivalent of his own age in its species' years. Despite that, it's... huge. It has four wings, a fiery red tail that fans out out, and a massive crest, which is currently drooping. He'll be able to see that one of it's wings is bent at an odd angle. Yutelli nods solemnly. "We must watch them," she says, "but we should be careful. We can't assume anything just yet. But I understand your concern," she says to Pike. Rykdard glances at Navi. "I'm not sure," He murmurs. "Local to Tenoo, certainly. But I've never seen a bird like this in my life! It seems to take to Cayde quite well, though." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde very carefully moves over toward the bent wing, and starts trying to figure out what is wrong with it, hopefully without hurting it or causing further injury. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Windu nods. "Yes, Master. I will trust in the Force." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Well, that's good. I'm surprised it's let us get so close to it," Navi muses, nodding absently. "Does he need any assistance from us?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It will become clear to Cayde that the wing is broken. Perhaps it's time to ask Pike or Navi intervene on behalf of the bird. Master Yutelli nods. "Indeed," she says softly, "but know that tou will always have an ally in me! If we must look into the matter of the Arkanians more deeply, I am happy and ready to assist." "I think so," Rykard says, now following Cayde, "I believe its injured..." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde examines the wing, but he isn't quite sure of anything other than it looks broken. He glances over at Pike and Navi, then back at the injured wing, his expression expectant although he is otherwise unreadable. [Broken...I think] he signs. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Windu deactivates his Jedi weapon and pushes his hood down. Stepping forward, he kneels next the creature and Cayde. "I will do what I can." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Better check on them, then," Navi says, stepping off of the trail and moving to join Cayde and the wounded avian, letting Pike have room to work for now. "Have you been able to communicate with it?" she asks Cayde softly, glancing to him after studying the bird closely for a moment. "And I'm with you... it sure looks like a broken wing." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The bird looks somewhat uneasy when Pike approaches, however, it holds still as Pike does what he can for the bird. It would seem it is able to move its wing a little bit once Windu finishes. After a moment it peers at the group, tilting its head to one side and flexing its wing a bit. Then it coos and turns, bowing low to the ground. What did it want? 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde immediately starts approaching it and climbing onto its back, although slowly and carefully. Such a large creature could prove an important ally...especially if there is something hostile down there or if that thing they'd seen last time had returned. He lets out a low whistle that sounds almost identical to the cooing noise the creature had made just now. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Windu looks at the bird and pats it. "A ride? You strong enough, fella?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Is it safe for it to be flying with that injured wing?" Navi asks, gently petting the side of the great bird's lowered head. "You're a big sweetie, aren't you?" she coos softly to it, giggling at Cayde's impressive birdcall. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The bird seems pleased by the noise Cayde is making, and nuzzles hin affectionately. Except its huge and might almost bowl Cayde over. The bird trills softly at Pike and peers at hin, then Navi. Its intent in the Force seems clear - it feels confident enough to carry all five of them. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde stumbles a little bit but manages to stay on his feet until he gets up onto its back, gently gripping onto its feathers. He waits for the others to get on as well. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Windu laughs and pets the bird. "I appreciate the offer, friend. But I will keep my feet on the ground. I'll catch you for a ride out of the valley, later. May the Force be with you all."     Pike turns and trots down the trail. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "If you say so, big friend," Navi observes softly, climbing carefully onto the rearmost part of the bird's neck, beckoning Cayde to join her. "We probably don't want to sit right on its back. All the muscles for flight are there. The neck is probably safer," she suggests. She also sends a quick telepathic message to Masters Rykard and Yutelli. <Our new friend has offered us a ride down to the lower valley. Please join us if you want to save yourselves some walking.> 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The bird watches curiously as Pike leaves, but Oona and Rykard have soon boarded as well as Navi. It screeches this time, and jumping up, takes to the air. But before they know it, it has angled itself downward, down into the valley, right to the Temple, in front of the cavernous area where the doors to the inner Temple are. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde grips onto the bird as it rises up into the air, a cold wind rushing over him. He never imagined he'd ride on a wild bird...     But even as they approach the valley, he keeps scanning for any hostile presences. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi holds on for dear life, almost. This is a lot different from riding in a speeder or on a speeder bike! Nevertheless, she can't help cheering as the bird dives toward the valley. She carefully climbs down after the bird settles down in front of the temple ruins, pausing to hug the side of its neck as much as she can; there's just no way she's getting her arms around /that/ neck. "That was fun... thank you," she says softly to the bird. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He'll see that they pass over several creatures that might have posed a problem for them if they'd hiked. Hopefully Pike will be able to avoid them on his way down by foot... The bird trills softly when Navi hugs it, But the young Sephi girl probably shouldn't tarry. Masters Yutelli and Rykard have already made their way into the cave, and are approaching the impressions in the stone doors to the Temple where the pontite should fit... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde gets carefully down from the bird, petting it gently on the side of its neck and reaching out to its mind to let it know that he's grateful for its help. Then he turns and follows his master down into the temple. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi rubs her cheek lightly against the bird's neck. "Thank you," she whispers, jogging after the Masters and Cayde. She waves over her shoulder at the bird in farewell, though, and inwardly hopes it stays around for when they return. "I think we're about to witness something truly amazing," she observes softly as she approaches those mysterious impressions that sent many of the colony's Jedi and herself on such a long and eventful voyage. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Before Cayde and Navi leave, the bird plucks a feather from its wing and places it in their palms. They may sense the bird's token of affection symbolized some kind of loyalty and gratefulness. When Cayde and Navi enter, they'll find Master Yutelli kneeling on the ground in front of the doors, her eyes glassy. "I've dreamed of such a moment," she says softly. Then, she upturns her palms and the pontite crystals float out, towards Cayde and Navi. "Would you two like to do the honors?" she says quietly, while Rykard stands off to the side. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods and takes one of the crystals, letting Navi take the others. He approaches the strange carving they'd find before, and places the crystal into the socket. Would they find the source of vergeance inside? Whatever it is, hopefully it's something good. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi blinks wide-eyed at the invitation. "Oh, my... I... I've never been so honored, Master. I'd be glad to," she says softly, accepting the crystal(s) from the air. Looking to Cayde as she approaches the carving in the door, she carefully places the crystal(s) into the slot(s) in the carving. "Here goes nothing..." she murmurs, setting the last crystal in place. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The ground suddenly shakes, and the group will have to take cover or move quickly as some debris loosens from the ceiling and plummets to the cavern floor. The doors to the inner temple slowly grind open, the sound of ancient stone against ancient stone rubbing away moss and dirt that's stayed there for only light knows how long assaulting their ears. And then suddenly they'll realize that they're... moving?? Moving upward...! "By the Force!" Oona cries, getting to her feet and rushing out of the cavern. "The inner sanctum of the Temple was... buried!" And indeed, they'll find that they're on a stone platform that's rising up, and below them there are more pillars and partially decomposed limestone structures rising up, shredding foliage and detritus. It's magnficient, breathtaking, shocking, overwhelming. A flock of birds roosting in a nearby tree is disturbed by all the movement and fly up into the sky, disappearing behind the now visible clouds in the distance. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As the room they were in shakes and begins to rise, Cayde dodges out of the way of some falling debris, but manages to keep his footing. His eyes widen as he too realizes there is much more to explore than they'd initially seen. What secrets could be inside? Maybe...something that might help him master his gifts? One could hope. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Eep!" Navi squeaks, dodging several chunks of masonry falling from the ceiling by sheer luck or the will of the Force. It takes her a moment to realize that the very floor under their feet is rising, and that she can see a lot more sky than a few moments ago. "Geez... just how high are we going to go?" she cries in surprise and a hint of dismay. "I can practically see my tent from here!" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Rykard comes to stand next to Cayde, marveling at it all. "How... marvelous. Today has been a good day, Cayde. But tomorrow, and for many days to come, we will have our work cut out for us," he says with a soft chuckle. A few moments after Navi wonders aloud how high they will go, the Temple stops rising, and they will indeed be able to see the colony site from where they stand. They'll also be able to see that the rising of the Temple grounds had changed the terrain in the valley irrevocably. A massive chasm has formed, angling downward dangerously. The way back is now not traversable! But thankfully, they need not worry - for the bird they'd rescued appears to have left and returned with a couple of friends. And they seem more than happy to give rides back. And yet, it may occur to Navi that the Nihil raiders she'd met prior to all this, including Zealot, had been stationed in the valley last she'd seen them. Were they ... trapped now?? Perhaps that is a good thing, perhaps it is bad. Either way, it's likely a problem for another day... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I CAN see my tent from here!" Navi cries in astonishment, looking first at the colony site, and then down at the valley below, now irrevocably transformed by the reopening of the temple sanctum. Getting down on all fours near the edge of the platform, she looks down toward where she remembers the experimental cloning lab to have been. "I hope nobody in the lab was hurt. And I have no idea how we're going to explain what just happened! Or how we're going to get back... I hope Master Windu is okay!" The return of the giant bird, now accompanied by two friends, reassures her. "Well, that answers one question," she muses, giggling as she resumes her feet. "We really should find out where these birds live. It's got to amazing." She can't help a pang of guilt for the Nihil camp and its residents. There was just no way to tell if any of them were alive or hurt after this. She makes a mental note to investigate as soon as she possibly can... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods, suddenly feeling quite eager to uncover whatever ancient secrets lay within. In fact, so much so that he doesn't notice the red patches that have formed all over his arms and face at some point since he'd arrived here. Yet, anyway.     But, it's so high up! Maybe it's even as tall as the towers at the Temple on Coruscant...he wonders why it had been buried, it seemed that someone had purposefully created the mechanism. Had there been a reason it needed to be hidden sometimes? 
}}

Founder's Day

2025-07-02T07:30:05Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-05-18 |Synopsis=The group attends the Founder's Day celebration in Kublop, and discover the two main suspects for Dresda's death. |Cast of Characters=159, 261, 143 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Tonight is not a night for staying in, apparently. Tenoo's 2 moons are both full and bright, and the skies clear. In the distance, the sounds of celebration can be heard, and almost everyone f..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-05-18
|Synopsis=The group attends the Founder's Day celebration in Kublop, and discover the two main suspects for Dresda's death.
|Cast of Characters=159, 261, 143
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Tonight is not a night for staying in, apparently. Tenoo's 2 moons are both full and bright, and the skies clear. In the distance, the sounds of celebration can be heard, and almost everyone from the colony is waiting either patiently or impatiently at the transit platform for the tram to arrive - for the citizens of Kublop Springs had invited them to spend the evening on the town, as they are celebrating Founder's Day. It's the day Kublop Springs had been founded by Kaliah Kublop, so many years ago - consequently, many festitivies were being held to commemorate this momentous occasion... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi waits with a slight air of resignation. She wasn't really sure she wanted to go back to Kublop Springs, party or no party, but she also wasn't sure of the consequences of /not/ going. At least the celebration would break the grinding tedium of colony life, or so she hoped. She's dusted off her one pretty dress for the occasion. The last person she remembers wearing it for is Padawan Imoen, a dear friend she very much misses. It wears more like a tabard than a dress, but she appreciates its simplicity and the elegance born of that simplicity. She glances at her wristchrono bracelet and sighs softly. "I don't know if I want to get to town, or if I just want this whole thing to hurry up and be over," she murmurs. "Every time I go to town, I feel like I'm walking into a trap." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Founder's Day had Cayde immediately thinking of the commemorations held on Coruscant in celebration of the Republic's founders, the ones whose statues adorned the street outside the Senate Rotunda. But it seems this was a different sort of "founders" celebration. Either way, his natural inclination would have been to hide from the crowds, but lately the young padawan has been trying to step outside of his box a bit more.     As the tram nears Kublop, he watches the lush landscape fly by out the window. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "This will be good for you," Rykard encourages Cayde as they step onto the tram when it arrives. The young padawan will notice it's quite crowded, as most of the colonists have decided to turn up. Navi may be distracted when Master Yutelli approaches, wearing her formal robes. "Navi," the elderly Mirialan comments, "how nice you look!" She may also notice that riding at the front of the tram, in the VIP section, is Xera, dressed for the occasion and seated next to Taryn, and of course the tall, blue and familiar Thaarin. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Yes, yes...Cayde knows it will be good for him, even if it makes him nervous. But he has to learn somehow...     Anyway, watching the landscape whizz by has at least helped prevent him getting lost in everything. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Thank you for your kind words, Master," Navi replies to Master Yutelli, managing a small smile for her. "I hope it's not to risque for colonial life. It was designed by a young woman who enjoyed the challenge of creating a dress and accessories for the very slim price I could afford. Everyone I knew who saw it seemed to like it, so I'm of the mind that she succeeded beautifully." She looks around the tram as they board. "I see Miss Graf has brought along her retinue. And Cayde is coming, too. I'm a bit surprised by that. He doesn't like crowds... they literally give him a headache. I hope he doesn't get one tonight." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Rykard sits down next to Cayde, joining the young padawan in watching the landscape fly by. Master Yutelli nods. "She does like attention," she says quietly. "Anyway, I do think he's trying. I think it's admirable. Master Rykard will make sure he stays focused." She smiles. Thirty minutes later, they're disembarking - but Navi and Cayde will probably find themselves stuck behind a large crowd trying to exit the tram all at once. Bodies will press against bodies, and somehow, Navi will find herself right next to Xera, Taryn and Thaarin. The female Graf bureacrat seems to be in a good mood, though. "Oh, you decided to come too," she says. "How lovely!" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde doesn't mind waiting, although he can feel the beginnings of a headache coming on. He gulps quietly and rubs his head, pursing his lips together as he tries not to let it show. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "She does," Navi agrees softly. "I wish both Cayde and Master Rykard the favor of the Force." She contents herself with watching the scenery roll past until the tram arrives at the Kublop Springs station. She wasn't quite prepared for the crowd trying to get out all at once, and is surprised to find herself so close to not just Cayde, but Taryn, Thaarin, and Xera! "Good evening to you, Xera, Taryn, Thaarin. You're all looking fabulous, I must say," she says, managing a smile for the trio. "I hope the VIP section made for a pleasant trip for you all." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Master Rykard helps to guide Cayde forward so that he can get out first and hopefully avoid getting a terrible headache. As they are marching out, the young padawan will glimpse a familiar face - the doctor ... "I know," Xera says haughtily, then looks Navi up and down. "You dont look so bad yourself." Then the crowd presses forward and she starts to exit, doing her best to get to the front without shoving too aggressively. Taryn nods slightly to Navi but follows Xera, however, Thaarin lingers behind. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Dr. Cassias? He didn't seem like the type who enjoyed these sorts of gatherings...but perhaps it was out of obligation. Once they're out of the tram, the pain eases at least a little bit, but doesn't clear up completely. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Thank you," Navi replies modestly, though she can't keep back a faint blush. She's keeping her feelings well in check, but something about Xera Graf always affects her more deeply than she ever seems to be prepared for, whether in a good or a bad way. Perhaps she reminds her of her late and much-lamented Master... she really must think about that very soon. She pauses to hug Thaarin briefly, not missing his lingering. "Are you all right?" she asks softly. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Cayde also won't need the Force to see that there's something on his mind. His expression seems troubled, but everyone else is too busy heading for the festivities to even notice. The former naval officer seems a bit uncomfortable when Navi hugs him. He doesn't return the hug. He gives her a faint smile though. "As well as I can be," he says. But before Navi can reply, she'll hear Master Yutelli calling her name. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Well, Cayde doesn't even recall a time when Soren -wasn't- troubled about something. But the man wasn't exactly on the best terms with him so he hesitates to approach... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Please take care, Thaarin. I'll catch up to you later. Master Yutelli is calling me," Navi says worriedly, giving Thaarin a quicker hug before jogging to catch up with Master Yutelli. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' But this time, the doctor catches Cayde's gaze, and starts to approach. Unusual, given the uneasy relationship they'd always shared. "Do you mind if I speak with Cayde privately," he says to Rykard, who nods, though he seems puzzled. But as Navi starts to jog away to join Master Yutelli, one of his the buttons on Thaarin's shirt snags on the fine fabric of Navi's formal wear. He reaches out to grab her arm and stop her from either tearing her own clothes or popping one of his buttons off. "Your clothes don't seem to want you to leave me~" he says chuckling softly, maintaining eye contact with the young Sephi girl. There seems to be less need for Navi to go over to Master Yutelli, as she's approaching. "Navi...! I saw a tailor selling some fine , durable fabric--" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Now, that Cayde didn't expect. Dr. Cassias usually didn't want anything to do with him these days. But maybe now that Ann isn't around anymore, he's less closed off. He resists the urge again to enter his mind and search his intentions, instead just looking up at him expectantly. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Eep!" Navi squeaks as her arm is caught and she's brought to a sudden halt. The tug on her dress doesn't tear the fabric, thankfully, but does cause the gold synthsilk sash at her waist to be tugged loose, and pulls some of the tabard-like fabric out of position, partly exposing her underwear (which, though she's switched to more conventional two-piece underwear instead of her former one-piece thermal bodysuits, is still fairly modest). She looks back at Thaarin in surprise, blinking once as she notes the snagged button. "It would seem not," she admits, blushing faintly as she lets him unsnag the button, and sees to trying to straighten up her disarrayed dress and sash. "Oh! Master Yutelli... thank you for telling me," she replies to the elder Mirialan warmly, still blushing slightly. "I'll be along in just a moment." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He guides Cayde over to the front of alleyway that's away from everyone else. Then he asks Cayde, "How was your trip?" "Well," Master Yutelli says with a smile. "speaking of which, it would seem that a wardrobe upgrade is in order," she says. Thankfully Thaarin politely looks away when her underwear becomes partially exposed. But somehow he manages to help her re-tie the sash, without looking. "No need to be embarrassed," he says, "it wasn't your fault, and no being should be ashamed of their body, anyway." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "More like more caution from me is in order," Navi replies softly, still faintly blushing, as she finally gets her dress back in order. "Thank you, Thaarin," she adds softly. "You are a true gentleman along with all of your other very good qualities. Please feel free to join us. If not, I'll try to catch up with you later in the evening." Smoothing her dress down, she moves to join Master Yutelli. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [It was...very exciting] Cayde replies when Dr. Cassias asks him about how the trip to Ilum went. [We have it...the crystal...] he signs. Then he glances over at Thaarin as he is helping Navi with her wardrobe malfunction. [New friend] he tells the doctor.     But there must be something else...the doctor didn't pull him aside just to ask how the trip went, right? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin chuckles softly, and Oona also seems amused. "I think you'll find what the Tenooian artisans have to offer to your tastes, then," she says to Navi. "Their linens aren't what you'd find on Ghor, but they're durable, and pretty, at least, so regardless of whether you find yourself with more or less caution, these incidents will hopefully occur less often." She starts to lead Navi towards some vendors with pop up booths in a plaza just north of them. "I think I'll join you," Thaarin says, "and really, you've got to stop being so terrible for my ego," he says with a smile. "I'd like to keep being your friend, after all..." The doctor barely looks over at Thaarin. He seems worried, and stressed, and Cayde won't need the Force to see that. "... what does the Order have on medical for you?" he asks. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde is trying very hard not to start prying in the doctor's thoughts, but the man is making that very difficult with how stressed he looks.     He frowns. [What is wrong] he asks, not directly answering the question. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I hope they're less of an acquired taste than Tenooian cuisine, Master," Navi observes, with a wry smile. "And that I have enough money to spare to buy something nice." She smiles faintly to Thaarin. "I never give a compliment I don't mean, Thaarin. And I want to keep being your friend, too, so I think we're both safe on that front." She moves to follow Master Yutelli toward the vendors' booths. Glancing back toward the tram, she can't help but notice Cayde speaking with the doctor, and her expression turns pensive. After watching for a long moment, she sighs to herself, though she doesn't look away. "I'd just cause trouble for them," she murmurs. She neither likes nor trusts the doctor, for all that she does feel sorry for him. She has inadvertently felt his emotional pain before, and it was terrible. But trying to speak to him inevitably leads to a fierce argument. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Just answer my question," he says urgently, his gaze darting around uncomfortably. "Why I didn't know you had such a distaste for seafood!" Yutelli exclaims. Thaarin smiles faintly back at Navi, but then his expression becomes more solemn. "About that--" But then theyll be interrupted by Xera, who has just arrived at the same booth theyre standing in front of. "Did I hear someone say something about not having enough credits? Don't worry, dearest. I'm feeling generous tonight and I'll pay for whatever you want to buy tonight." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Truthfully, Cayde isn't quite sure how to answer that question. Not that he doesn't know the answer, but he has an idea what the doctor is looking for, and it's difficult to explain.     He shrugs. [Annual check results] he guesses, as he recalls that yearly physical exams were the norm and especially when he was a youngling. [Scan data from first time] 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Well... it's less the seafood and more the plant-based dishes and local seasonings. Apparently they're not a hundred percent compatible with Sephi digestion," Navi explains, her slight blush returning. "And be careful if you eat the cookies. They may not agree with you." She gives Thaarin a curious and slightly concerned look, but Xera's arrival interrupts any attempt at a question to him. "Um, thank you, Miss Graf. I'm touched by your generosity," she replies politely and gratefully, blushing a little more at the tall woman's interest in her financial well-being. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I want to see it," he says, his brows furrowing deeply. He seems so distracted, and Cayde will be able to feel the strange angry storm brewing over him. "Tell Pike I want to see it." Then he turns to leave. But there's clearly other things on his mind. "I didnt know you had allergies," Oona says, "I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully you didnt contract any rashes like Cayde did." "Oh, of course," Xera says sweetly, "And that goes for you too, Thaarin. I know you didnt come with much." She then starts guiding Navi towards a mannequin with wearing a full length shimmersilk gown. "This one," she says, "youll have to try it." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     But couldn't he tell Pike himself? After all, they both worked in medical. This time, he can't help himself and he tries entering the doctor's mind as he turns away.     <What's wrong? Master can explain better> he projects to him. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi lets herself be guided. "It's certainly pretty," she observes, lightly fingering the airy, shimmery fabric. "I hope they have a changing room." She waves a little timidly to get the attention of the stallkeeper. "Excuse me... I'd like to try on this dress, or one like it. Do you have a changing room close by?" she asks politely, blushing a little at the thought of changing into something so luxuriant in a colonial city like Kublop Springs. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "No," The doctor says, not turning around, "I dont want to speak to your Master--" he trails off. "Just go. Dont worry about me." "You're trying it on," Xera says sweetly, though its clearly a thinly veiled demand. But when she waves to the shopkeeper, he nods and shows her to the back, where there's a few wooden stalls for changing. However, once Navi is inside, there will come a knock on the door. "Navi?" Thaarin will say softly. "May I come in? Hopefully you're still dressed... I'd like to speak privately with you." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns at his back, wondering if the records would even be accessible from all the way out here...     But as the chief physician, wouldn't Soren have been given permission to take them with him?     Oh, well...he shrugs and goes back to look for his Master again. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi had just hung up the new shimmersilk dress and was reaching for her sash when Thaarin knocked. "Um, yes, I am..!" she squeaks, blushing a little but opening the door as surreptitiously as possible. What a place to have a private conversation! 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Rykard is at the center of the plaza with Master Yutelli, watching some of the locals put up lights on the buildings in the area. He smiles when Cayde approaches. "How did your talk with the doctor go?" The tall blue alien pushes into the changing room gently, then closes the door behind him. He glances at the dress, then over at Navi. "It's a beautiful dress," he says, "very fitting for someone like you." He smiles faintly at her. Then his gaze intensifies, and he fixes her with that burning gaze of his. "Tell me, Navi, and be honest. What do you really think about me?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns. <He is angry...> he answers telepathically. <Wanted medical records> he tells his master, and the elder Jedi can also tell he's wondering if someone had brought them along. If not, it might take a while to arrive. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi blushes a little more at Thaarin's compliment. "Thank you. I'm glad you like it. I thought it was a little much for a colony town like this, but Miss Xera seemed very taken with it," she says softly. She smiles warmly at his question, almost unable to meet his eyes for a moment. "I think you are a thoughtful, brave, and thoroughly splendid person," she replies, after a moment's thought. "Though we haven't known each other for long, I consider you a dear friend, and I hope you feel the same way about me." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "What an odd request!" Rykard says, looking puzzled. "Any idea why he might have wanted them? Or if there was anything else bothering him...?" Thaarin seems somewhat relieved for some reason. "I do," he says, kindly, and softly. "I owe you and the others my life," he says, "and I'll never forget that." He pauses, and his tone suddenly becomes apologetic. "I'm sorry if some of my actions were misleading prior to my fluency in Basic," he says, "body language is one way to express oneself when there is lack of ability to communicate properly. You seem rather fluent in it, and I hope to confirm your intentions were platonic...?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <There was something else> Cayde answers, nodding. But he doesn't know what it was. He's been trying not to invade others without very good reason, lately... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "They were," Navi says. "Not that you're undesireable... far from it." She feels herself blushing a bit more, but pushes on. "I've never wanted to be anything but your friend. But why do you ask? Please forgive me if I'm confused?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Rykard motions for Cayde to sit down next to him on a bench nearby. "Cayde, I want you to try using words," he says, "remember... I know it was a long time ago," he says, "but I was telling you, to try not to rely on your powers of the mind so much..." "What do you think was bothering him?" Thaarin smiles faintly, and chuckles softly, waving a hand dismissively. "You need not fear offending me," he says, "I know you would never try to make anyone feel that way, and really, you should be careful with all the flattery," he says. Then his expression becomes more solemn. "Have you thoughtfully considered why you don't? And by that I mean, what -do- you desire in a person, as far as physical and emotional intimacy is concerned? Does your ideal partner have an assigned gender?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [Yes master] Cayde signs, nodding.     He frowns pensively. It was hard to know these things sometimes, without entering the mind. [He saw something... it upset him...maybe]     Well that's about the best he can muster for now. Truly, the doctor probably wanted answers about a suspicion that upset him greatly. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "It's not something I've ever given serious thought to," Navi admits, still blushing a little and clasping her hands low down before her. "I was in the Jedi Order for so many years, and intimacy is frowned upon there. Especially physical intimacy. After... um... after some very bad things happened to me, and I left the Order, all I really wanted to do was find peace and try to heal. That's why I went to Jedha and joined the Shining Brotherhood." She looks down at the floor, finding the conversation mildly discomfiting. "The last person besides Xera Graf that I was really, really drawn to was a Padawan named Imoen. She was such a dear, sweet person... I actually bought this dress so I could attend a Life Day festival. I didn't have much money for clothes, but I really wanted to look my best. I didn't really think about it at the time, but I think I loved her. Since she was a Jedi, it was awfully inappropriate, but... geez. I suppose emotions are terrible listeners when it comes to reason. So I guess I'm drawn to females. I wonder why... is there really an answer as to why emotions work the way they do?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Perhaps you should ask him about it later," he says, "I sense that much occupies his mind," he says, "and I do not need the Force to discern this. Were you good friends with the doctor before this?" he asks Cayde. "Well, you aren't in the Order anymore," Thaarin says softy, "so perhaps it's time to give it some serious thought." The former naval officer smiles warmly at Navi when he sees her discomfiture. "There's no shame in admitting what kinds of people you do or don't like," he encourages, "but I don't blame you for feeling a bit uncomfortable discussing this topic -- it's normal, and natural, after having avoided it for so long." He shakes his head, and gently lifts her chin up. "There's nothing inappropriate about love," he says. "And you should probably stop trying to fully understand your own emotions. They won't make sense, most of the time." He chuckles softly, and pushes a stray strand of hair behind her pointy ears. "You favor physical affection, don't you? Perhaps the Order wasn't for you, after all. But don't let me saying that stop you from reconsidering rejoining. They'd be very lucky to have you again." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde looks pensive again. 'Good friends' was stretching it, perhaps. They had a tenuous relationship. [Maybe...maybe not] he answers vaguely.     [I asked him] he tells Rykard. [He would not say] 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Maybe I should at that," Navi muses. "Physical affection... I guess I do. I hug just about everyone I consider friends. Even a few people I just happen to know. I'm not good with words, like some people, so I guess I show my support with hugs. Sorry if it's confusing. Sometimes it is to me, too. But I still do it." She illustrates her point by hugging Thaarin tightly, but not so tightly that he can't breathe or move. "You're a wonderful friend, Thaarin. Thanks for helping me like this. And now you might want to slip out of here if you don't want to see me undress... by now Xera is probably wondering if I need instructions just to put on a dress." She stifles a giggle at that sentiment. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin chuckles softly when she hugs him tightly. He receives the embrace fully this time. "Then you shall have it," he says, and kisses her on the cheek gently. "And it's alright. I understand you perfectly, now. Thank you for humoring this conversation..." He's about to make for the door, but then he stops in his tracks and frowns. He turns to Navi. "Do you hear that?" he whispers. And if Navi strains to hear, she'll be able to hear voices on the other side of the changing room walls. There were two people behind the chambers, talking quietly and urgently. "Hmm..." Rykard says pensively. He doesn't further comment. But Cayde might notice two shadowy figures skulking in the shadows, heading to the back of the tailor's pop up booth where Thaarin, Navi, and Xera are. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [I can give them to him] Cayde suggests. After all, he is the chief doctor so it would be best for him to have all the information he need to give the right care whenever needed. He could see about it tomorrow, perhaps. Even if no one brought them, he could probably ask to have them sent over. Even if it would take a while, it was something.     But he frowns upon noticing some suspicious looking figures heading toward the back of the booth. He reaches out with the Force, attempting to discern who it might be and what they might be up to, as he remembers some of the colonists having questionable backgrounds... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "What..?" Navi says, lowering her voice almost to a whisper. She presses her ear to the wall of the booth, frowning slightly. "You're right... someone's talking out there. Weird place to hold a conversation..." She reaches out with the Force, extending her mind's eye through telepathy, and what she senses causes her eyes to widen very noticeably. "They're talking about the accident that killed one of the colonists... except they seem way too sure that it wasn't an accident. How do they know that?" she asks, her voice low. "Were they involved?" She reaches for her medical satchel. She had left her retractable staff back in her tent, but her lightsaber was safely tucked inside the satchel. "We may need to be ready to act, just in case they're doing more than talking," she whispers, continuing her telepathic probe. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Upon reaching out into the Force Cayde will recognize at least one of the individuals - the Dug who gambled too much, and the other is a Chadra Fan, male, and middle aged. He won't immediately be able to discern exact details, but it is about the lead engineer, Dresda, who had died while they'd been away on Ilum. Thaarin doesn't respond, but his brows furrow pensively, as he does the same as Navi, attempting to hear more of their conversation. Navi will be able to discern that there's something that the Dug doesn't want the other to say, but she won't be able to figure out what. She might be about to try to dig deeper when there comes a loud rap on the door of the changing rooms. It's Xera. She clears her throat. "I don't think it should take you that long to get into a dress," she says. There's a slight pause. "Are you alone in there?" she asks, suddenly sounding a lot more angry and demanding. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Dresda...oh, right some engineer who had died while they'd been away, but he hadn't heard many details about it. It seems they are just talking about it, but why so secretively? He keeps trying to find out if they're up to anything sinister... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi blinks. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Graf. I'll be just another moment or two," she calls through the door. And then she carefully reaches into the Force again, and into Xera's head, telepathically downloading the entire conversation she's just had with Thaarin, from beginning to end, changing nothing. <Oh, and there seems to be a Dug and another sentient hiding behind the stall, chatting about an accident that killed a colonist. Only the Dug knows it wasn't an accident. I'm not sure what that means... his mind is difficult to penetrate. If you'll give Thaarin a moment to exit, I'll try on the dress as quickly as I can,> she concludes, with a little impression of contrition and regret at making the tall woman wait so long. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Cayde will be able to discern that there's something the Dug does not want the Chadra Fan to say, but just before he's able to discern what it is, he'll sense their minds become alert and afraid, as Xera is loudly interrupting their conversation by asking Navi what is taking her so long. They start to inch away from the wall of the changing rooms, their anxiety rising. Navi won't be able to see it, but Xera's hand closes into a fist. "You're not being honest," she says so softly that Navi might not be able to hear the sentence clearly, but Navi might sense in the Force that despite her honesty, the woman thinks she's deceiving her. Thaarin suddenly reaches forward and grabs Navi gently by the front of her tabard, drawing her mere centimeters from him so that he can whisper, "...she's... jealous! But she's frightening them away. Perhaps we just let her believe we need privacy of the intimate sort, and she'll leave us alone!" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Wait, why is Xera here?     Ah, she is jealous because -she- wants to be the puppeteer, not someone else. He'd never quite figured out why Navi won't trust him or listen to him about her, so he takes matters into his own hands as he attempts to redirect her anger and anxiety toward something else by creating the delusion that her commlink is urgently notifying her that a security alarm has been tripped back at her office. She had best hurry back and make sure whomever it is doesn't get a chance to do anything serious! Yes, yes, that's what she's upset about, nothing to do with Navi at all. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I know," Navi whispers back, a bit sadly. "She's the jealous type. But I /don't want/ her to go away... maybe she isn't as sweet and dear as Imoen, but she is still dear to me. I don't want her mad with me over a misunderstanding." She hugs him, gently this time. "Please let me try to untangle this. Not with deception, but with honesty and earnestness. By now I suspect the Dug and his coconspirator are getting away from here as fast as they can, anyway." she replies telepathically to the angry woman. <I'm sorry if I upset you. Please don't be angry with me for sorting out a problem between myself and Thaarin that I wasn't aware of until now. But if you still doubt me, ask Thaarin. You know he won't lie.> Naturally, she has no idea what Cayde is up to as she's saying all this... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Navi won't get to know exactly what Xera thought of what she'd said, as she hears her footsteps retreating quickly. She won't know Cayde's involvement in this -- but she may suspect. Thaarin releases Navi, but his brows remain furrowed. "You don't know her very well, do you?" he says. "You could tell her truth a thousand times, and she'd still not believe you. I could tell her the truth, too, and she also wouldn't believe me. There's no deception, really. Just her unwillingness to believe anything we tell her -- however, it could work to our advantage. I don't believe her jealousy will drive her away. She's far too controlling to just walk away. No, I think she'll just try to control us more by trying to deepen her involvement in our lives." As far the Dug and Chadra Fan, Navi's right -- by now, they're not even within range of her powers of the mind. They'd have to follow up with them later. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As Xera hurries away, Cayde withdraws, releasing her to the rest of the delusion he'd inserted. She'll probably find her office clean and dismiss it as a false alarm. Those happen sometimes, after all. Hopefully, it at least bought Navi some time to make herself scarce from the Graf woman.     As for Navi, she may have become aware of Cayde's presence in Xera's mind as she'd been projecting to her, as familiar as she has become with him. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "From what I know about her history, she's been taken advantage of a few times, and at least once by someone very dear to her," Navi replies softly. "It probably deeply damaged her sense of trust in her fellow sentients. I don't know why she feels such a need to control things, but I can't help feeling sorry for her. If she wants to be more involved in my life, and as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else, I'm willing to let her." She hugs Thaarin briefly. "I think Cayde may have played a role in her sudden departure... I think I felt his presence in her mind while I was speaking with her. I'm not sure. Anyway, we should go before we miss the celebration, and I should put this dress back. I have a feeling she's not feeling so generous anymore," she adds, releasing him and taking up the dress and hangar. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "She's a bureacrat," Thaarin says softly. "It's in their blood." "I have a feeling this may become tricky to navigate," he says. "I sense she's hiding a great deal, and I'd like to know exactly what." He opens the door of the changing room, but hesitates in the doorway, his expression softening. "You should be careful," he says. "I don't think any of us know what she's truly capable of." And then he disappears into the thronging crowd heading towards the main plaza. 
}}

Arcade Adventure

2025-07-02T07:27:17Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-05-17 |Cast of Characters=159, 143 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It's dusk, and in a few hours time, the group that had come to Jedha from Ilum is scheduled to leave, and return to Tenoo. Everyone's packing, though Cayde with his few belongings may find himself ready ahead of schedule and perhaps bored while Yvon and Jahni try figure out the best way to fit everything in the cargo ho..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-05-17
|Cast of Characters=159, 143
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It's dusk, and in a few hours time, the group that had come to Jedha from Ilum is scheduled to leave, and return to Tenoo. Everyone's packing, though Cayde with his few belongings may find himself ready ahead of schedule and perhaps bored while Yvon and Jahni try figure out the best way to fit everything in the cargo hold... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde had already gathered up what few belongings he'd brought along, yes...     And he had been trying to help Yvon and Jahni load up, but apparently they had some very particular ideas about how everything should be arranged... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Jahni had banned Cayde from the cargo hold within five minutes of him arriving and trying to help, so the young padawan will be left to figure out what he might do with the last few hours he has on Jedha. He may find himself wandering when he runs into Thaarin, who is standing in the cockpit, watching the hustle and bustle of the hangar with a distant look in his scarlet eyes. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     He was going to just wait in the cabin, when he notices Thaarin staring out of the front windows. It seemed there was something on his his, so Cayde just settles in and starts surfing the HoloNet. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' But when Cayde comes in and starts surfing the Holonet, Thaarin immediately notices him and comes to sit down next to him. He peers over his shoulder, then asks, "Can I watch?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde arches a brow at him, surprised. Watch him....what?     Oh...     He glances back at the commlink, which is connected to some kind of social page, it seems. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin only seems partially intrigued by it -- he studies the social page for a moment, then turns to Cayde and points at the display, "This is you?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     The picture on the page looks like a slightly younger version of him, however it seems to have been there since five or so years ago.     He looks up at Thaarin and nods at the question. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin chuckles softly. He seems amused as he studies the picture of Cayde on the display. But the young padawan won't be able to know why, as he doesn't elaborate. He can't, anyway. He straightens, then gestures towards the gangplank. "Go out," he says, "for a little bit?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     The page actually seems to be some kind of blog, but it doesn't have any entries.     Cayde looks up toward the walkway out, following Thaarin's gaze briefly before he looks back to the blue man. [Where] he signs. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The former naval officer smiles faintly at the young padawan. "Somewhere nice," he says, "you pick?" Then he nods, and looks inquisitively at Cayde. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Huh...     Cayde looks back at him, realizing that he has never really been asked that question before. He doesn't just 'go somewhere nice'. In fact, he can't really remember the last time he went out somewhere just for fun... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin seems to understand, somehow. His faint smile broadens ever so slightly, and he ushers Cayde towards the gangplank, placing a gentle but firm hand on his back. "You'll know," he says, "when you see." He says. "Let's go?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [Okay] Cayde replies, and nods, starting down the walkway toward the starport and the market beyond. He isn't quite sure what to look for on the dusty streets of Jedha, but perhaps there is much he hasn't yet seen. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin lets Cayde lead as they head away from the starport and into the market beyond it. The streets are busy, but less busy than earlier in the afternoon at peak traffic time. There's a few night life joints that are lighting up - a bar, a casino, some night market vendors and an arcade -- advertising a buy one, get half off admission rate. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Bars he has been to plenty for one reason or another, casinos, sure. But what was this other place? It seems similar to the casino, yet seemed to have a bit more variety. And a good admission price, too. [How about there] he signs, pointing toward the arcade. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin looks amused again. "Sure," he says. Then he gestures for Cayde to lead the way. There's a droid out front, giving out colored little bracelets to indicate admission into the arcade. It drones out a demand for thirty credits when Cayde and Thaarin approach. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde just wonders what it is that Thaarin finds so amusing. [What is funny] he asks.     When the droid asks for payment, he takes out some of the spending dividends he'd saved up. Not that there was anything in particular he wanted, but there just hadn't been many occasions for him to use them over the years. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin doesn't respond, instead, he pushes the hand carrying credits aside and offers the droid some of his own. Where he'd gotten them, will have to remain a mystery for now. The droid nods and slaps bracelets on both of their wrists before stepping aside, gesturing for them to go inside. "Have fun," it drones. Thaarin starts going inside, but waits just inside the doorway for Cayde. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde looks down at his wrist as the droid puts the bracelet on him to signify he has become a validated patron of the establishment, at least for tonight. He starts scanning the room, glancing at the different games. He hasn't really done anything like this, at least not recently. Not since he used to sneak out to that candy shop with Kuv... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' There are lights, colors, sounds and flashing things everywhere. Dartboards, ball games of sorts, wheels one could spin for prizes, digitized dance competitions, even punching bags that could calculate how hard one had hit it. The opportunities are endless, and not like anything Cayde has ever seen in his life before. It doesn't seem foreign to Thaarin though, he watches everything with mild interest. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde wanders about a bit aimlessly for a bit, but finds himself lingering in front of one of those dance competitions. The music is...catchy, and before he knows it, he's bobbing to the rhythm ever so slightly. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin taps him gently on the shoulder and then points at an open spot next to a pretty young Umbaran girl - she's playing alone and has no one to compete against. "Try it," he encourages. "She wants company, maybe." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh...     Cayde glances over at the Umbaran girl, then cautiously approaches her, waiting for her to finish the session before moving into her field of view and waving. He smiles slightly at her and points toward himself, then over toward the open spot next to her. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Hi!" the girl says enthusiastically reaching forward to shake his hand even though he hadn't offered it. "Nice to meet you, I'm Sicilli. What's your name? Just so you know, I'm here every week and I've beaten every single level, so... " she giggles. "You probably won't beat me." She then pins him with a curious look. "You're Jedi, aren't you?" she says without skipping a beat. "The other priestesses told me about them," she says. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde accepts the handshake anyway, nodding. Oh, he doesn't expect to beat her, it seemed she was very good at this.     He spells out his name for her in letter sign. Hopefully, the pronounciation is obvious enough.     He nods to her question. Well, she must live at one of the other temples here. He almost tries entering her mind to learn more about her, but resists the urge. [Coruscant] he tells her, referring to where he comes from. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Oh, I see," she says, "I've never been there but I heard it's one of the biggest ecumenopolises in the known galaxy, rival only to Troithe. I've never been to any ecumenopolis," she rambles, scrolling mindlessly through the songs. "Anyway... Cayde," she says, "what kind of music do you like? Do the Jedi get to have dance parties at the Temple on Coruscant? We don't have those on the Singing Mountain," she says, "but my clan and I are on a pilgrimage right now, which is why we're in Jedha for the next month or so," she says. "I love this joint," she says, eventually selecting a song, "It's like, one of the only fun places in this entire city!" she rolls her eyes. "unless you like hiking across a sandblasted rock face while the wind blows away all your belongings..." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde just lets her select whatever song she had in mind, stepping up to the second player position beside her.     He shakes his head at her question about dance parties. At least, not any he knew about. The Order wasn't much for any sort of self-indulgence.     He seems to enjoy her chattering, though. [How you win] he asks, then points at the screen. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Just follow the instructions on the screen!" she says, "Ooh, the song is starting now..!" She finally shuts up and starts dancing, and seems fully absorbed by the music and fully in her own little world where she's dancing the night away. She'd bragged about being good, but at least she hadn't been lying. The way she moves is almost mesmerizing... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde sheds his robe, draping it over the back of the console. Then he steps up to the plate and starts doing his best to follow the prompts.     For someone who has never done this before, he actually doesn't do too badly. The whole thing is almost cathartic...like practicing saber forms except more fun. Of course he didn't beat her score, but that didn't matter. It has been a while, since he'd actually enjoyed something like this. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He doesn't beat her, but he seems to have come closer than anyone else. "Wow!!" Sicilli cries when she sees his score. "You did really good! Congrats!" She suddenly reaches over and hugs him tightly. "This is so fun!" she says excitedly, "No one ever comes here with me to play the games, the other priestesses are just boring and weird like that." She then grabs his hand and starts dragging him towards a cage in the back that has a miniature obstacle course. "We gotta do this one! Haha, you'll probably beat me... I haven't been practicing my forms as much as I should," she says, her eyes lighting up. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     When she hugs him, his face suddenly becomes hot, even though he'd sort of seen it coming.     Normally, Cayde doesn't like getting dragged by the hand, but this time he doesn't seem to mind and follows her over to the obstacle course. However, he doesn't go in yet, waiting for her to get a head start. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' She giggles, delighted. "Your loss!" she cries and dives headfirst into the obstacle course, clearly having the time of her life. However, she trips about half way in, and it becomes startlingly clear that she has not, in fact, practiced her forms in a long time. "Nooo!" she cries, "... help me....!" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     This course is actually not much of a challenge for Cayde, but he takes it slowly anyway just so as not to leave her in the dust too much. So when she trips and finds herself dangling off of a platform, he hurries back to her and helps her up. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' But unexpectedly she doesn't pull herself up, she actually just drags him down with her into the ball pool below the swinging ropes. They tumble into the colorful menagerie of cushy plastic spheres. Sicilli is laughing uncontrollably, clearly having a wonderful time. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Suddenly, Cayde wonders if she had possibly done that on purpose to lure him in.     Once he recovers himself, he picks up of the balls and chucks it at her...possibly with a bit of Force push behind it. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' And she deflects it back at him, with the Force, perhaps to Cayde's surprise. Then she picks up another one, and with a flying roundhouse kick, sends another ball flying in his direction. They'll likely romp in the ball pool for another several minutes, until one of the security droids tells them they need to get out because there's a line for the obstacle course forming. At that point, Sicilli begs him to play another game with her, and another, and another... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde deflects the ball right back, and it bounces back and forth in the air for several minutes.     He continues to play with her, until they have visited almost every game in the arcade. It was too bad he would be leaving soon.     [Thank you] he tells her. [You are beautiful] 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I want to play the dancing competition again!" she says, tugging on his sleeve urgently. She smiles wide when he tells her she's beautiful, and her eyes light up happily. She hugs him tightly. "You're beautiful, too," she says, "I haven't had this much fun in so long. I can only hope you had as much fun as I did..." But then Cayde's bracelet beeps unhappily. A tiny holodisplay pops up, and it says, "YOU'VE RUN OUT OF TIME! BUY ANOTHER SESSION?" And if he looks at his chronometer, he'll see that he's been in the arcade for four hours. They were leaving soon -- like, in half an hour soon. But Thaarin.. he's nowhere to be seen. Cayde had been so busy spending time with Sicilli, he'd completely left the tall blue alien alone... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde sighs as he looks down at the holodisplay when it crops up to remind him that his time is up. And it truly is, this time around. He points to it and shakes his head. [I have to go]     [Leaving Jedha] he continues. But he offers her his commlink info, in case he ever came by again. [Another time] 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' She nods, though her expression becomes sad. "Okay," she says, noting his commlink frequency. "I'll see you... someday, hopefully." She hugs him again and then kisses his cheek briefly before turning around and hurrying back into the arcade, giggling softly. He's received a text transmission from Jahni, demanding to know where he is and if he's seen Thaarin... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde looks at the message, and then glances around the arcade, his face still flushed from that kiss. But Thaarin is nowhere to be seen. Had he left? Frowning, he tries sending the young officer a message. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' However, the young officer doesn't reply. Well, that's not a good sign. But perhaps the droid right outside the arcade had seen him leave? 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh, no. Had he be snatched by BPIC? Perhaps he shouldn't gone out...     Cayde sighs and approaches the droid. [Did my friend leave] he signs to it. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Yes," the droid says, "you didn't notice? He left more than three hours ago. Told me to give you these coordinates. He's on the outskirts of Jedha, taking care of some ... personal matter." Then the droid shows Cayde a location specified on its datapad. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh...phew. Cayde is relieved that he wasn't arrested. [Thank you] he signs quickly to the droid and hurries off toward the location it showed him. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' When the young padawan arrives, he'll find Thaarin near the banks of a river on the outskirts of Jedha, alone, in front of a bonfire that seems to be surrounding a... body? 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde sighs. It must be his brother. Maybe they should have offered to honor him together.     He approaches and sits down on the riverbank next to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Cayde will notice that Thaarin's eyes are glassy, and his expression is glazed over -- an unusual countenance for the typically composed and demure young naval officer. When the young padawan sits down next to him and places a hand on his shoulder, he wipes his eyes and smiles faintly at Cayde. He signs, /Did you have fun/ 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods quickly. [Thank you] he signs back. [Are you okay] he then asks, looking concerned. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin waves dismissively at Cayde, though his smile becomes sad. /If you're happy/ he signs. /Then I'll be happy. Don't worry/ 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [But...you are sad] Cayde points out, and he doesn't need the Force to know that. [I am sorry] he continues, looking down at the body of Thaarin's brother. He shouldn't have to bear this alone. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' /Don't worry/ Thaarin signs again. He pats Cayde's shoulder gently. /I'll be fine/ /The most important thing... is that you're happy/ he signs to the young padawan. /You were having fun. I didn't want you to stop/ Cayde's commlink pings urgently. Jahni is giving an empty threat about leaving without them, but Thaarin clearly isn't finished here. He hears Cayde's commlink go off, and seems to know they have to leave soon. /Don't wait/ he says. /I'm sorry/ 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde glances at the comm again, but he knows they wouldn't leave without him.     ...but maybe they'd leave without Thaarin. And Cayde won't let him get left behind. Not with the treat of him being arrested or detained or sent to some labor camp. He shakes his head. [No...I can wait] 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin gives Cayde a faint smile, and then suddenly hugs him tightly. HIs eyes become glassy again, but he looks away. /Thank you/ he signs. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde accepts the hug, and holds it there for a while before pulling away.     [You should not be alone] he replies. [Not about this] No one should be, right? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' /Only if you want to be here/ He signs to the young padawan. He sighs, and then leans on Cayde a little, his expression melancholy as he watches the fire burn. /I loved him/ he signs. /And I miss home/ 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [I want to] Cayde tells him, nodding again.     [Want to go home] he asks. Perhaps there was a way. Maybe a comms expert at one of the temples could find a way to help him contact his family. [Contact your family] he offers. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He shakes his head. /No/ /They don't miss me/ he signs to the young padawan. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [But why] Cayde asks, frowning. Maybe he didn't have a good relationship with them.     Anyway, he moves on. [Then...someone else] 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin gives Cayde a sad, wistful smile. He shakes his head again. /It's alright./ He pauses. /They're not...coming/ /And I cannot go back like this/ 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     But what did he mean like this?     [Like...what] Cayde asks, still frowning. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin shakes his head, in mild frustration. /Can't explain/ He sighs. /Don't know Basic well/. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [Then later...another time] Cayde assures him, nodding. Then he pats his shoulder again. [Have to go...soon] he signs, glancing at the commlink messaages and showing him Yvon's empty threats of leaving without him. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The fire is dying down now, so Thaarin sighs and uses a bucket water he's set aside to put out the flames and then sweep up the ashes and put them in a ceramic urn. Then he nods, and starts heading back towards the starport. He smiles faintly, and pats Cayde's shoulder gently. /Thank you/ 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [I want you to be happy too] Cayde adds, as Thaarin finishes putting out the fire and collecting the ashes. Then he follows him back to the starport. 
}}

Confrontation

2025-07-02T07:25:22Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-05-12 |Synopsis=Lady Graf confronts Syralana about Dresda's death. |Cast of Characters=159, 261, 431, 143 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It's noon, and today, the weather is the kind that would have made anyone want to stay inside all day. Pouring rain and blasted fog - so the work on the new comms center couldn't continue. Not that Syra and her team are in much shape to do anything for the mo..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-05-12
|Synopsis=Lady Graf confronts Syralana about Dresda's death.
|Cast of Characters=159, 261, 431, 143
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It's noon, and today, the weather is the kind that would have made anyone want to stay inside all day. Pouring rain and blasted fog - so the work on the new comms center couldn't continue. Not that Syra and her team are in much shape to do anything for the moment - with Dresda dead and the events surrounding how he'd died a mystery, and Harrah still sequestered in the trauma unit with Jac hovering over her and unable to think about anything other than her half paralyzed wife. Worse, Syra likely had a pile of paperwork to fill out, now that they were now one lead engineer down. In fact, she might be in her office, bemoaning her situation, when her commlink pings with a message from Xera Graf herself. If she looks at it, she'll see that it's news, about the Jedi and their companions returning, along with a demanding request to know all that had transpired with her team, and why she was hearing things about one of their lead engineers being dead. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Syra, the Graf bureacrat is on her way to Syra's office, the tall blue alien the Jedi had brought back with them in tow... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Miss Graf? I think I saw her headin' for the comm shack." That was the most recent reply Navi had received on just where Xera was. The blonde Sephi had needed to talk to the taller woman ever since returning from Ilum and Jedha, but catching up to her always seems to be the problem. Today was no exception. With a hurried thanks to the worker she'd asked for directions, Navi jogs toward the comm office, hoping to catch up to Xera. By sheer mischance, she misses Xera and Thaarin entirely, so that when she hurries into the office, she finds herself alone, unless Syralana is also there... 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra? Paperwork? Pfft, she'd have Vons take- Wait, where is he?      What?! He's not here?! Well that was a problem that probably would take more requisition forms to figure out than it would be to just do the paperwork she was going to offload on someone else. The true bureaucratic way!      Which is why, Sira is sitting in her chair and leaning back. The datapad on the desk in front of her as she uses her foot on the bottom of the desk to make he swing a bit from side-to-side. The stylus for her datapad currently stuck between her upper lip and nose as she curls her lip up to hold it there while making sort of 'fish-face' expressions toward the ceiling.      Was she imagining herself underwater? Was she daydreaming about being a fish or sea spider? Perhaps she was just lamenting about the fact she couldn't be be out on a deck, under an awning, listening and watching the deluge of rain? Only Syra knows and she's not talkin'!      Because she's making fish-faces toward the ceiling while rotating back and forth in her chair with her stylus under her nose like a mustache. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Yes, sadly Vons isn't here to do her paperwork, although her 'stupid little in-the-moment' cover story (as Vons liked to call it) had stuck and literally everyone on her team is now referring to Vons as her errand boy. But moments later, she'll likely be snapped out of her fish faced reverie, as Xera marches up to her office and aggressively presses the ringer three times in row, long and hard. She doesn't even notice Navi standing there, though Thaarin will give Navi a faint smile and nod of recognition. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Startled by the buzzer, Navi squeaks softly and jumps. Looking back over her shoulder, she spots Xera and Thaarin, and returns the latter's smile, slightly shakily in the wake of her little fright. "Um, hello Miss Graf, Thaarin. I hope the weather's not ruining your day?" she says warmly, turning to face them, her colonial-issue plastoid rain cape crackling faintly at the movement. Even if it weren't a size too large for her, it isn't quite adequate for its intended purpose, keeping most of the rain off instead of all of it. Her clothes and hair are just noticeably dampened from the downpour. 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      "Kriff!" Syra calls out, a clatter of noise, and within a moment, limbs are one way, the chair another, and she's finding herself on the floor. A groan of noise, though, as luck would have it - amidst the fall she jerked her head forward and release the stylus. The stylus then bounced off a knee, caught her foot on the way down, and after hitting the ceiling came to a clatter right on the datapad.      WIN-WIN!      Then with another smaller thump, it rolled off the datapad, to the edge of the desk and fell off where it bounced off her forehead, pointy end down. "Son of a Bantha Biscuit!" She curses out, rubbing at her forehead while sitting back up on the floor behind her desk. Calling out, "Come in! Come in!" Another little grunt, a scoot onto her knees and Xera probably gets to see what looks like Sira sitting in the shortest chair in existence for a moment as just her head is above tabletop level. Still rubbing at her forehead, she moves a bit to the side, wiggling around in her more-impromptu office (the real one would be in the Comms center after all) before standing up.      "How can I help you?" Syra bends down to grab the stylus (and no, she doesn't hit her head on the desk) before spotting, "Navi! Hey! How are you? I swear it feels like it has been months. You have no idea how crazy it has been. Oh! I found some guy who was obsessed with you, besides Vons I mean." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' When Navi greets Xera, the Graf bureaucrat turns slightly, finally noticing the young Sephi girl. "Oh, you're here too," she says, arching a brow at her, without even extending a greeting. Xera looks thoroughly unimpressed when Syra finally lets her in, and her perfect brows crash together in disapproval. "Did you get the text transmission I sent you?" she demands, storming inside the office in an authoritative manner, while Thaarin lingers outside with Navi. "I want all the nonsense surrounding one of our lead engineers being dead cleaned up. Is Dresda really dead? Taryn told me there was some kind of accident? What happened? Why weren't you there?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi winces faintly at the reminder about Vons, and another not-so-secret admirer, most likely the one she shares an unexpected connection with via the Force. "Well, technically it /has/ been months. But not many of them. It's good to see you again," she replies to Syralana, nodding. "Maybe I'd better ask about those obsessions later, though." She beckons Thaarin inside as she enters the office. Maybe the climate inside is unpleasant, no thanks to Xera's mood, but at least it's dry. "What's this about a dead lead engineer, anyway? Sounds like we missed some troubles." 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      . . . Bantha Biscuit. That one was not said aloud. Syra takes a moment, a breath, a final rub at her forehead before pinching her nose. Never. Ending. Paperwork. And an exhale as she opens her eyes again and looks back to Xera. Head tilting a bit to the side as she arches her eyebrows. "Yes. Of course. Yes. Yes. Accident. Public relations." She arches her eyebrows up a bit higher, "Shall we start at the top or is that enough and we can continue working together to handle as much as we can?"      Syra tilts her head the opposite direction, eyebrows still up. "But, I think the real question is the... Third? Wait. Fourth?" She bobs her head a couple times, and then says the words to herself, tapping the side of her leg as she counts it off. "Third question, fourth thing said? Which is - what happened. To that end, we are launching an investigation as the circumstances behind the collapse seem suspicious and it's important to-" A hold of her hand, "-without relying on any eye-witness testimony, myself included, what exactly happened to cause the accident on the job site. We aren't even sure if Dresda had died before or after the incident, as that's part of the on-going investigation." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Accident that you clearly didn't prevent," Xera says, sounding more and more unimpressed by the minute. She narrows her eyes at Syra. "You're not making any sense, -Officer-," she says disdainfully. "Why the kriff would anyone want to launch an investigation that doesn't rely on eye witness testimony? You're practically -asking- to get falsified evidence dropped in your lap." Then she waves a hand dismissively. "Anyway, you'll spare me the details for now but I want a full report, no detail excluded, on my desk by this evening. And you are going to include the testimonies of all the eye witnesses included in it." Then she continues before Syra can protest, "Now, lucky for you, I am a resourceful and well networked woman despite your incompetence and have already found a replacement for the accident that you apparently weren't able to stop from happening." She smiles at Thaarin and motions for him step forward and stand in front of Syra's desk. "This is Thaarin," she says, "the Jedi found him somewhere in the Unknown Regions, and he's made it known to me and rest of leadership that he has some ability in the area of communications and engineering," she says. "He'll make himself useful, I'm sure." "A pleasure to meet you, Officer Syralana," Thaarin says mildly, bowing politely at the Echani woman. Now, Thaarin might make Syra feel... a certain way. The first thing she may notice about him is that he is beautiful. Extraordinarily so, and it would be unlikely to find any being, regardless of gender, who would describe him as unattractive. But it isn't necessarily just his looks -- there's a presence about him - powerful, confident, unashamed, exotic. He's not like any other alien Syra will have ever seen in her life before. He could have been, for all intents and purposes, Pantoran - but his eyes, they belonged to a Shistavanen. They're scarlet, luminous, burning like a flame in the somewhat inadquate lighting of her office. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I'll vouch for Thaarin's competence," Navi adds. "When we found him, he didn't speak a word of Basic, but he's since learned to both speak and, I'm assuming, read it, to the point that you'd swear he was professionally trained in it. All in less than two months. Trust me, he's brilliant." 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      "Exclude? Oh heavens no." Syra shakes her head, "Rely on? No way. I would much rather have hard facts than possibly misremembered moments around the time of a crisis." Syra gives a sort of bewildered look, "If I gave preference of witness testimony over hard facts, that would be the real travesty." She gives another shake of her head and a shrug, "But if you want me to completely rely on witness testimony, then you got it. I will make sure that those are the treated as the most important facts as to what happened to cause the accident." She nods her head, and arches her eyebrows.      "Or, I can make sure that the investigation is completed appropriately as I said before you told me to change it. Can you write me a holomail about exactly what you want me to do to ensure that it's conducted how /you/ want it done instead?" Another blink and she turns to look at Thaarin.      "Oh wonderful." She is about to offer her hand, then there's the fact that he's bowing as so she is pulling the hand back and shooting a look toward Navi. An arch of her eyebrows as if to ask, ''One of your typed? Maybe?'' Then back toward Thaarin, "Perfect, we can always use people who are well versed in Engineering. How are you with Geology? If the cave-in was caused by some sort of geological shift or miscalculation, that might be the most important- Oh right, sorry. I believe I have been ordered to rely only on testimony now to determine the initial reasons that will form the hypothesis as to the reason for the collapse. I do not recall any testimony talking of the possibility of geological instability being heard or seen before the event."      Syra shoots a look to Xera and arches her eyebrows. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin offers Navi a faint but brief smile. "Thank you, Navi," he says. "but there's no need to flatter me." Xera looks offended. "Are you patronizing me?" she snaps back at Syralana. Then she grumbles. "Save it. Conduct the investigation however you want, but I still want that report on my desk by evening." Then she sweeps out of Syra's office, though she doesn't leave the building right away. Once it appears Xera is out of earshot, Thaarin turns to Syralana. "I apologize for her ... ignorance," he says calmly. "I'm no expert in geology, but if you can present me with some of the data and evidence surrounding the circumstances, I can attempt to make a conclusion." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I know. That's why I wasn't flattering you," Navi replies to Thaarin, with a faint smile, after Xera has gone. "Most sentients need months or even years to master a new language at a conversational level, but you did it in less than eight weeks. So either you're intellectually brilliant, or your whole species is. I'm betting you'll be an asset to any investigation." She glances after Xera. "I definitely haven't missed her temper," she murmurs. "I do need to talk with her soon, though. Is there anything I can do to help with the investigation?" The last is addressed to Syralana. 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      "Patronizing? Oh Hells no. I just want to make sure that it's done the way you want. I will have the full report to you as soon as the investigation is complete, and the preliminary findings on your desk this evening." Syra smiles and watches her go, then waits until Xera is out of earshot before turning back toward Thaarin. "~Neither am I~. An expert in geology that is. But then again, I'm still waiting on some of the reports myself."      Moving around her desk, she half-sits on the edge of the front of it. Crossing her arms as she looks up toward the ceiling. Holding the stylus, she taps the back of it against her thumbnail as she swings it between index and middle, mouth pulling to the side. "The whole thing has been a bit of a mess. It figures, the one day that I decide to uh-" Her mouth pulls off to the side, "-broaden our public relations with visiting dignitaries who can assist in the completion of our overall objective-" beat, then a nod, "Yeah. I like that. So, while I was doing that, an accident happens."      Syra sighs, "What are the farking odds I ask you? Don't answer that." She waves a hand and shakes her head, then looks toward Navi. "Sure. If you can find out if anyone's lying using that spooky stuff, then I would love it if you can tell me if some of the people are lying." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin smiles faintly again. "The only thing that sets me apart from the rest of my kind is that I am a poor example of them. I am of average intellect," he says, "and you are too kind, as well as terrible for my ego. Whatever shall I do? I do enjoy your company very much~" he teases the young Sephi girl. But when she asks if there's anything she can do regarding the investigation and Syra gives her a task, his expression grows solemn. "You should worry about it tomorrow," he says, "tonight, I think you should indulge in some well deserved rest." Perhaps he's right, but Navi will see that Xera is lingering near one of the wall to floor windows out in the hallway, staring out at the pouring rain. Maybe now isn't such a bad time to speak with her... Thaarin seems mildly amused by Syra's explanatory monolgue. "We'll find out the truth," he says, "sooner rather than later." He pauses briefly. "But speaking of out the truth - and you'll have to forgive my frankness - I think you're lying. But I can hardly blame you. Even if I had answers right now, I'm not sure I'd tell Lady Graf." He comes to sit down in the chair in front of Syra's desk. "But let's see about what reports you do have?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Cayde's better at that kind of stuff," Navi replies, blushing faintly. "I can try, but I can't guarantee results." She looks to Thaarin, the blush deepening slightly. "You're as bad for mine, sometimes. I just might take your advice on that rest, but I'll be on the case tomorrow. Try not to make Syralana fall in love with you in the meantime," she adds, the last impishly. "I'll be back in a moment or so," she adds, starting for the door. "I've got another matter to attend to." She pauses beside Xera, staring into the rain. "I missed you," she says softly. 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra furrow her brow and tilts her head as she looks at Thaarin, "Lying? Not at all. He was, in fact, visiting and many people would consider those that follow along with traditions that revere the Force to be dignitaries. And I was, absolutely, trying to improve relations and he proved to be an absolutely amazing asset during the accident." As she says all of those, she ticks them off her fingers.      "So, what I said was - in fact - entirely true. I just know how to spin it." She points at herself, "Journalist." To this, she gives a sage nod before the hand reaches back to grab the datapad on the desk behind her. She's sitting on the front of it near to Thaarin after all, and pulls it back across. She closes out Flappy Mynock as she pulls up the holomail folder that houses the reports so far.      "Have a look though. I started to compile some of the testimonies into sub-folders, and then some of the initial findings as well. I'm still waiting on some of the computer forensics surrounding the incident, as well as some of the results from surveys. Blah-blah bureaucracy." She sighs and looks over toward Navi. A pull of her mouth off to the side.      "Stop blushing, or I swear to the Force I'm going to change the delivery address of the Bantha to you instead of Vons. Since he doesn't want it anymore." Squint! "But, fine, fine, do what you can. Maybe I'll send it to Cayde." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "If it weren't a lie, at least in some small degree, you wouldn't feel the need to justify yourself." Thaarin offers Syralana a faint smile. "Journalist?" he says in that demure tone of voice, "You do realize, that journalists are trained to lie expertly, in order to perform their duties better? They say," he says, "the better the liar, the more proficient the journalist." He pauses. "And I do not have a doubt about you being the very best in your trade." His smile broadens just a little. "And you needn't concern yourself with the report Xera requested. I'll compile it." When Syra commands Navi to stop blushing, he sighs. "Perhaps you ought to try avoiding rubbing salt in the wound," he says gently. "It's not entirely clear to me how she feels about me, but ... I'm not interested in her like that. And I plan to tell her soon." He picks up the datapad and starts looking at some of the evidence, findings, and testimonies, his brow furrowing lightly. "What do you know about the geology regarding this planet? Weather patterns? Soil type?" he says, thoughtfully. When Navi tells Xera that she missed her, the bureaucrat sighs. "Spare me your sentimentality," she says gratingly, "you wanted to ask me for some kind of favor, didn't you. That's all any ever wants from me these days, even if they don't ask for it right away," she says sourly. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I don't want a favor, Xera," Navi replies, keeping her tone level in spite of the sting of Xera's ascerbic words. "Not now, and hopefully not ever. Is it so hard for you to believe that someone cares about you?" 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      "What? No, no. That would make you libel." Syra shakes her head, frowning as she looks to Thaarin, "We're just really good at telling the truth artistically. And besides, in bureaucracy, if you're not an advocate for yourself, then you're gonna have a bad day. Hm? Oh, we don't have enough for a full report yet, that was true - not unless it all just came in?" Syra leans over to look down at her datapad that he's now holding.      "Hm? Oh, no, if I let it be then people will ~never learn~. Threats of Bantha Plushies is absolutely the best approach." She crosses her arms again and then reaches out to tap the stylus on one of the reports, "All that we have is right there. At least, based on the information that we had before and after the accident in regard to geology and weather."      Pulling the stylus back she taps on her chin with the back of it, frowning, "I don't recall any extensive cave systems being discovered this close under the survey area. That's one of the reasons that I feel like there's more to this, and I am reasonably sure someone is lying - not just twisting the facts - as to what caused it. Hells, I was waiting on the autopsy to confirm time of death to being before or after the accident even. I have my doubts." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Speaking of people who are better at that 'lie-detecting' thing, Cayde happens to emerge from a hallway near the windows where Navi and Xera are standing. He'd just finished in Master Rykard's office. But his brows furrow when he sees them talking. Hadn't he told Navi to stay away from Ms. Graf? Immediately, he recalls the past couple of minutes' worth of conversation from the Sephi's memories, confirming that Navi had been the one to approach her.     Already, she can feel his presence--a worried, and also somewhat impatient one. They'd had this discussion before... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Xera rolls her eyes. "Oh of course plenty of people care about me," she says, "Power and influence will get you that kind of attention, and I don't plan on relinqushing that anytime soon." She pauses. "Now, out with it. What do you want?" she says, folding her arms. She remains unaware of Cayde for the time being. Thaarin chuckles softly. "Officer," he says softly and gently, "It was a compliment. And you need not worry about me telling anyone else about your meeting this 'special' dignitary of yours. I'm certain he or she was worth the time and effort, as I'd hate for you to waste your time one someone who wasn't." He fixes her with that burning, scarlet gaze of his that could compel almost anyone to not look away, and escape his powerful aura. "Learn what, exactly? And have you tried diplomacy?" Then his attention is diverted back to the datapad, releasing Syra from the intensity of his fiery irises. "I have very little to work with as of now," he says, "but if I had to guess, it seems likely that some kind of sabotage was involved. The equipment reported to have been last used by the lead engineer was in perfect functioning condition mere hours before the incident. And the soil here is rocky, not soft and vulnerable to cave-ins. But naturally, the autopsy results will certainly shed more light on the situation." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' <Don't scold me with your mind, Cayde... by dealing with her, I may prevent a disaster we are unlikely to be prepared to deal with,> Navi thinks back at Cayde. <Even if I'm wrong, I'd rather try and fail than not try at all.> Navi sighs. "I want to see you again. That's all. I'm not hunting favors, unless you consider seeing me a favor. I don't know what it takes for me to prove my sincerity to you. I'd hug you, but my clothes are damp, and I doubt you want to get any wetter." 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      "Pfft, I wasn't defending myself. Only those of my peers in Journalism." She says it with an airy loftiness and flashes a smile. She looks back at him and crinkles her nose, "Learn that Bantha Plushies are better than relationships. One of them is full of fluff, the other is full of /other/ things." She arches an eyebrow and keeps looking right back at him, she doesn't mind. After all, she hasn't lied.      "Nah, diplomacy is overrated when you're trying to tease people mercilessly. That's for when you want to get people to do things for you." She tilts her head again and leans forward to look down at the datapad again. She nods her head a bit, "Yeah, that was my initial impression as well. You can see it in the report I started working on." She gestures toward another one of the holomails that was marked as 'In Progress'.      "My initial hypothesis, is that it's sabotage specifically triggered to target the individual who died." She crosses her arms again, sitting back up more straight again instead of leaning over to read the datapad upside down. "There's a few people that I have earmarked for further questioning on the matter. The sedimentary make-up of the ground should have been more than enough to hold, and the way it collapsed, along with the location of the body on the far side of a ravine, leads me to believe that either... He was killed before, and placed there. The sabotage staged to make it all look like an accident. Or he was killed in the accident, and someone went down and moved his body in an effort to cover it up."      Sira taps again on there chin with he stylus, "I'm leaning a bit more toward the third, as it would explain how Harrah ended up over there too. Someone hoping she would die in the aftermath. Neither one of them were near the initial collapse, and were found on the other side of a ravine." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <What disaster> Cayde asks, even as he continues to probe for the answer himself. She'll be able to see that a lot of things are already going through his mind. Does he need to erase her memories of anything in particular? Or maybe make her see them in a different light? Or, perhaps, cause her to fall into a deep sleep during a certain time? Or find a way to change her mind about something? All very doable things, right? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Xera's expression finally softens. "Oh," she says, feigning surprise. "Well, I suppose I did say that we could start seeing one another more privately, and informally. But I'm afraid I'm not available at all today," she comments flippantly. "And likely not for the rest of the week. But I'll reach out when I find time," she says. She starts for the exit of the temporary structure, but then stops. "Well I suppose you could walk with me back to my habsuite." Thaarin seems amused. "Other things such as ... substance?" He offers another faint smile. "Perhaps you just haven't found the correct substance, then," he teases. "And I suppose that's what I'm here for," he says, chuckling softly again. "Well, I'm happy to serve and fulfill any request you might have," he says. "And who are these individuals?" Thaarin says. He learns towards her, scrunitizing her a little. "I ... take back what I said about you being the very best in your trade," he says, "you seem even more apt than the best. Are you sure you don't have any ... hobbies adjacent to journalism?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' <Yes, Cayde, all of those things are doable. They also tread dangerously close to the Dark Side, even if there weren't ethics involved, and impossible to explain if they should fail,> Navi replies to Cayde, by way of telepathic communication. <What I'm doing isn't at all certain, but it's better that than risking losing the whole colony's trust in the Jedi Order.> "I could at that," she replies softly to Xera, moving to follow the taller woman while drawing her rain cape tighter around her body, to hopefully keep off most of the rain. 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      "I was thinking more like full of poodoo. But I suppose there's always that chance." Sira /sighs/ and then crosses her arms as she nods her head toward the datapad. "There's a few people I have earmarked, one of them is a Dug I've been keeping an eye on. He damn near started a fight the first day. I have since applied a couple Hello Nexu stickers to his work helmet, so he should be a bit easier to spot."      Her mouth pull again and she tilts her head to the side, looking back toward the doorway. "What? You're here for /subtances/? I thought you were here for /building/. But I guess if you got a chemistry major too, there's bound to be a trade in that." She glances back to Thaarin and one of her eyebrows furrows, "Well, I'm not a bad shot if that's what you're asking. When I was a journalist, I was working more out on the front lines, so to speak. Got into that because I used to be part of a Merc group that was fighting out on the front lines. Attention to detail matters a lot when you're worried what that bit of debris up ahead is." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns. But why? They wouldn't really harm her in the end, as they were all very temporary, right? For the sake of the colony. And why won't she show him what she's trying to do? He just wants to help...why won't she let him use his gifts to do that? The one thing he's actually good at...     He stares after them for a few seconds as they start to leave, then suddenly hurries after her and tries to grab her wrist and pull her away from Xera. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "You still haven't answered my question," Xera says softly. "What do you want? Not from me specifically. But just in general. Why are you here? What do you hope to gain from being part of the Tenoo initiative?" She asks. It's stopped raining by now, so she ventures out of the building, carefully avoiding the wet puddles in the surrounding area. But then Cayde appears out of nowhere and tries to drag Navi away. She rolls her eyes. "What's the matter with you?" she says irritably, "We were having a perfectly amicable conversation!" Thaarin arches a brow. "You'll have to forgive me... I'm not familiar with colloqialisms," he says. "What's the Dug's name? I could go talk to him later," he offers. He offers her a faint smile when Syralana when she mentions 'substances.' "Officer," he says softly, "I'm here because I owe a life debt to the Jedi. I was held hostage by enemies to my people in the Unknown Regions, as you call it, for many months. My brother then perished in the subsequent aftermath. It... was a complicated matter, and because of it I'm not sure I can return to my people, nor am I entirely certain I want to at the moment. They did not come looking for me, most likely due to civil unrest, and I don't think they'll take kindly to my explanation of how he perished. We were both decorated officers in the Defense Fleet." His expression suddenly becomes slightly mournful. "As you can imagine, that kind of relationship is far from my mind. All I'd like right now, is not be lonely." "I see," he says, though his brows remain slightly furrowed. He's not entirely convinced, but Syra might not pick up on it. "Well, then. You must be certainly be a multifaceted treasure of the Republic out here, given the particular circumstances. The frontier is certainly not for the single skilled pioneer." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Well, you already know I wasn't keen on coming back to the Outer Rim," Navi replies, following, careful of the puddles. "But at least half of the people I care about in this whole galaxy are part of this colony, and I want to make sure it succeeds, or at least be here to help save the survivors if it doesn't. Yourself included." Before she can say more, her wrist is seized by Cayde, who starts trying to drag her away! "Cayde?! Geez, what /is/ it?" she cries, strictly for Xera's benefit. <As if I didn't /already know/!> she adds telepathically. "Stop trying to pull my arm out of its socket!" 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      A snort, "Well, thank the Force for small favors. Relationships really are annoying most of the time." Syra gives another shake of her head and glances again toward the door. "Either way, - eh, maybe we'll talk later about all that." She SIGHS and throws back her head as she looks back down to Thaarin once more, a narrow of her eyes as if she's appraising him for a moment. Then a shake of her head.      "Anyway... His name is Wenisicio." Another frown, "What? You mean earmarked? Uhh, singled out. I have them set to be re-evaluated, and their stories re-verified, preferably by some form of electronics." She gives another shrug, leaning back a bit and shifting until she's seated on the desk more fully, one of her feet twisting a bit from side-to-side. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde lets go of Navi when she becomes angry with him, even if she doesn't twist away. He stares at her for a moment with an unreadable expression, then finally sighs and turns away. This time, she won't be able to read him without pushing. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Is that so," Xera says, eyes narrowing as her expression becomes pensive. "And who are those people?" She watches as Cayde turns to leave, expression unreadable. "What an irritating mystery that boy is," she says, "I thought the Jedi weren't supposed to be prone to outbursts of emotion..." "No," he says, "It was..." then he waves a hand dismissively. "I'd love that, actually," he says suddenly, his expression becoming mildly sad and longing, "Perhaps over a drink, at a local joint. We could talk colloqialisms, what trade and culture is like in the Republic. I don't know anything about the Outer Rim. In fact, I've never --" Then he stops himself, frowning. "I apologize. I've overstepped. You're busy, and I have work to do as well now..." 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      "Nah, not /that/ busy." Syra says with a mutter and another glance at the door, making sure that Xera still wasn't there. As she looks back to Thaarin, she shifts a bit on the desk and her mouth curves into a bit more of a smile, "Sure. You're buying, I'm not cheap, and I know more about blasters than trade." She crosses her arms and then shifts a bit forward till she slips off the edge of the desk.      "Now hurry up and forward yourself what you need so I can have my datapad back." She laughs, "Oh, and include my number in what you are mailing yourself." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi finds quickly that she can no longer read Cayde's mental state. Shaking her head, she watches him go. "He means well," she says softly to Xera. "And he's a good friend. Just impulsive, sometimes. I'll have to talk to him later about it." The question of who she cares about is met with a thoughtful look. "Yourself. My friends in the Jedi Order. A Chadra-Fan family. A pair of Dathomiri sisters from Jedha. Others. The whole colony, at least to a lesser degree. It wouldn't be right for them to be left to fend for themselves if this colony doesn't succeed." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He smiles, this time just a tiny bit broader than the times before. "Really...," he says a bit hesitantly."Well, if you says so. Blasters and colloquialisms. And of course. I think I have an ounce of politeness in me." He pauses, leveling his gaze with hers. "Thank you, really. This means more to me than you might think." he says softly. He nods and then finishes with the datapad and hands it back to her. "Hm, I see," Xera says, but expression seems calculating instead of intentional. They've arrived at her habsuite now. "Well here we are now. I'll see you later, I suppose." Then she goes inside it, leaving Navi in the wet cold. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "See you," Navi replies softly, mildly disappointed that Xera hadn't invited her in. Then again, she'd said she was unavailable all week. That calculating look gave her a nagging feeling about the taller woman's intentions, but she'd accepted the dangers of dealing with Xera Graf's mercurial moods and uncertain motivations months ago. She turns toward her own much less impressive habitation. "Guess I'll get out of thesw wet clothes and catch a nap, like Thaarin wanted. Have to talk to Cayde later this evening, and maybe check in on that investigation," she murmurs. Beat. "And now this stupid initiative's got me talking to myself, too. I can't wait to get back to the Core," she murmurs, slowly shaking her head. 
}}

Return to Tenoo

2025-07-02T07:22:50Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-05-10 |Synopsis=The group returns to the colony on Tenoo. |Cast of Characters=159, 381, 143, 261 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' After having spent nearly two and half months away, the group that had ventured to Ilum had finally returned to Tenoo. Much had transpired while they'd been away -- while in transit back to the Outer Rim, they would have received news that there'd been a fina..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-05-10
|Synopsis=The group returns to the colony on Tenoo.
|Cast of Characters=159, 381, 143, 261
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' After having spent nearly two and half months away, the group that had ventured to Ilum had finally returned to Tenoo. Much had transpired while they'd been away -- while in transit back to the Outer Rim, they would have received news that there'd been a financial scandal involving Chancellor Rie, and as such, he'd chosen to step down and allow the vice chancellor to take his place while other notable politicians began their campaigns to assume the position of Chancellor. There had also been news that Cayde's old master Rykard had been found and reassigned to be marshal of the Tenoo colony, given that Anne had been urgently called away by the Council to take care of another matter near Wild Space. Third, and perhaps the most unpleasant news of all, was that while they had been away, one of the colonists had died and there were rumors circulating that he'd been murdered. Consequently, upon arriving back on Tenoo, things will feel a bit different. Yet, some things would always stay the same. As Yvon and Jahni unload the shuttle, a familiar young Nikto boy will race up the gangplank to greet the elder Jedi healer. "Master Windu!" Tommy cries. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike smiles at Tommy and tries to corral the boy. "Have you behaved?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The small Nikto boy hugs Pike enthusiastically. "Of course I did," he says. "But you were gone so long," he says, pouting a little. "I'm 8 now, did you know that? Why'd you have to go away for so long?" 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike tries to maintain some dignity, patting the boy's head fondly.     "I am a Jedi Master, I know many things. To answer your question, my Order sent us on a difficult errand. Now answer my question, have you been a good boy?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Tommy pouts a little more. "I already told you, I was! If you know so many things, then wouldn't you already know that I was good while you were gone?" "I want to know about your... difficult errand. Did you fight cool monsters? Did you rescue a princess?" 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "You did. It must be the hyper-lag. We rescued beings from beyond Known Space. Strange beings never seen before." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Tommy's eyes grow wide. "You did??" he cries. "Where are they? What are they like? What happened? Did you have to fight bad guys to rescue them?" the Nikto boy says, peppering the Jedi healer with questions. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike laughs at the boy's enthusiasm.     "I will tell you all about it later. Not here standing on a gangplank." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Aw!" Tommy deflates, looking disappointed. "But when? You were already gone for so long..." But before Pike can reply, the two Arkanian scientists he'd met the first time he'd committed to the Tenoo Initiative, approach. "Master Windu," one of them says cordially, "A word in private, please?" Meanwhile, in the back, inside the cargo bay, Cayde may find that his bag is missing... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Having heard about his old master's return, Cayde finds himself at least a little bit excited to see him again. He recalled seeing Kuv and Shasta on Jedha, and how they'd mentioned a lead on his location....and that he had important information.     However, when he goes to the cargo bay to search for the light baggage he'd packed he'd finds it missing. The padawan frowns, beginning to search around for it. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''      Pike smiles and nods. "Of course."     The Jedi says to Tommy, "Show me what a good boy you are and bring sweet rolls and hot coffee to my quarters and I will tell you about my mission." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Cayde won't find it, but the tall blue skinned alien known as Thaarin will call to him from the cargo bay's gangplank - Cayde will notice he's already carrying it. "Okay!" Tommy says, and rushes off. The Arkanians nod, and motion for Pike to follow them. "You'll be glad to hear," she continues, "we've made significant progress in our research...!" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh...     Cayde follows him down the walkway, approaching and holding out a hand with the expectation of receiving his luggage back. He definitely doesn't need any help carrying it. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     The dignity of a Jedi Master prevents Pike from asking for a reminder on the nature of the research. Instead he says, "of course," authoritatively and falls in behind the Arkanians. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin gives Cayde a faint smile. "Perhaps your efforts would be more useful elsewhere?" he says in fluent Basic , glancing over at Yvon, who's struggling to move some of their ration boxes. The young padawan won't be surprised at Thaarin's fluency, in the few weeks that they'd taken to come to Tenoo, he'd mastered Basic. Once they're farther away from the vessel, Vaneya says to Pike, "Its the vergence," she says, "It's an ideal environment for experiments of the genetic kind. You'd be surprised at what we've created in just test tubes," she says. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     The padawan's gaze flits over to Yvon, and he reaches out with the Force, attempting to help the boxes along, at least. Suddenly, they're not as heavy as they were.... 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "I never doubted that your research would progress. Please, explain further." Pike begins to remember the doubts he had when he first heard about this research. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Weird," Yvon mutters, "guess I just needed to try harder," he mutters, exiting the cargo bay. Thaarin chuckles softly and proceeds down the ramp after Yvon, waiting at the bottom for Cayde. "Where are your quarters?" he asks Cayde. Vaneya seems pleased by Pike's comment. "Indeed," she says. "We've successfully synthesized a human heart and an Arkanian liver," she says, "but we hope to push the boundaries of our experiments. I hope you understand, Master Windu." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Once Yvon has successfully transferred the boxes to their intended location, Cayde follows Thaarin down the walkway, watching him expectantly.     [I will carry it] he signs, pointing at the bag. But then, he realizes, Thaarin doesn't have an assignment. Well they would have to see Master about that. [But...for your accommodations] 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Understanding and approving are very different. I understand. But I will need to know more before I can approve." Pike says this in all seriousness. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin gives Cayde another faint smile. "No need," he says, gently. He pauses. "I hope you know that I don't think any less of you or your own strength simply because you aren't carrying your own bag," he says. "And if others think otherwise, well, I wouldn't be too concerned. Those sorts aren't the kind you should associate with." When he mentions his accommodations, he inclines his head, seeming amused. "Don't worry about me," he says. "I'm sure they'll figure it out soon enough." Vaneya and Terrin stop walking. "Master Windu, do you have any idea what this could mean? It could be revolutionary. We're dealing with a method that might permanently change the way we think about conception," she says. "wouldn't you want to live in a galaxy where childless families could be provided one, one that is their own flesh and blood? The effective ressurection of a dead loved one?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde listens to what Thaarin has to say, then nods and motions for him to follow. He then starts heading toward wherever his master is now, following the Force's guidance. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike shrugs. "As I said, I need to know more before I can say yes or no. Please continue." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin follows Cayde, though he lags behind a bit, his expression distant. At some point, he stops walking, looking back to the ship. Vaneya huffs, looking annoyed. "Fine," she mutters, motioning for both Terrin and Pike to follow her. "We'll show you to the lab. We've set up very close to the Temple." A beat. "Hopefully this doesn't pose problems for the renovations of it," she says, but her tone is flippant. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde stops when Thaarin does, heading back toward him. He waits, following the young officer's gaze back toward the ship. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike follows along. "I am a medic. I understand the potential benefits of your work. But I am a Jedi as well." Pike leaves much unsaid. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "And so he came to the end of his journey, no wiser or richer than when he'd begun," Navi murmurs, reading through a story on a datapad. She rises from her bunk inside the shuttle's tiny passenger berth, powering off the datapad and tucking it into her medic's satchel. "I hope that's not the way I'll end my journals about /this/ place," she murmurs, but it lacks hope. Taking up her luggage, she starts for the gangplank, but pauses to assist some in the unloading. The Ungaughts may not ever win any beauty or cuteness contests, but the pair have become her friends, and it feels right to help them. Perhaps fifteen minutes later, Navi finally exits the ship. "Never knew supply crates were so light," she murmurs. "Wonder where Master Windu's gotten to..." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' For a very brief moment, Thaarin looks... wistful, and sad. Why, Cayde can only guess. His mind remained untouchable. However, when Cayde comes to stand next to him, the look fades and he gives the padawan another faint smile. "Sorry," he says, "I was wondering where Navi was --" Just then, he sees the young Sephi girl come down the gangplank. "I'll go help her, if you can wait a moment," he says. Then he makes his way over to Navi. He's already carrying Cayde's bag, but he still offers kindly, "I can take that for you?" he says, holding an arm out to take her satchel. Vaneya doesn't comment further, but as they approach the valley where the Temple and vergence, they'll be met by another Jedi - Rykard, Cayde's old master. "Master Windu," the Ikkrukki man says respectfully. "You've returned to Tenoo. I've heard plenty about your healing skills. Welcome back," he says. He gives the Arkanians a slightly suspicious look but bows to them in greeting as well. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Thank you, Master Rykard. It's an honor to meet you at last. I think Cayde is still at the landing field, if you're looking for him." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde watches as Thaarin goes to help Navi for a few seconds, then turns and starts heading toward the medical lab where Rykard is conversing with Pike and the Arkanians. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Oh..! Hello, Thaarin," Navi says, startled at first, then smiling. "It's very sweet of you to offer! I keep that with me at all times, for emergencies... but perhaps you could carry this?" she asks, unshouldering and offering her field backpack. "It's just clothes and minor necessities, so it's just going to go back in my tent. It's not heavy." She's learned by now that Thaarin's insistence on helping will not be denied, so she finds a way to accept, in spite of her slight feelings of guilt; it feels like she's taking advantage of him. "I need to find Master Windu... technically, I'm his assistant. Did you see which way he went?" she asks the tall blue man. "And did anyone see where Little Guy went?" It pays to keep an eye on the diminutive alien. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Rykard nods. "The same to you," he says to Pike, "And I wouldn't be too concerned about Cayde. He's on his way here now. I can feel it in the Force..." he says, his expression wistful for a moment. "Regardless, I was looking around the site near the Temple and noticed the medical research center. I was hoping you might be able to shed more light on what is happening there?" The Arkanians are clearly uncomfortable with Rykard accompanying them as well, but they can't exactly refuse. "I suppose," Vaneya huffs. "This way, please," she says, and continues heading for the temporary structure that's their makeshift lab. And Cayde may find himself arriving right on their heels as they go inside... "I didn't," Thaarin says, "and it seems Cayde is no longer interested in showing me where the bags go." He laughs quietly. "But I can drop everything off near the barracks, then help you look for them." He pauses, but keeps walking. "How have you been?" he asks sincerely. "How have you been feeling since we left Jedha," he asks, his tone softening even more. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "I am eager to know more, myself. The potential benefits of their work is staggering." Pike follows along towards the lab. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As Cayde catches a glimpse of his old master heading into the lab, he feels his heart nearly skip a beat. It had been so long...     He hurries in after them, reaching out into the Force. <Master...> 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "No trouble... we can take a quick detour by the barracks and then we'll find Master Windu. As for Cayde, he's probably hunting for his old Master," Navi suggests, with a wry smile. "Not like I can blame him; those Master-Padawan bonds are unbreakable. I don't care what the Order says about it. You get attached to fellow Apprentices, former Masters, and others you work with. It's just the way we're made. Sometimes you have to put aside personal feelings for the greater good, but it doesn't change those feelings. Sometimes I don't know if the Order knows this and just won't talk about it, or if they're in eternal denial." She sighs quietly, turning to lead the way toward the barracks. "Sorry... I didn't meant to use you as a venting port. The Order and I didn't part company on the best of terms. Sometimes it all comes back to me." She shrugs, straightening. "But it doesn't matter. I'll take a few deep breaths and I'll be fine, fine example of non-blue sentience that I am. You must think we're all a bunch of emotionally-overactive children, the way we act. Thanks for being so patient with us." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Right," Rykard says, and lets the Arkanians lead the way into the makeshift lab. He slows his pace so that once they're inside, he can talk to Pike without attracting the attention of Terrin and Vaneya. "Master Windu... don't you think this is all a bit... suspicious? They seem to be more than meets the eye..." Pike will notice that there are lots of locked boxes in the lab, and the stations appear fastidiously clean, as if someone had made sure to leave nothing that shouldn't be out in the open... out in the open. But before Pike can respond to Rykard, Cayde makes his presence known. Rykard turns around. <Cayde!> He opens his arms to embrace the young padawan. Thaarin nods, and they head for the barracks. But when Navi says that she's a fine example non blue sentience, his brows furrow. He stops walking, and comes to stand in front of Navi, placing a hand firmly on her shoulder. "Don't say that," he says, gently but firmly. "I would have you know that just because my emotions aren't always on display doesn't mean I don't have them." He squeezes her shoulder gently. "We're all different, and that's what makes variety the spice of life. At least, that's how I think the saying goes. You're different from me, and that's beautiful." His luminous, scarlet eyes flash, and he levels his gaze with hers, those eyes seeming to penetrate deep into her soul. "I can't speak for others, but I would have you know that there's never any need to feel like you must hide your feelings around me. I understand that your life has been far from easy, and the rescue of my brother and I along with his subsequent demise did nothing to make it easier. I apologize for that. But I want you to know that above all, I desire honesty, and sincerity. No need to wear a facade around me, Navi," he says, tipping her chin up gently. "I owe you and those who came to Ilum my life. And I'll forever be in your debt because of that. In the future, I hope to offer more to you than just my loyalty, but you can be assured that you'll always have it." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde accepts the embrace, glad to be reunited with Master Rykard again. As they touch, his mind begins to flood into his old master's, relaying everything that had happened on Ilum and Jedha. And how their new companions now needed accommodations...if there was any room, anyway. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi blinks as Thaarin stops her, looking up at him with eyes filled with mild confusion, and then a confused mass of emotions as she hugs him tightly. "You are the best friend anyone could ever have," she murmurs. "Thank you. And you don't need to apologize for your brother and that whole situation. Even if I'd known what would happen, I'd've tried to help him anyway. Except maybe I wouldn't have lied to the security forces about you, 'cause that was just really stupid. But I'd do everything else." She stretches up to kiss his cheek, then releases him. "Let's get these bags taken care of, and then we'll find Master Windu. If the Force is with us, Cayde or his Master will be close by." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' <I...see> Rykard says, <We have much to speak about> he says to the young padawan gently. <but not now. While Master Windu is distracting the Arkanians... we should have a look around. Their working in tandem with the vergence is... concerning> Thaarin seems surprised when she stands on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek, but doesn't reject her advances, and doesn't comment on it, either. Once they arrive at the barracks, Thaarin drops the bags off. Once he's finished with that, he turns to Navi and says, "I'm grateful for everything you did for my brother and I," he says, "but please, if you feel any lingering guilt or grief over him -- I'd beg you to think of him less. It may seem callous to say, but if you want to help my grieving process, then you'll do as I ask," he says gently. "It was my burden to bear, and still is. I was his commanding officer, no one else on the ship was. And because of that, I won't have anyone else shoulder that responsibility." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <Yes master> Cayde replies, nodding. He then attempts to enter the Arkanians' mind, to find out what they're really up to. What are they trying to hide from Master Pike? 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Just guilt for my own stupidity, and whatever role it played. I can't promise I won't grieve for the good man I never got to meet, and the brother of my dear friend Thaarin... but I /will/ try. That's the best promise I can make you. Don't feel responsible for my feelings. But I won't speak of it anymore," Navi replies softly, briefly hugging Thaarin again. "Let's get this stuff stowed. I must admit that I'd like to meet Cayde's Master. He seemed very attached to him," she advises as she releases him and starts for the barracks once more. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It would appear to Cayde that the Arkanians didn't really have much to hide from Pike, however, they wanted to keep the other Jedi and members of leadership of the colony at arms length - perhaps except for Xera Graf. Their experiments dabbled in cloning - research that the Republic had not explicitly banned, but was considered, at this point in time, to fall under the illegal clause of 'no cruel and unusual experiments shall be conducted within Republic borders' by a vast majority of the scientific community. Thaarin doesn't say anything right away, but the slight crease between his brows seem to make it clear how he felt about what Navi had said about herself. As they walk, he'll catch her gaze, and come walk close enough alongside her that their hands will almost brush. He's peering at her with that luminous, penetrating, scarlet gaze that seems to pierce the spirit. After a moment, he slows his pace, staying slightly ahead of her so she's also forced to slow hers a bit. "Don't," he murmurs sweetly, soothingly, still maintaining eye contact -- and she'll know exactly what he means. But the moment will be interrupted when Vons seems to materialize out of nowhere. His eyes light up when he sees Navi, but his expression immediately sours when he sees Thaarin looking at her like that. But before he can even speak, Thaarin greets him kindly, introduces himself, and asks him if he's seen Cayde or Master Rykard. Vons deflates a little, and his gaze flicks to Navi longingly again for a moment before he replies, "Yeah. I saw the other Jedi heading towards the Temple in the valley just a little bit ago." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns, absorbing the information. Then he turns back to his master, relaying what he'd learned. They didn't want the other Jedi to know about the cloning, it seemed...and if that was the case, there must be a reason to keep it hidden... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi feels her heart melt a little under Thaarin's penetrating gaze and powerful, yet somehow gentle presence, and finds herself slowing her pace slightly as he gently encourages her to do so. Before she can fully grasp just what's going on, Vons appears. The sudden shift in his expression sends a stiff pang of guilt straight through her, and she pauses to give him a quick hug. "Thanks, Vons. Sorry we were gone so long, but a lot of things happened. I'd like you to meet Thaarin, a refugee and naval officer from another part of the galaxy that we haven't heard from in millennia. Thaarin, this is Vons, the best private investigator I've ever met. Vons, Thaarin. Vons, could you show Thaarin where all the tents are? Maybe he could tell you all about what's been happening since he met us on Ilum. I'll catch up to you both a little later, as soon as I find Master Windu and get caught up on my duties." The last is said as she's jogging toward the vergence, and the new lab she's about to discover, while waving over her shoulder to the pair. The guilt and confusion are roiling about inside her mind and heart like a storm-tossed sea by now. "Force help me, I've just pulled a Cayde..." she murmurs. "I am SO going to have to meditate on that later..." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The other thing that Cayde will observe from the Arkanian's minds is that they really, really did not want the doctor to know about what they were doing here. He won't be able to know why, but he could probably guess. Rykard glances around, then nods. <We'll have to find an excuse to come back here another time> he says, then starts heading out of the makeshift lab. His expression softens. <It's been so long... how are you> he says to Cayde. "Well met," Thaarin says to Vons with a faint smile, and Vons seems to not know what to say. He's watching Navi as she leaves, and he calls to her back as she's leaving. "Tonight? In the mess hall?" But she doesn't respond, and he mutters to himself as he and Thaarin head away, "Nice to see you, too..." shaking his head. Navi will come upon Cayde and Master Rykard just as they are coming out of the Arkanian's facility... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     An excuse? But wasn't Master Rykard in charge now? Why did he need an excuse?     <I...am well, Master> Cayde answers, although the elder Jedi will be able to tell there is much, much more to it than that. Much has happened, in the years they had been apart, and already some of it is coming back to mind. Rie, Vlaven, Tomi...even Master Pike. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Oh! Cayde! There you are! Have you seen Master Windu?" Navi calls softly as she jogs closer to the lab. "And you must be Master Rykard! Hello! I'm Navi, a Novice of the Shining Brotherhood on Jedha. I'm assisting Master Windu in the medical research part of this initiative." "Guess we missed a lot while we were gone," she adds. "When did all this get built? And why so close to the temple ruins?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' <Cayde, we cannot let them know we are suspicious of what they're doing. Otherwise, they'll always put away anything incriminating> <We have a lot of catching up to do> the older Ikkrukki man says, sounding weary, but grateful. Rykard smiles when Navi approaches and introduces herself. "A pleasure to meet you," he says to Navi, bowing politely. "I assume you're a good friend of Cayde's. Thank you, for looking after him in my absence," he says. "I'm not entirely sure. It's what I'm trying to figure out without the Arkanians suspecting. I believe it has to do with the vergence, and cloning. But we do not know more than that," he says. "And we must be careful about what we assume. I haven't seen any of their experiments out in the open," he says. "But if you are looking for Master Windu, he is inside." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     ...Right. Cayde nods. Master was always right, anyway.     He turns when Navi approaches, also bowing politely in greeting. However, he frowns slightly when his master mentions 'looking after'. It has been several years, has Rykard forgotten that people grow up? 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Well, there wasn't much actual looking after necessary... and most of that was done by Anne," Navi replies, blushing faintly under the backhanded praise. "Cayde's a little impulsive some days, but he's done well for himself under her tutelage." That that generally happens on days that end in 'y' is something she doesn't bother to bring up... "Arkanians? I hadn't known anyone else had been brought in on the medical staff... I may need to talk to Miss Graf and the doctor," Navi muses. "I'm not sure they'll want to talk to me, though." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Thank you, anyway," Rykard says, as they all begin to make their way back to the colony site. "I'm sure Cayde has advanced in the ways of the Jedi during my absence," he says, patting the young padawan on the shoulder. "But we shall just have to see how much...soon. Very soon." "Hmm, yes. Well, they do seem to be rather reclusive and quiet about their work. Which doesn't bode well. But do what you must. I'm sure they'll speak with you if you let them know it's a matter of importance." "Now, I do not mean to be rude. But Cayde and I are long overdue for some time spent together as master and apprentice," he says to Navi. "Do let me know how your conversation with the doctor or Lady Graf goes," he says, then motions for Cayde to follow him towards the outskirts of the colony site, away from barracks. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "As you wish, Master Rykard. I won't get in your way. And you'll know anything as soon as Master Windu and I learn anything. See you later, Cayde," Navi says by way of farewell as she starts back toward the new lab. It looks like she's going to have to do a lot more catching-up than she'd ever expected. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde pouts slightly, although he is trying not to show any frustration outwardly. 
}}

Lady Solstice

2025-07-02T07:20:15Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-05-08 |Synopsis=Volken and Ellari test Varen's slicing skills; Jorn meets Lady Solstice. |Cast of Characters=159, 418, 296, 321 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' While Volken tries to play nice with Thaeln's mother, Ellari makes a plan with Varen to attempt to uncover the footage from Jorn's ship, though the latter seems uncertain of his own slicing ability. Meanwhile, the young woman wh..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-05-08
|Synopsis=Volken and Ellari test Varen's slicing skills; Jorn meets Lady Solstice.
|Cast of Characters=159, 418, 296, 321
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' While Volken tries to play nice with Thaeln's mother, Ellari makes a plan with Varen to attempt to uncover the footage from Jorn's ship, though the latter seems uncertain of his own slicing ability. Meanwhile, the young woman who'd accidentally almost claimed Jorn's room back at the inn in Vorkarr now walks alongside him, seeming happy for his company as they head towards the wedding. "Pity neither of us could make it on time for the ceremony," she says, "but I suppose most of the guests who don't personally know the bride and groom skip it," she says with a shrug. "The reception is a better time to meet Thaelin's mother, anyway," she says, "and I'll make sure you're formally introduced to her." she smiles. "Say, you don't have a plus one," she says, "do you?" 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "You can go on ahead. I'm sure they'd love to see your face," Jorn says in a neutral tone. "I still need to get a gift," Jorn thinks on the fly since she's clearly been tailing him. "My plus one is complicated," Jorn simply says and he will leave it that. "Why? I'm not that interesting to begin with," he says just matter of factly. Hands are close to the weapons just in case. "You tell me where to find you. I'm not a big fan of this wedding anyway," and he'll turn on a heel. Hands still close to the weapons. Although, he does have an idea. It's a very stupid one, but insane enough to work. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "You are excused." Ellari replies, scoffing slightly as Varen heads for the refreshers. She turns and starts heading toward the reception area. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The woman smiles, seeming flattered. "You have a way with words, don't you," she says. She laughs when he says his plus one is complicated. "Well, complicated or not, actions speak louder than words and she or he is clearly not here." If Jorn was trying to lose her, well, he's going to have to try harder, as she begins to follow him. "I know a nice souvenir shop just a couple blocks away," she says, "and I don't mind showing you where it is. Tell me," she says, "why are you really here, if you're not such a fan of the wedding?" Meanwhile, Ellari will find herself in a throng of people pinning their bets on the bridal duels that would occur after the first dance. The tall, fair skinned Mandalorian who had been poking fun at Varen earlier whispers to Ellari, "How much do you reckon you'll make tonight??" 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "No. I just speak truths, they happen to either flatter or offend," Jorn continues. The stranger has a point and her words do wound. It doesn't show on his face, in his body language, but whatever target they mean to hit, they do. He's been almost alone during this chaos. A few reluctant friends, but the one person he thought would be there isn't. And Jorn's not even sure they have his best interest in mind. "Tell me something. A couple of them, actually. Yer name and why're you're really here? I know it's not my words. I know it's not my face," Jorn readies a second plan while talking. "And spare me the lies. I've had my fill of those lately. I can stand without the kriffing things in my life," he'll even gesture with one hand. "No one here, but us and the stray shops. So. Out with it." Jorn waits to see. Just calculating his next move. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Well I haven't even made my bets yet." Ellari replies, shrugging. "And before I do that, I'll have to size up the contestants, now won't I?" 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Revenge on Revara? How strange.. The thought hadn't even crossed his mind since this all truly kicked off. What have people been saying about him? Volken frowns, focusing more on that then anything else as Lady Solstice starts to move off and he repeats, "I've no interest in getting close to your daughter, Lady Solstice. I've got other more important things on my mind. if you'v been hearing rumors then let me put that to bed and stamp those out right now. If Revara leaves me alone, I'll leave her alone. Simple." He lets her proceed to get food, otherwise, and just basically stands there - growing darker and more broodish now and disinclined to join the festivities. Finding out of Jorn did what was necessary with Master Volk is now more on his mind. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The woman seems amused. "How thoughtfully honest," she remarks, coming to walk closer to him. When Jorn demands the truth and nothing but the truth, her smile disappears, and she looks around, as if to ascertain that there is indeed, no one else around. "My name is Naamara," she says, "but you probably already know that, even if you were pretending not to," she says wryly. "I'll say this. You have more allies than you think you do, even if you think you don't. You don't know the power you wield," she says, "If only you'd wake up!" "Is that so?" the man says to Ellari. "You don't look like you're trying to do anything, right now!" The crowd presses around Volken, and out of the corner of his eye, he'll see the two barons slipping out of the room where the reception and banquet is being held, to only light knows where. Perhaps he should find Ellari, and discover whether she had any kind of update about the footage from Jorn's ship. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Allies. That magical A-word that catches his attention. "Naamara. Since you know a lot about me, then answer my next question. Who are my allies?" Jorn asks honestly. He may be tucking plan one into bed for now. "I know the power I wield. I've been told that in not so many words," and he watches her intently. "Most people want to hunt me like a kriffing swamp rat. Who are these allies that hide?" he watches her intently. "They weren't with me in prison cells. Ambushes. and so many other places." Jorn seems a little skeptical. Also, he's appreciating Ellari a lot more right now. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari arches a brow at him, folding her arms. "Oh, why would you care so much about what I'm doing? I don't even know your name." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' He does indeed see them doing this - but even Volken is not brash enough to go chasing after them without some sort of backup plan. Not after the things he's seen and heard since being in this madness. So he turns and uses his height and size advantage to search Ellari out among the crowd...and soon is tromping towards her. The crowd may press around him but short of Er'gi getting in his path, there's little thought given to simply moving with the expctation that the crowd will move out of his way. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Naamara's gaze hardens, and her green eyes blaze. "Allies! Indeed. Certainly many want to kill you, but how hard have you tried to seek those who are seeking you? Who have claimed to do you no harm? Even now, are you sure the ones you consider allies are -truly- allies? How do you know they will not turn?" She pauses, thinking. "Did it occur to you that they simply couldn't? Not everyone's identity enjoys privacy." "Because," he begins, "I care about who will bet against me--" and then he sees Volken tromping towards them. "Ah! Is this brute your plus two?!" 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "You have to pardon my distrust with the world right now. It hasn't given me a lot of it back lately. Agreements to meet in open areas sound like ambushes," Jorn lays out the pazac cards on the table. He looks up at the wedding, "Do you know what it's like to have a Wedding party want your head? A place full of liars that set me up for a fall. Those that believe the lie and then lie to me. Then those that simply want to shoot me because why not?" He looks up to the sign, "What loyalty do I owe -these- people? Right now, I owe two people loyalty. A third waivers." "Restore my faith in people, and I can meet them back in the first place you found me. My trust is rare, and not freely given, at best right now. Weeks ago. Kriff, days ago, it was quite the opposite." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Well, in that case, why would I tell you what my plans are?" Ellari challenges. Then Volken is approaching. "I suppose you might say that." she replies, then turns to the large man. "Volken," she greets, nodding. Looking over the tables in the reception area, "I suppose we should find a seat." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Said brute narrows his eyes somewhat at Ellari's companion but he says nothing to him. Simply observes him silently for a few heavy seconds before turning to look to Ellari as she greets him. "Yeah." he grunts and then makes a vague gesture towards the tables. "Sure. LEt's." He looks back at the other man and then shrugs lightly towards him and then offers him a slow grin before beginning to turn away in anticipation of heading for the table wtih Ellari in tow. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Naamara scowls. "You don't owne anyone anything, but you lack fore sight!" she scolds. Lowering her voice and leaning forward she asks. "Do you want to marry her? Freely? Without fear for your life, or for her own? You know the answer. You wouldn't be here right now if you didn't." She steps back. "We can offer you protection. I have seen Revara, and spoken to her as well as her mother. You assume too many things, Jorn of Bakura. Clan Solstice will not be counted among those who want you dead, not today. I swear it, by my own blood and the edge of the Dark Saber you possess!" "... well, alright. Goodbye then," the man says, seeming miffed. By now Varen has returned from the refreshers. He still looks anxious, and his nerves aren't calmed anymore when he sees Volken with Ellari. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "Forgive my sight then. It was too busy making sure the rest of me was in one piece," then the question comes out. He looks at her, "Have you been my test? One of the first things I heard was about her ex. I heard rumors about this. Heard rumors about that," Jorn's attention hasn't faltered off of Naamara. "It's not a question of where my loyalty lies. It's a question of everyone else's." There's a pause, "Swear on your life that I will be safe while I'm there. I'll be safe, if I leave," Jorn has heard one side of the story. He's not opposed to hear the other. However, he does want assurance. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "What's the matter, Varen?" Ellari asks, a brow going up at him. "You met Volken, right?"     She then nods as Volken agrees to taking a seat, and starts moving over to a table with three empty spots. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Somethin'wrong, vod?" Volken raises an eyebrow as he looks over this 'Varen'...clearly unfamiliar with him though he turns his full attention towards Ellari as it seems she's ready to go. "Yeah.." he says though he glances back towards Varen, awaiting an explanation before fully committing to step away. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "You heard me," Naamara says, "I swear it." She shakes her head when he mentions the barons. "Don't concern yourself with him. He'll be taken care of in due time." Then she continues with, "If you are certain of where your fiancee's loyalties lie, then you need not worry where her or her mother's allies loyalties lie," she says. "No one from that side of the family is trying to kill you. However, one can only speculate about the Duke's intentions, what with bringing you in to participate in games with weighted odds." She turns on her heel, and starts heading for the venue. "Well? You're coming, right?" "Briefly," Varen says, swallowing. And he looks like he might say something else, but thinks better of it. Once they sit, he looks around uncomfortably before lowering his voice, saying, "Look, we should eat quickly and excuse ourselves to enjoy setting off some of the recreational fireworks outside. No one is out there right now, they're all too busy drinking. I can ... have a look at the footage then, and there." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' THe brutishly huge Mando narrows his eyes slightly, looking confused and searching his mind but as Varen joins them and then lowers his voice, Volken grows more attentive and then his eyes widen slightly before narrowing again. He says nothing at first, as this seems to be a matter Ellari already had in hand... But once Varen finishes speaking he rumbles, "Mm...sure... Besides, apparently people seem tot hink I"m only interested in revenge on Revara or something - so - why stick around? More fun outside..." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Oh, no no." Ellari says, shaking her head. "I don't have it here with me. Of course not. But I will give you something simpler to slice, just to prove you actually have the skills you say you do."     "But certainly, we can head outside now." she finally says, nodding and getting up. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn gets the promise and he folows. No words. Just quietly following the woman. It's his time to hear about the other side of things. Are they really allies? He's not sure. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Volken not only wanting revenge on Revara seems like news to Varen, but he doesn't say anything. He just blinks slowly, then gets up just as slowly and starts heading outside. "Why couldn't you have asked me to do this later?" Varen needles Ellari, "if it isn't even the real thing..." Naamara leads Jorn into the venue where large groups of people are congregating in front of the room where the reception is being held. They're all drinking, laughing, having a fine time. She takes him inside, where it's even more crowded, and leads him towards a dark haired woman with flecks of silver lining her neatly tied bun. She has angular features, and there's a hint of Revara there. She's older, but beautiful for being the age she must be. When she sees Naamara approaching, she smiles. "Naamara," she says, bowing. "I was hoping to meet your plus one of the night," she pauses. "Who's this?" 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Why does everyone think I want revenge on Revara? Revenge for -what-? I already dealt with her infront of her father and then had her situation explained. I haven't had anything to do with her since then! We've even talked in public since then!" Volken clearly looks incensed briefly as he notes Varen's reaction. "Who is spreading these rumors...?" He does quiet though to let Ellari handle the data-splicing issue. All of that is actually news to him...though he frowns. "What about our other contact..?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Because, the point of this is to prove to me that you can actually do what you're saying, as I already pointed out earlier. If you can't do that, then I am not going to take you anywhere." Ellari replies, as they start to head outside. "What's the problem, anyway? If you are as talented as you say you are, it should be no problem."     "I am not sure about the other contact...I will have to follow up with Jorn about him." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "Not her plus one," Jorn says with his modulating voice coming from the helmet. He'll pause to see the reactions of others. "You wanted my ear. For days. You have it," he will incline his head slowly, just showing respect. One should be respectful of lions when in a lion's den. "And I was told I have unseen allies in recent days. I'm willing to hear these claims." Jorn will quickly add, "Mom,"just to clear up any hint of doubt of who has literally walked into her hideaway. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Who -else-?" Varen mutters, shaking his head. But who he meant by that, will remain unknown for now. Varen sighs. "It's not a problem! But don't you think this is all just a little... horizontal? We're not accomplishing anything tonight, if you'd hoped to figure out how to expunge Jorn's name..." "But fine. Let's see what you have for me to do." The older woman's grin broadens. She seems pleased. "Well met, then," she says. "Most know me as Lady Solstice, but you may call me Bjurn." A pause. "Shall we go outside and enjoy the fine weather and the rose gardens? I'd like your thoughts on the bracket I've formed thus far for the bridal duelling." Of course, she probably likely had no intention of discussing such with him, but she couldn't let anyone else know that, for the sake of his privacy. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "'Mother BJurn' will suit me fine," Jorn says honestly. "I have your word about safety, correct?" Jorn gestures to the group. "Forgive me, but my trust is in short supply." Although eh will scan to see if someone will show themsevles from the shadows. They don't. At least they haven't yet. That stings. "I've been framed, shot at, been te target of at least two explosive results and a long list of other matters. Forgive me for being jumpy even when being around some of the most beautiful things on this planet," Jorn says knowing that not everything may be as it appears. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "I'm forced to agree with 'im. I know you're trying to vet 'im Ellari, but, we dont' exactly have a lot of time here. Lady Solstice is on to what's happening and we dont' knwo where Jorn is or if contact was made with our contact. We don't need to be adding steps here. If he's willing to help let's just get on with it." So that's Volken vouching for him but he then adds, "As for Revara--what do you mean 'who else'? ARe people just -assuming- I'm trying to get revenge on her because they'r eharintg about someone trying to do it? You need to speak up vod. What are these rumors? Whose lying?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Then why are you so nervous about it?" Ell probes further. "I only just ran into you a few days ago, I have no idea what you've really been up to or what kind of man you've become. All I know, is that your story sounds somewhat far-fetched, and you've refused to give details about anything."     "And Volken, I should have thought you'd be smart enough not to trust just -anyone-."     Back to Varen. "Now, if you're exasperated with me, no one is keeping you here but yourself. So if you're done, then be off with you." she continues, making a shooing motion. "Enjoy the rest of the party." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Bjurn chuckles softly, and once they're outside, she dismisses Naamara with a wave of her hand. "Of course," she says, when he asks about safety. "And that's understandable. There's no need to worry," she tells him, "you're safe with me. Revara sends her regards. She went out to the country to look for you, and found she couldn't make it back in time for the wedding." She smiles. "But I'm glad you're here." She leads him into a hedged walkway, away from the reception room, and closer to where the recreational fireworks are out for leisurely use. "We find ourselves in a curious situation," she says to Jorn gravely, "one that isn't easily remediated, but one that can most certainly turn into an opportunity, if we play the cards right. Tell me, what do you know about the Dark Saber? Have you used it yet?" "Fine, fine," Varen says, ignoring Volken's question. "Whatever test you have, let's just see to it, and see to it quickly --" But then he hears the faint and distance voices of Jorn and Lady Solstice nearby. "...! by the gods. It's her!" He tries to grab Volken and Ellari and pull them behind a sculpted hedge, but Volken is taller than it. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Indeed there's no hiding a Mandalorian the size of a adult Dowutin, no matter how dressed and cleaned up he may be for a wedding. "You gotta be joking..." he hisses. He's not easily moved but eventually, for lack of any other immediate ideas, he goes along with it. "What's hiding here supposed to do? We got a right to be out here don't we?" Volken crouches down, if nothing else he can manage getting his head lower then the pillar though he wisely keeps his voice down. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari hurries behind the hedge, but Volken's size puts him at a disadvantage in this situation. "-You- don't have to hide." she tells the towering man.     "Here," she hands Varen one of her personal datapads that doesn't have much of anything important on it. "Here. Slice into this. If you're the expert you say you are, it should be easy." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn doesn't quite believe the story where REvara is. Or at least why she's there. "I'm aware of more than people think," he says firmly to her. He looks out toward the area. His eyes roaming over things. "What are yogetting at? Tell me your plan," the hands near the weapons because he knows how the weapon can change hands. Someone's missing an arm due to those rules. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "We do," Varen hisses, "but there's literally no one else out here, if she sees us she'll wonder why we're not with the rest of the guests inside, eating--" And then Ellari thrusts a datapad into his hands. "... with Lady Solstice mere -meters- away?" he grumbles. "Easy, sure..." "Make up an excuse to be out here," he says to Volken pointedly. "And make sure she doesn't come over here." Bjurn smiles, and carries on. "The Dark Saber is a relic of the past, forged by the Jedi," she says, "many thousands of years ago, there was a Mandalorian Jedi, Tarre Vizsla, who was both a Jedi and the ruler of Mandalore, believe it or not. His descendants, those of House Vizsla, were traditionally taught the art of the saber, despite proficiency in it meaning to embrace the ways of the Jedi, our sworn enemies. When Old Man Vizsla died, his ability to wield it skillfully died with him, as his eldest daughter perished too young and his youngest daughter reviled him. He had no sons." She turns to Jorn. "The Dark Saber is not just a pretty relic. It is disastrously powerful weapon that is difficult to use proficiently. That is why I asked how you've fared using it." "Mandalorians revere tradition, but more than that they worship honor, and worthiness. Invoking the rite is just one way to prove to the rest of Mandalore that you are worthy of the blade and sovereign authority," She stops talking for a moment, and regards Jorn a moment. "Do you see what I'm getting at now?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Well then you'd best hurry, it seems." Ellari tells him, folding her arms and not appearing worried at all. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "I can use it just fine," Jorn doesn't elaborate how because Revara's sibling did lose a hand during it. And well, this is Revara's mother. "Why?" Jorn doesn't know that certain points tonight made the blade lighter when the mind bcame clearer. If ihe had only picked it up during that time. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Okay, so, a distraction. "You know how unflappable you are at every thing that happens, even when you really should be panicking liek a sane woman - makes you so sexy." Volken reaches a massive arm out, looking to grab Ellari with it and scope her up into a grasp. "I should just take off with you right here and now. In fact, I think I will. What do you say? I'm very, very eligble." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Varen sighs, sounding deflated, but starts examining the datapad. However, he doesn't really seem to know what he's doing. But then Volken picks Ellari up like a princess or something and starts flattering her. His eyes widen and he cries a bit too loudly, "I didn't mean like -that-!" She seems disbelieving. "You demand truth from me, and I have been only been honest with you since we've met, so now it is my turn to demand honesty. Who was your opponent?" she says, folding her arms. For the time being, she doesn't hear Varen or Volken. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "Revara's brother," Jorn says honestly knowing that answer may not be the greatest. She wwanted honesty though. He knows what an answer like that means. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari giggles when Volken scoops her up, perhaps enjoying this a little bit too much. "Oooh! Volken, I had no idea you were so...interested in me. I'm not sure if now is a good time, though." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Well hey you wanted a distraction and areason for people to stay clear if necessary, right?" asks Volken as he glances down to Varen. Ellari's reaction does surprise him however. He expected her to swing on him reflexively, not just lean into it though he presumes she's just acting. "Whoa, friskier then I thought!" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Jorn might be surprised at Bjurn's response. She doesn't seemed bothered by this, or at all surprised. "Ha! No wonder you fared reasonably," She scoffs. "Thaelin is likely ten years your junior, and a very poor swordsman at that. He's much better a good long distance from his target, or with just his fists if the situation demands it." She scowls slightly. "He was never a good fit for House Vizsla, but I never could make him see the light." A pause. "Have you drawn the Dark Saber since? Studied it carefully, examined it in depth? Many revere it, but there are few who truly -understand- it." But then she takes notice of whatever is going on with Varen, Volken, and Ellari. She frowns. "It would appear we're not alone," she says, and approaches. "Now what would anyone be doing outside, not enjoying the open bar and buffet?" she calls out. Varen grumbles. "You're making this -difficult-!" 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn just listens to Bjurn's resposne. He's actually shocked given how fiery Revara's reaction was. It feels like such the contrast cy comparison. Taking a step back, Jorn was simply here to talk. Yes, he has more reason to sit witht his group than the one that framed him. The one that told him to go. That doesn't mean he does. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari laughs. "I do surprise people, at times." She looks over toward Bjurn. "Depends, on who's asking." She replies, approaching the other woman. "Why do you care so much?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Bjurn regards Ellari with an arched brow. "Lady Solstice is asking," she says, "And you're Clan Zin, aren't you? I've heard of your folk." She glances at Jorn briefly, then back to Ellari. "I don't, I just came out here for a private conversation and was hoping to keep it that way. Is that so outrageous?" 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Volken probably enjoyed that little bit of distraction attempts with Ellari a bit to much - but as he now -sees- Lady Solstice and sees Jorn ... well he doesn't have much of a poker face and he looks briefly flabbergasted at this turn of events. He has enough self control and common sense to not say anything specifically to that, however and instead regathers his wits as he moves up to join Ellari. There's no point in hiding his presence after all or trying to duck awayf rom her given that Ellari has directy addressed her. "No, no problem at all. We were just alking ourselves. We go..." He makes a gesture at Ellari, "..Way back...." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn will just send Ellari a message of about how many people he saw getting to this spot. Just mixed in with a simple message: "She has (estimate here) in the other room. I'm unharmed." Just in case anyone gets any rash ideas. Jorn pulls back the curtain a little. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Ah, well, you aren't the only one looking for private conversation, nor are you the only one with a right to it." Ellari answers, folding her arms.     She smirks slightly at Volken's comments, then starts back over toward the hedges where Varen is hopefully close to being finished with proving himself worthy of her time... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Well, then, we'll excuse ourselves to somewhere else," Bjurn says, glancing back the disguised Jorn before turning back to Ellari. "I just wanted to make sure that no one was trying to intrude, that's all." Thankfully Varen had finally gotten himself together and slipped away without Bjurn noticing while they'd been talking. Bjurn turns back to Jorn, and smiles. "Let's go out by the veranda," she says, "we can continue our conversation there, more privately." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     With that handled, Ellari steps behind the hedges again and starts replying to Jorn's message.     |Why are you here? You were supposed to stay at the hotel. Have you spoken with Master Volk yet? 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' |Trailed. We were compromised. Her hunter was at the hotel. Disguised as another guest. I tried to shake her and she followed me the whole time. It was either face off or listen to Bjurn.| Jorn says honestly as he does feel like a child caught in the place Mother told him not to go. So, he tries to be open and honest with her. Jorn nods and will wait for Bjurn to take the lead on this one. He doesn't know where that even is. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     |And who is this Bjurn? You didn't answer my question about Master Volk. He may be your best chance, as crazy as that sounds.     Ellari sighs, shaking her head. Even sending that message just feels somewhat ridiculous. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' |Mama Revara. I did not have a chance to contact Master Volk. I haven't had a chance.| Jorn says and he waits for a moment. To him it's that easy. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "What's happening?" Volken's deep voice has lost any pretense of its prior joviality and he's back to what passes for normal. He notes the messaging going on but is clearly being left out of the loop though he goes to stand by Varen again. "What is going on?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Jorn is here...somewhere." Ellari replies when Volken asks what's going on. "I don't know why, or how but he said he's safe and talking to Lady Solstice."     She goes back to the message. |You need to find somewhere quiet and contact him...where are you? 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "He's -talking- to -Lady Solstice-? Is that the 'private conversation' she just mentioned? What about Master Volk? That fool... Lady Solstice is trying to manipulate this whole thing! She just tried getting to me and trying to find out what I knew and what's going on and now Jorn went -right to her-? Why am I even bothering with this nonsense if he's just going to walk into a trap! Some of them already think he planned this whole thing!" Volken's voice raises as he gets more and more agitated and exasperated. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Lady Solstice leads Jorn away from the hedge maze, heading east towards the other side of the structure where the reception is going on. There, he'll see a lake, and a veranda overgrown with ivy. There's no one there. She takes a seat on a bench under the awning, and smiles, patting the spot next to her. "You see, the Dark Saber isn't a simple matter. You could prove that you never meant to own it, and expunge your name, but in the end it doesn't matter. What matters, is that you have it. Even if you did not rightfully claim it, you cannot just give it back. Not after you dueled my son, and certainly not after every other Mandalorian has torn up Sundari lookng for you." She leans towards him. "You have a choice. You can gain mastery of the Dark Saber, and be able to kill anytime someone invokes the right to secure your ownership of it, or, eventually be killed by a challenger who outmatches you." Meanwhile, Varen is certainly taking his time with the task Ellari has assigned him. "Wait, he's /here/? Why is he here? Isn't that practically a death wish?" 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn follows the woman through the maze. He tries to make note of each turn. All the little things they do before making it to the Lake and the bench. However, he will pick a spot across from her. Jorn listens to everything about the blade. This replies scenarios in his mind. It creates a lot of ideas and thoughts. Pushing aside the noise he tries to clear his mind. "What else do you know about the Saber?" Jorn feels the weight already. How important it is to everyone else. What he needs is an idea of how to wield it. To him, it was so heavy before. If only he had used it a few other times. The balde would have been effortlessly light. "I know the choice, I'm making. But that brings the question. Your interest in me." Because that can go a few different ways. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari rolls her eyes. "Yes, apparently and no I don't know why. He said he was trailed but why that would equal coming here I've no idea." She shakes her head...okay, she knows Jorn is a fool. But now she's beginning to question whether any of this has been worth it or will ever be worth it...     However, she now turns her attention to the task she'd given to Varen. "Well, I think it has been enough time now. Are you finished?" 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "This whole thing was about clearing his name and absolving him of its theft so that there could be a rightful passage of the blade to those who actually want it and can obtain it fairly. If he's just going to take it right to her and hear her out then our efforts are meaingless. I might as well have tried to beat his head in for what he did to Thaelin. Message him again and demand he meet with us. I want to know his true motivations and if I"m just wasting my time. I was doing this for Thaelin but not even Thaelin believes me when I say Jorn is innocent and maybe he's not if he's going to go over our heads and go right to Solstice." Volken makes a dismissive gesturea nd turns to start heading off, "I'll try and contact Master Volk myself. IF they want to know where I am tell them I had a client who reached out to me. A noblewoman from a family who runs part of Canto Bight." There's a pause as he turns to leave, "I should ahve just taken her job offer." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "What do -I- know about it?" she says, "I have told you everything I know about it, Jorn of Bakura. I've studied its history, and could recite every owner of the Dark Saber starting with the Jedi and Mand'alor himself Tarre Vizsla. But I have never wielded it, I am not House Vizsla. What you really should be asking, is who does know about it. Who created it? You know the answer. Even if you don't like it, you know it." She leans back, giving Jorn a small smile. "I want my daugher to be happy. And if you die, she certainly will be anything but. Simple as that. Your survival and flourishing means renunification for us, and finally some damned stability for her, after all these years. Don't you think she deserves that?" Varen takes a moment to reply. "... yes," he says finally, sounding irriated. He hands the datapad to Ellari, but his expression is a sour moue. "What's the point of all this, anyway? If he's just here, and talking to Lady Solstice -- Volken's got a point, actually." Just as Volken turns to leave, his commlink pings. It's from Thaelin, requesting they speak as soon as he's able to break away from whatever he's doing. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "Yes. I know," Jorn says honestly. Then he begins to sit up slowly. "I know where I got to go. Right now, you're the ones actively not trying to kill me. I respect that," Jorn knows this could be a front. However, too many people have been pretty quick to deceive or very quick to violence. This lull is appreciated. He wants to say more, but stops himself. Pushing aside that stray thought, he focuses on something Lady Solstice passed onto him. That mentality. It does allow his mind to cling at something while brushing away the other thoughts. Those are short term problems There are too many longterm ones still in play. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' That was well timed because Volken was nearly ready to leave the wedding party in order to follow up on his comment. He pauses to read the message and then responds back to Thaelin. <<I'm on the way...>> WIth that he turns to Varen and Ellari. "I'm going to see Thaelin now and then I'll make my mind up on if I'm just going to break Jorn in two and be done with this whole mess. They seem to want to paint me as wanting 'revenge' on Revara so unless I get a good reason not to...I'm going to play the part of the monster because to hell with this back and forth." With that, he turns and starts heading off. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Fine." Ellari takes the tablet back. "Yes, he does have a point," she glances at her commlink to see if Jorn has responded to her question of where he is yet and sighs upon seeing he has not. "But no one is forcing you to help me, or him. If you are quite done with this, then no one can fault you for taking your leave."     She sends another message. |Jorn...I don't know why you're talking to Lady Solstice, as she is out for no one but herself. If you truly think one of the twins is guilty of framing you, then challenge them to a duel for rightful ownership of the blade. I would be willing to fight alongside you, if you feel you need a partner...| 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Lady Solstice's smile broadens. "Know this," she says, "if you seek their counsel, or challenge one of them to a duel, it must be done very quietly. The Jedi are our sworn enemies, after all. Unless, through some ridiculous stroke of luck or miracle, you win the duel. Then of course, you must come back with that Jedi's saber, and pronounce yourself ruler of all Mandalore." Thaelin meets Volken right outside the chapel, and Sanza is with him. Despite today being his wedding day, the lad looks... downcast. But his eyes light up a little when he sees Volken. "Volken!" He pauses, swallowing. "I'm afraid I have bad news..." Varen sighs, and rubs his forehead, but doesn't oblige Ellari with an answer. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' It's a bit of a double hammer there. Thaelin's smile almost causes Volken to reconsider his previous threat of action to Varen and Ellari but then as he grows downcast, Volken frowns abit and then looks to Sanza. "...What is it, vod? Are you two alright?" 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "And if I do, your kindness will not be forgotten." Because unlike most, he does not have an issue with Lady Solstice at this moment. "I need to go, Lady Bjurn. I do appreciate your words and the name even," he does not there is a similarity to his own. That amuses him. "I need to be on the move. Tell your shooters, I am not a threat to you." He wants to be sure his safety is there. Too many people shooting at him for comfort lately. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari groans and looks back toward the reception, then shakes her head. "Well, I think I've had quite enough of this party for one night." she says, putting away the tablet. "I'm heading back. It was nice...reconnecting with you, Varen."     With that, she turns and starts to leave, sending a message to Volken and Jorn.     |I'm going back to the hotel. Jorn, if you still want our help, meet us there. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Why, there was never any intent to kill you," Lady Solstice says, "My agents were instructed to find you, and make sure that you found my presence, at some point, so that I could reassure you of my intent to not harm you. Which they succeeded in doing. If you'd like to see your fiancee," she finishes, "she's staying at a property in the countryside, on the border of the D'kire and Voran sectors." She hands him a small datastick. "You can reach out to her and let her know you're safe and have finished speaking with me. This also stores my personal commlink frequency." Then she nods, inclining her head. "Be well, Jorn of Bakura. I'm sure we'll speak again soon." "We've heard from friends of ours, that Lady Solstice's clan plans to wrest control of my dowry," Sanza says. "With the Duke still incapacitated, and the need for a swift decision about the division of the land urgent, there's room for her to sweep in. The original plan was for Thaelin to not assume a position of political power, and while he can change his mind, she's still holding all the cards. She's formally received Revara back into her clan, but she could revoke that membership and petition for Revara to be permanently exiled. And given her... history, being removed from another major Mandalorian clan may be the straw that breaks the blurrg's back." "We need your help, Volken. If you make a formal request to expand what was promised to you by the Duke originally, there's a chance that we can stop her power grab. Of course, no one can know this conversation happened..." Varen scrambles after Ellari. "Wait! Let me go with you. I... I still want to help." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Are you sure? I have not yet heard from Jorn." Ellari tells him. "This may well be a fruitless endeavor, since he doesn't seem to know what's good for him." She keeps walking, heading for the front entrance. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn pauses. Then he takes the datastick and then looks at her. "Got a communicator?" he asks and he will reach out to Revara that one. Whether he gets one, or not, he will nod. "Be well, Lady Solstice," and then he starts to make his way out. He will stop to speak to Bjurn's hitter. "We've spoken. She says I am safe," and then he gives her a nod. Words from the woman still linger in his head. He will try to push them away fro now. For the moment, there's a lot more to worry about. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Are you -kidding me-?" hisses Volken, leaning forward towards Thaelin and Sanza. "You want -me- to get into a political brawl with Lady Solstice? I can barely figure out where to sign on the line for mercenary contracts! This isn't something I can settle by crushing its skull or breaking it in half, Thaelin..." It dawns on him...this is probably why it's a gamble that could work. She wont' see it coming. "I don't believe it. Alright, fine. But I"ll need a mouth piece to say any fancy words..." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Yes," Varen says immediately. "Whatever you need, I'll be happy to... provide or try to provide," he says. Naamara nods at Jorn. "Good luck," she tells him. "I'm glad you were able to speak with the Lady and discover that she was the ally you were needing all along." Then she turns and heads back to the room where the reception is being held. "I know you dislike politics," Thaelin says, "but she can't hold exiling Revara over you. She knows you don't care about her, and she doesn't know we know heard the whisperings." He glances at Sanza. "Sanza will advise you," he says, then his expression softens. "Thank you, Volken. This means a lot to me. To us." A pause. "But there's another thing. The bridal duels will start soon. My cousins are still here. Challenge Caine. Tell him that if he loses, he must tell you the truth and nothing but the truth about what happened with Jorn and the Dark Saber. He won't be able to refuse -- he's obligatorily on the dossier." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Hmm..." Volken considers this and then finally says, "I was very close to washing my hands of much of this Thaelin. You and Sanza are probably the only ties I have here right now that are worth keeping. You should know that Jorn's spoken with your mother. Probably deciding to get her side of the story. I dont' know what to believe anymore but I'm tired of being moved like some sort of game piece so I'll bite. I'll issue the political challenge and I'll fight Caine. After that? We'll see.... We still have one more ace up our sleeves..." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari pauses. "Stay here for a while, and see what the twins are up to. I'll contact you later tonight." Then she hurries out of the reception area. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaelin suddenly hugs the other Mandalorian behemoth. "Thank you, vod. For staying. For reconsidering every single time you wanted to jump ship. To me, you are the truest Mandalorian there ever was. If loyalty had a name, it would belong to Clan Mons." He smiles, and releases Volken, slapping his upper arm in a friendly fashion, eyes glassy. "We're going to do our first dance, and then I'll announce the start of the bridal duels. So I'll see you in there, soon," he says. "Thank you, again." And then he and Sanza take their leave. "Wha--" Varen deflates. "Alright..." 
}}

An Attempted Awakening Pt 4

2025-07-02T07:13:41Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-05-05 |Synopsis=Chaos unfolds in the hangar when Thaarin's brother attempts to steal a ship and escape. |Cast of Characters=159, 381, 143, 261 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' As soon as Cayde and Navi make it onto the careening Longbeam, they'll feel the vessel swerve violently, perhaps throwing them off balance. Thaarin is right behind them, having commandeered a stationary speeder that had be..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-05-05
|Synopsis=Chaos unfolds in the hangar when Thaarin's brother attempts to steal a ship and escape.
|Cast of Characters=159, 381, 143, 261
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' As soon as Cayde and Navi make it onto the careening Longbeam, they'll feel the vessel swerve violently, perhaps throwing them off balance. Thaarin is right behind them, having commandeered a stationary speeder that had been parked off to the side to close the gap between himself and the Longbeam, since he's unable to utilize the Force to leap halfway across the hangar. Once the two of them reach the cockpit, they'll see that Thaarin's companion had anticipated their arrival. He's standing, armed and wearing a wild, glazed over expression, his scarlet eyes gleaming. When Navi tries to go for the co-pilot's station in an attempt to shut the vessel down, he takes aim and shoots without hesitation. Meanwhile, Pike will hear the commotion even from the infirmary level of the Temple, and if he heads to the lift, he may espy the chaos before he even arrives. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike steps out of the lift and watches in helpless frustration as the vessel careens through the hangar. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As the other blue man starts to open fire toward Navi, Cayde immediately attempts to restrain him with the Force by pushing him away from the controls and hopefully causing his shot to go astray. If they can hold him down, perhaps then Thaarin can speak to him, and convince him to calm down... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi's lightsaber comes out in a literal flash of blue-white energy, deflecting the blaster shot into the ceiling in a spray of sparks from both blade and ceiling. "Cayde, can you do something about him before we crash again?" she asks, dropping into the copilot's chair, the lightsaber still in her right hand but no longer activated. She grabs for the throttles with her left hand and hastily backs the engine power down to zero. Hopefully that will be enough to prevent any further destruction... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Pike might be in the middle of feeling useless when he'll suddenly hear faint moaning coming from behind a stack of crates not far from where the Longbeam had been a moment ago. "...h-help...!" a wounded sounding voice cries out, clearly in pain. When Cayde utilizes the Force to restrain the other blue skinned alien, he struggles violently at first, his shot going astray and therefore making it much easier for Navi to deflect it. However, since they're in a small enclosed space, the shot ricochets off the paneling and lands on an important looking console. Sparks fly, and a terrible smell fills the cockpit. Thankfully Navi is able to cut power to the thrusters before the Longbeam collides with another ship in the hangar... Thaarin then arrives, weapon in hand but both hands raised. He starts trying to talk to his companion in a firm but gentle manner, in a language neither Cayde or Navi will recognize. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike is in action immediately. Hurrying around the crates, he searches for the source of the injured cry. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns as the man struggles hard against his hold, focusing on maintaining it and hopefully without causing any injury. In spite of the sparks flying and the ship careening back down to the floor of the hangar, he manages to keep the crazed companion in place... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi winces at the stench coming from the now-smoking console as she hastily powers down the Longbeam's systems. "Been a while since I've had to do anything with a ship's consoles..." she murmurs, breathing a quiet sigh of relief as the main power shuts down with a metallic groan. Standing, she puts her lightsaber away and raises her hands, letting Thaarin talk to his brother. "I sure hope our buddy Thaarin's a wizard-rated talker," she murmurs to Cayde. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Pike may be dismayed to discover a young human boy, probably around Cayde's age lying on the ground, his expression glazed over with pain. His shoulder looks dislocated, and his leg has suffered a compound fracture. Blood is leaking out of the open wound and onto the ground beneath the boy's leg... Thaarin's companion, at some point, stops struggling, but doesn't put his weapon down. Perhaps he's calmed down... but there's something strangely resolute and grim in Thaarin's expression that's...unsettling. After a moment, he turns to Cayde. "Release him," he says softly, in his accented in Basic. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike kneels down next to the boy. He assesses the boy's obvious wounds visually before gently probing the torso for internal injuries.     "Easy, lad." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde hesitates, feeling unsettled by everything. He's so used to just knowing...     He glances at the blaster that has not been dropped or even lowered for that matter, then back at Thaarin apprehensively, then at Navi as well, as if searching for her opinion. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi definitely finds that look unsettling, and guesses its meaning. She glances at Cayde apprehensively, then steps closer to Thaarin. "Thaarin, don't..." she says softly, hoping her tone is soothing. "We can help him. It might take time, but we can still save him. Please give us that chance..." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The young man whimpers. "It hurts," he says, "my older brother... you have to tell him..." Pike's assessment will reveal that it seems unlikely the boy has any internal injuries, but it's too hard to tell for absolute certain without any kind of diagnostic tool. "... what's gonna happen... our ship... please... Master Jedi..." Thaarin shakes his head. He has a hardened look on his face and moves away from Navi, advancing towards his companion. He glances over at Cayde again. "Do it," he says, his tone even more firm this time. Then, more softly, he says, "Please." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike places his hand on the boy's forehead.     "Shhh. One thing at a time.     The Jedi turns his focus to the bleeding leg and begins silently uttering the Jedi Code. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     There is a tense moment as Thaarin insists yet pleads at the same time. Cayde stares at the other blue man with his weapon still raised. No, why did there have to be a fight? A fight that could put more innocent lives at risk? If he was going to do it, he should just do it now. Otherwise...     He steps closer to the crazed alien and strikes him upside the head with his lightsaber hilt, hoping to knock him unconscious. The healers could try again, maybe there was something they'd missed. [Leave him...another chance] he signs. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Thank you, Cayde," Navi whispers, too loudly to be missed, as Cayde resorts to a knockout blow instead of a lightsaber blade. "We're going to have to keep a much tighter watch on the poor guy... and maybe use restraints. But at least he's got a chance at recovering his sanity. For lack of a better word." She moves to help Thaarin with the unconscious Less Tall Blue. "Let's get him back to the infirmary before he wakes up. The specialist may insist on him being restrained after this, but he's alive. There's still hope." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The boy cries out in pain as the wound begins to close, twitching with agony, which may impede the healer's efforts. "...what.. what are you doing...!" he cries. But as Pike is attempting to heal the boy, several Temple guards the specialist from earlier, rush over. "By the stars!" she cries. "What happened here?" She then begins to assist Pike in healing the boy. But then one of the Temple Guards grabs her by the sleeve aggressively. "You can't do it here," He hisses, "get him to the infirmary, -now-. When the constabulary arrives, you pretend none of this happened--" But then they're interrupted, by the sound of sirens and flashing lights. It's too late, they were here. Just before Cayde strikes him on the head and knocks him out, Thaarin's companion raises his weapon and aims it at Thaarin, intending to shoot. But thankfully, the young Jedi Padawan knocks him out before he can actually fire. Thaarin won't get to respond to Navi, as they'll all become acutely aware of the constabulary arriving. Navi will notice immediately, and recognize that not just the constabulary is here, but also the security droids wearing BPIC badges. That couldn't mean anything good... 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike ignores the arrival of the authorities. "He needs care. Let's get a stretcher down here." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh, stars.     Cayde hastily starts trying to shove Thaarin and his brother into a storage compartment in the companionway behind the cockpit and shut the door. He could just pretend he was responsible for this...     They weren't here, they were never here. The idea is projected to Pike and Navi, too--he'll need their help to corroborate this story. The whole thing is playing out in his mind. He'd been trying to see if he could repair the ship and had been experimenting with the fuel regulators. There'd been a surge, the engines fired up, the rest is history. It all made sense... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "You're taking a huge gamble, Cayde," Navi whispers, but she tries to assist Thaarin and Shorter Blue into the compartment. "But with the BPIC here, what choice do we have? I'm not letting them take Thaarin and his brother and dissect them! You'd just better hope anybody else who saw them is willing to play along!" Only once the compartment is secure does she look back to Cayde. "Sorry for yelling at you... it's just part of the act. Hope you're good at looking guilty," she says softly, taking a deep breath. And then she raises her voice. "You /idiot/! Just what did you think you were doing in here?!" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' But the boy, seeing the constabulary arrive, suddenly seems to have a jolt of energy. "Forget me," he grunts, waving Pike away. "Make sure they know the perpetrator is still on our ship...! He ..." he winces, still in pain. "They can't let him get away." Navi and Cayde will hardly have a moment to collect themselves when the BPIC droids and the constabulary start marching up the gangplank. "We have received word that a male humanoid charged with assaulting a member of the RDC is on this ship." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     With all the authority he can muster, Pike shushes the boy and calls out for any to hear.     "I need a stretcher over here now. This man is wounded." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde winces as Navi starts yelling, attempting to give his best impression of looking quite guilty of what she was shouting about. When the constabulary arrives, he approaches with his head down.     [Sorry sir] he signs, glancing over at Navi. [...it was me] 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Oh... good evening to you all. We've had some trouble with this ship, but things are in hand now, except for the repairs," Navi says, looking back as the constabulary and the droids arrive. She turns a forbidding scowl on Cayde, resting her hands on her hips. "There was an accident with this ship while it was under repair. I believe Padawan Alexis was assisting with repairs when the ship's engines were suddenly powered on... he's not really trained as a starship technician, but I believe he wanted to help. I think he knocked another crewman off of the ramp, but he's not the sort of person who would deliberately harm someone... it was probably an accident, or maybe he was trying to get him safely off of the runaway ship. Anyway, I came aboard to get the ship powered down. That was just a moment before you arrived. Do you know if anyone else was hurt?" The last question is directed at the constabulary. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The medical droids have arrived now with a hoverberth, but the young man scowls, then winces again. "No...! I'll... I'll.." he grunts in pain. "I'll live. But I'm not leaving until I see that sleemo being taken away in cuffs!" he says to Pike, blatantly ignoring his shushing. "It was... you?" the constabulary says, staring at Cayde, disbelieving for a moment. Then he frowns, sighing, seeming willing to chalk it up to the midnight shenanigan of a pre-teen Jedi, but the droids are not persuaded. "Sir," one of the BPIC droids says, "and ma'am," it says to both Navi and the constable, "The story is outrageous. The report surely, would have specified the difference between assault and accident. Besides, we are bound by protocol to make a sweep, anyway. We do not know if there was anyone else hurt, and therefore, we must search the premises to make sure no one else was harmed." Then, before anyone can restrain the droid, it and two of the other droids start to make an attempt to enter the vessel. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike motions for the med droids.     "Take him to the Infirmary. If he's uncooperative, sedate him." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde stares at the droids as they start doing their own thing. That wasn't supposed to happen, weren't droids to be subservient to their masters? He sighs, he'd been hoping that it wouldn't be necessary to manipulate anyone in this way, but it seems there is no other way. He attempts to enter the constabulary's mind. Would a low grade employee begin acting against his boss' word without even waiting for permission? Much less a droid against its master, then. Private property ought not to be searched without a warrant or permission given by the owner, anyway. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' <Pike, I hope you can shut that poor guy up... he's complicating our trying to save The Blues here,> Navi says to Pike telepathically. "If you feel the need, Sirs. I don't believe anybody else was aboard, but if you'll allow it, I'll assist you in your search," she replies to the insistent droids. Really, she thinks, why would an injured person, especially someone who cannot be moved, be hiding in a closet? Surely the droids will be thinking the same thing... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Excuse me?!" The young man says in disbelief. "I thought you Jedi were supposed to help, not -hinder-!" He tries to drag himself off of the mediberth. "BPIC Officers...! Please... please tell me you've found the perp...!" But as Cayde enters the constabulary's mind, he may realize just how complicated this all is, and what a mess it truly is. The BPIC did not answer to the constabulary. They were an independent branch of the Jedha goverment, subservient only to Jedha's Department of Planetary Security. The constable does not like them, and thinks they operate with too much autonomy, but he has no power to command their droids. He'd only asked them along because the RDC volunteer who'd made the call had specifically requested for the BPIC to come, and though he'd been reluctant to ask them along, he trusted the RDC volunteers and had significant rapport with them. But when he'd arrived on the scene, and discovered that Cayde was admitting to fault for the entire thing, he began to wonder if the entire thing had just been some kind of grand misunderstanding. He reaches out and grabs one of the droid's arms. "Look, they're Jedi. They're our allies," he pleads. "Why shouldn't we take them at their word?" The droid removes its arm from the constable's hand. "Our... allies? Sir, with all due respect, you're forgetting that the Jedi, for years, has made Jedha and many other worlds they deem convienent a dumping ground for undocumented immigrants and refugees. They rescue Outer Rim castoffs and relocate them thoughtlessly, breaking protocol and galactic regulations with impunity. The RDC volunteer who reported this wouldn't have asked for BPIC's presence if the perpetrator was a ... child Jedi. It makes no sense." "Now, let me perform my duties. We do not need assistance," the droid says to Navi callously, "This vessel is small, and there are four of us. It would seem logical that your request to help is an attempt to divert us from whatever it is you are actively trying to hide," the droid says to Navi. Its optics narrow at the young Sephi girl. Sudden, there's a loud thump from the closet where Thaarin and his companion are hiding... 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "We are helping. And you have broken bones and have lost a great deal of blood. It's amazing you haven't passed out. The Jedi are here. The authorities are here. Relax." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Ugh, well then Cayde supposes he will have to deal with this himself. At least that 'child Jedi' comment things easier it came to blows. But for the time being, he simply retreats behind the cockpit, and reaches out with the Force as subtly as possible, using it to hold the door to the storage compartment shut so that if BPIC tried to open it, they simply wouldn't be able to without inflicting serious property damage. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Don't be so reckless with your assumptions, Tin Can Man! I am NOT a JEDI! I am a Novice of the Shining Brotherhood! I just happen to be /working/ with the Jedi because /someone needs to keep a proper eye on them/, since they're known to play so fast and loose with the rules! So I suggest you don't impugn my honor so casually, especially when I offered my aid in good faith!" Navi retorts, whirling to face the droid directly, hands still on her hips, looking into the droid's optics quite directly. She winces at the thump, but doesn't look away from the droid. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "You haven't caught the perp!" the young man cries, as he starts to be ushered away by the med droids, who force him back onto the hoverberth. Thankfully, the droids leave Cayde alone, to slip away to somewhere unseen. "Well I suppose I cannot stop you from doing whatever it is that you want," the droid says blandly. "So I suppose you can help search but do not get in our way, or try to advise where we should or shouldn't look. Do you understand?" But before Navi can respond, the sounds of blaster fire puncturing the thin plating of the closet door can be heard. The smell of burnt metal fills the air and the droid immediately pushes past Navi, taking its weapon out and rushing towards the sound of the blaster fire. "This is BPIC," the droid shouts. "Show yourself or we will enter forcibly!" "What the kriff!?" the constable cries, following the droids. Meanwhile, Cayde might receive a blistering headache from trying to keep a door that's being shot closed. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde winces when the blaster fire hits the door. However, he drops the hold and instead rushes to stand stubbornly in front of it. If they wanted to open it, they'd have to go through -him- first. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Normally I have a lot of respect for our hard-working droids. But in your case, I'll make a very notable exception," Navi retorts. But she has not time to say any more, since things get very chaotic right then. She is pushed aside by the droid, sending her stumbling into the side wall of the hatchway, and needs a moment to recover her balance as the droids and the constables rush aboard. "Cayde, /don't/!" she cries, seeing the holes in the door. "What if another beam comes through that door?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' When Cayde suddenly puts himself in immediate danger, the droid's optics widen. "MOVE!" it cries, and grabbing Cayde by the arm, yanks him aside and dives to the left just five more blaster shots pierce the closet door and then blow it off its hinges, now that Cayde is no longer holding the closet door shut. Unfortunately, the droid that was directly behind the BPIC droid who'd just saved Cayde's life takes the brunt of the hit, and collapses to its knees sparking. But just before it goes down, it manages to open fire on Thaarin's companion, who has just burst out of the closet. And one of the shots hits the tall blue alien square in the chest, at nearly point blank range. A sizzling hole is burned right through his chest, just before he crumples to the ground, his upper body smoking. "/Shit/!" The constable cries. "I thought all BPIC droids defense mechanisms were programmed to stun by default?!" "They /are/!" the other droid protests. "Unless... unless there's threat to life and our programming deems stun to be ineffective," but they sound uncertain. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     It all happened so fast, and the crazy blue man went down. But...how could the droids just automatically start shooting to kill? Since when were they authorized to forcibly move a human? How would they know stunning would've been ineffective in this situation??     Anyway, he immediately gets to his feet after being knocked aside and rushes in front of Thaarin, drawing his lightsaber in case they start trying to shoot at him, too. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Point those karking blasters somewhere else!" Navi snaps at the remaining droid(s) as Cayde jumps in front of Thaarin. "You've done enough damage for one day!" "Relax, Cayde... the droid was trying to save you from getting your back shot out, not trying to assault you. They're programmed not to let sentients get hurt, even if it results in their own destruction," she adds to Cayde, before he can ignite his lightsaber. Only then does she move to check on Thaarin's fallen brother. A check for breathing and a pulse find nothing, and she sighs sadly. "He's dead..." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "D-Dammit!" the droid whispers angrily, when Navi reports Thaarin's companion is dead. For a moment, no one moves or says anything. Except for Thaarin, who drops his gun and collapses to his knees next to his fallen comrade, cradling his dead body, expression mournful. He looks to Navi. "Thank you," he says softly. The constable is shaking. "You lied," he says to Cayde, "why did you lie....! I believed you. I thought..." The droid stands up slowly, then goes over to hoist the sparking, lifeless BPIC droid onto its shoulders. "I'm leaving," it says. "And I'm going to go back to Planetary Security and file a report that says that the individual reported to have assaulted the RDC member was no longer on site when the constabulary and BPIC arrived. And if anyone comes around trying to ask questions, they will be led to a dead end because none of you will be here, or have anything to say about what happened tonight." "You never lied to the constable about your blue skinned friends, or whoever else you brought planetside who is undocumented, because they were never here. And the BPIC droid I'm carrying right now was damaged when the ship malfunctioned and crashed into the west wing of the Temple Hangar. None of -this- ever happened. I hope I've made myself clear." And with that, the droid and its remaining companion march out of the vessel. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "It's a long story, Constable. If the BPIC hadn't been here with you, we would've leveled with you from the start, and maybe all this could've been avoided. Anyway, the dead man was unconscious and suffering from a severe mental issue from long-term torture that occurred before we ever met him, and he didn't speak a word of Basic, or most common languages. The Jedi were trying to restore his sanity before he woke up. I don't know why the Temple didn't contact the BPIC when we arrived, but the damage was already done... and we weren't about to let that man and his brother be dissected like lab rats just to please the BPIC's sensibilities. Not when he had any chance at all of recovering. We'd already been advised by some of the citizenry that the BPIC might very well kill them if they got their hands on them," Navi explains sadly, shaking her head. "But I guess he woke up before he could be cured and tried to steal a ship to get away. I wasn't witness to all of that, but clearly he didn't know that the ship wasn't nearly fully functional. I'm not even sure he meant to hurt the RDC man; he may have just bowled him out of his way when he rushed up the ramp. He was clearly in full fight-or-flight mode, and he chose flight. We had him in custody when you all showed up." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     When the constable accuses him of lying, Cayde just gives him a wide-eyed, innocuous look as if he doesn't know what the man is talking about. He was just trying to protect his friends from being arrested or killed or Force only knows what else. After all they are undocumented so they have no protection under the local laws here whatsoever.     He puts his lightsaber away though, once the droids finally leave, nodding at Navi's explanation. [I protect my friends] he signs. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Fine, I understand that," he says in response to Cayde, "but the BPIC doesn't kill people," the constable continues, shaking his head. "Sure, they might make a lot of morally questionable arrests, but they don't kill people, or use cruel methods to interrogate undocumented immigrants or refugees." He sighs. "Why didn't you just explain all of that up front? I could have arrested him, evaluated his sanity to be in question and then handed him back over to the Convocation's mystics so that they could arrange to send him to a reputable ward, where he'd be safe and comfortable." "And yes, while BPIC is the organization that often ends up sending undocumented workers or immigrants to refugee camps offworld, I could have argued jurisdiction and let it all be handled by the local constabulary." "He shouldn't have died. You ... you shouldn't have lied. This all could have been avoided. I--" He stands up, shaking his head. "Nevermind. Just nevermind." He then exits the ship, rubbing his temples, sighing. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde sighs, watching the constable leave. Sure, that's exactly what would have happened...no, he's pretty certain BPIC would've carted them off to some labor camp, or worse. And sure, they don't kill people--except literally just now.     He then turns to Thaarin, putting a hand on his shoulder in an effort to comfort him. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "That wasn't what we were told. I'm sorry we didn't have more trust when we should've. Thanks for trying. Sorry we complicated things enough that you couldn't save the situation," Navi replies, shaking her head. She watches the man and his people leave, then turns and hugs Thaarin tightly. "I don't know if we had any chance at saving that poor brother of yours, Thaarin. Maybe you were right all along," she says sadly. "We tried. Maybe we did some stupid things, but we really did try our best, and we really did want him to get well again. I'm sorry things turned out like this." She'd probably cry if she didn't feel so numb inside. The tears will probably come later. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' When Cayde places a hand on his shoulder, he lays his comrade on the ground and hugs the padawan tightly, suddenly. And then Navi embraces him too, and he returns it gently. After a moment, he steps back, and stares deeply into Navi's eyes affectionately and longingly, giving her a sad smile and brushing a strand of hair from her face. She won't need the Force to tell that there's so much he wants to say but just doesn't know how to say it. Then he breaks free of her embrace and exits the vessel... 
}}

An Attempted Awakening Pt 3

2025-07-02T07:10:45Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-04-27 |Synopsis=Cayde, Navi and Pike witness Thaarin's brother waking up, but there are unintended consequences. |Cast of Characters=159, 381, 143, 261 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' While Pike continues to work in tandem with the healer in an attempt to wake Thaarin's companion, Navi and Cayde may have just returned to the Temple with the smaller alien in tow. They to still be somehwat uncomf..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-04-27
|Synopsis=Cayde, Navi and Pike witness Thaarin's brother waking up, but there are unintended consequences.
|Cast of Characters=159, 381, 143, 261
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' While Pike continues to work in tandem with the healer in an attempt to wake Thaarin's companion, Navi and Cayde may have just returned to the Temple with the smaller alien in tow. They to still be somehwat uncomfortable, worried, and disappointed at not having been able to procure some form of documentation. However, there's still the matter of asking them what they knew about Thaarin, his companion, and whatever species both of them are. Meanwhile, the specialist guides Pike into a deeper trance in the Force - aiming to go deeper than subconscious. It's risky, but it has a chance of working... 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike struggles to maintain his concentration. He tries to relax and let the connection happen on its own. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde attempts to project a reminder that they would not be here for much longer anyway, so unless there was some particular reason it wanted to make a life for itself on Jedha, it shouldn't be a concern. However his thoughts are rather convoluted and distracted, a tangled web that only seems to become even denser the more one attempts to unravel it. The language different doesn't help either, but perhaps it isn't as bad as it could be for one who is more familiar with telepathy than most.     Either way, this mind is also on Thaarin's potentially mad companion...even if he has withdrawn from assisting with healing his mind, should it come to blows a different sort of backup might be needed... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "We should probably find a protocol droid. If we can find out what language this guy speaks, we can work with him a lot easier," Navi recommends, already looking around for one of the droids. "And right now I'm really, really wanting to know just what he's so scared of that he's willing to go running off on a totally unfamiliar world to find forged documents in order to travel even farther away from Ilum. This may be a threat the Jedi and the Republic need to be worried about." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The specialist notices Pike's difficulty maintaining concentration, but doesn't comment on it. Instead, she reinforces her meditation trance, furrowing her brow. She attempts to help Pike relax more and lean into the Force more. <Give yourself completely to the Force> she says calmly. The elder Master may be able to at least sense the blue alien's mind very vaguely now, at least. They're making some progress, it would seem. The small alien seems to sense both Cayde and Navi's discomfort, and tugs on the latter's robe sleeve, projecting a sense of urgency regarding leaving. It would seem they're afraid of getting caught by BPIC, now. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike begins to silently recite one of his mantras. The Jedi Master's breathing slows and deepens. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde glances at the creature, and back up at Navi as it tugs on her sleeve. <Hide in your room?> he offers. He doesn't know much about BPIC, but he assumes that they wouldn't go snooping in guest rooms unless there'd been some kind of incident. So as long as they keep a low profile, it shouldn't be a problem, right?     [At the colony...we find a droid] he signs, in response to Navi's recommendations. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "We need to find one as soon as we can. There's a number of them right here in this Temple, and one's already been a great help with Thaarin, Force bless them both. I don't think they'll let us borrow one to go back to Tenoo, but at least we can get some answers here. I hope," Navi says, giving Little Guy's hand a light squeeze. <Cayde is right,> she says to the diminutive alien telepathically. <I doubt BPIC even knows you're here, and if you stay hidden until we leave, you should be just fine. I know you're scared... it's nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone is, sometimes. For now, you just need to stay out of sight and stay calm. This is a safe place.> 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Pike will now be able to hear some muffled sounds, and blurred images, as if seeing the alien man's memories from behind opaque transparisteel. If he concentrates harder, things will start to clarify... The small alien hides behind Navi, just as the protocol droid that typically helps with translation for Thaarin makes a toddling approach. "Hello, miss Navi! Anything I can assist with today...?" The small alien gives Navi a notion about wondering how long they would be on Jedha for... 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike focuses ov the contact, trying to resolve what he is sensing. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Well, that wasn't quite what he'd meant. But a protocol droid is approaching now anyway, so perhaps it doesn't matter any more. Navi does have a point that if the creature was that scared of something or someone and this entity was also responsible for destroying the mind of Thaarin's companion as well, then maybe it was something the Order should indeed be concerned about.     He peers into the small alien's mind again, seeking to learn more about it. What or who was it so frightened of? 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "As a matter of fact, yes!" Navi replies enthusiastically, with an almost cheesy smile for the convenient protocol droid, who is no doubt fluent in over 600,000 forms of communication. "And thank you so much for all your help with dear Thaarin! Could you walk with us, please? My small friend here doesn't speak Basic, and we really need to talk to him. Can you speak to him and find out what language he is fluent and comfortable in?" she gently cautions Little Guy. <But please do talk to it if you can. We'll stay with you once you're settled into your guest quarters, and one of us will probably be with you most of the time until we leave, so there's no need to be afraid.> 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Pike won't be able to understand the language. It's Minnisiat, but the tone is aggravated, and he'll be able to at least glean that whatever beings are in the memory are definitely enemies. The specialist is summoning Pike deeper, so he'll have to renew his concentration and descend with her to gain even further clarity. Cayde will see blurred faces, of aliens that he will not recognize. He'll feel a sense of immense fear, and get a notion about them being evil. "Oh, yes," the protocol droid says, nodding. "Very well then," and it turns to the small alien, who begins signing to the droid in Minnisiat sign. "Oh, I see. I believe they're deaf," the protocol droid says. "But I can understand them. Minnisiat Sign is one of the languages I can understand and communicate in," it says cheerfully. "What would you like to say to them?" The small alien stares at Navi, then nods, slowly. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike can feel his connection to the Force opening wider. He concentrates further and the images and sounds are coming easier. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns, trying to recognize what kinds of people these were. Why were they evil? What were they doing? What exactly had led to that ship they'd been on crashing? Maybe it would be easier to ask Thaarin... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi pauses in her walking, noticing Cayde has that focused look on his face. Probably best they all stay put until he's done. "Please ask him who and what the aliens were who attacked himself and Thaarin and his brother," she directs the droid softly. "I'd like to know everything he knows about them, but most especially what happened to him and his companions when they were attacked. Going by the state of the ship and the number of bodies, these were some very bad people." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It will then become evident to Pike and the specialist that the memory they're seeing is some kind of hostage situation, likely involving Thaarin, his companion, and the other small alien they'd rescued. But it's difficult to tell what's going on, since neither of them can understand Minnisiat. No, they'd have to rely on the Force this time, and see if they can dig deeper into the alien's mind... The protocol droid nods and complies, and then images the small alien projects to both Navi and Cayde are blurry, and the narrative isn't very clear. The people who'd kidnapped them were ... pirates? Probably, but Cayde won't be able to be absolutely certain. There'd been an attempt to hijack the vessel and escape, and then a subsequent crash on Ilum, but most of the details are lost in translation. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde sighs and withdraws, thinking maybe it'd just be easier to ask Thaarin, since telepathy wasn't even proving that fruitful. Well anyway if it was just pirates, probably wasn't much to write home about. Pirates were everywhere. But it was understandable if the small alien had been traumatized.     But perhaps they should get to a room, in case BPIC showed up or unwanted attention was drawn their way. He taps Navi on the shoulder and points toward the elevator to the guest wings. <Let's go> 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike tries to focus on the feelings in what he is seeing to understand what happened. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi nods to Cayde. "Walk with us, please," she directs the protocol droid again softly, beginning the trek to the guest quarters once more. "Tell him those must have been some very nasty pirates, to instill such fear in him. Ask him if he is worried that other pirates might follow them, because I believe that all of the pirates on their vessel looked to be dead." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The protocol droid nods, and walks alongside Navi and Cayde as they begin to head towards the guest quarters they'd been assigned to in the Kyber Temple. It complies with asking Navi's questions, and then trandlates for them. "They say these pirates are part of some kind of... pirate empire? And he is certain that there will be others who follow and may look for them, as well as Thaarin and his companion." The specialist cements their connection in the Force, and Pike will feel himself descend into dangerous levels of subconsious. Would they even be able to return? No matter. He will be able to see images clearly now - Thaarin's companion lying on the floor in a dark cell, with no windows. There's no source of light to speak of aside from a dim glow rod hanging from the ceiling, swaying back and forth in a monotonous fashion. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     But why would they chase them so far away? Did they have something incredibly valuable?     [But why] he signs to the droid, assuming it will understand, the question was meant for the creature. Was there something else, they weren't telling their new friends about? 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Cayde is right to ask. Why did these pirates attack them? And why would they follow them here?" Navi asks the droid and the Little Guy thoughtfully. "Their ship is sunk in a freezing-cold lake, and most likely impossible to salvage. They should have no way of knowing if anyone survived the crash, so there likely is no trail to follow and no reason to suspect any of them are alive." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The small alien shakes their head when asked why they would follow them here. The droid translates, "They say they arent entirely sure why they were taken hostage in the first place. Therefore, there's always a chance that they'll be followed. And they're not willing to take any risks." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike wants to drop to his knees and help the being, so vivid does the vision become. But he remembers it is the past and lets it play out. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde listens to the translation with an unreadable expression, as he starts again probing in the creature's mind. Something about this didn't add up. If it wasn't even sure why it was taken prisoner in the first place, why would it believe its captors would go searching that far and wide? Why would they go to such lengths, even after finding the destroyed ship? Surely, the only reason to believe that was either extreme paranoia....or there was something else it and its companions were keeping from them. Something these 'pirates' would go to extreme lengths to find or gain control of. And now, he seeks to figure out which it was. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "It's a strange situation. Unless they just want revenge for their dead comrades, I don't understand why these pirate empire pirates would be so hot to find our friends here," Navi muses. "Can you ask him why they might want them so badly?" "Anna and I were the ones who boarded their ship, and all we brought off of it were the three survivors and whatever they were wearing at the time," she adds. "The ship was sinking into the lake too rapidly to try to salvage anything else, and we were very blessed by the Force in being able to get those three off of it alive... and we were nearly forced to leave Thaarin's brother behind, so it must have been the will of the Force that let us save him. I don't remember finding anything that looked mysterious or valuable among their effects." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' There's a dulled look in the being's eyes, and his expression is glazed over. Already, Pike can tell that even in this memory, he's starting to lose his sanity a little. Moments later, the cell door is opened, and the Thaarin's companion is suddenly dragged from the cell into a hallway by some strange looking aliens Pike will have never seen in his life before. Down the hallway they all go, into a rather barren looking room with little in it aside from some odd looking medical devices, a berth with straps, a chair, and a briefcase. The entire situation feels strangely foreboding. The protocol droid begins to translate, but then the small alien grabs Cayde and shakes him. There a sense of extreme paranoia, but also a sense of wanting to leave here badly because they think it's highly likely that they themselves are not of extreme value, but Thaarin and his companion are. And they couldn't in good conscience leave Thaarin and his companion here, not when their safety was not yet guaranteed, and none of them had means of income or legal documentation to exist on this side of the galaxy.. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike steels himself. As a Healer, he has seen too much suffering to turn away now. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Ah, there it was. Cayde shakes his head, glancing at Navi. <Paranoia> he tells her.     Well, unless it had some way of fooling him and masking the true reason. Which was...possible. But he hasn't as paranoid as the one shaking him. He then tries to project a sense of calm, the assure the creature that everything was going to be just fine. They could take it and its companions, whomever wished to accompany them, to the Tenoo colony, a peaceful and remote place where documented citizenship shouldn't be a problem and pirates weren't likely to find them.     Crouching down to its level, he puts a hand on its shoulder, then trying to create an idealized mindscape that resembles the most beautiful parts of the Tenoo. Like that valley full of glowing insects that danced in the moonlight at night. The lush forests, and rolling green meadows. Plenty of food, water, and resources for all. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Hey, easy little guy!" Navi cries softly, taking a knee beside the diminutive alien and trying not to wrinkle her nose at the smell of the 'borrowed' Jawa robe. Jawas never seemed to have heard of laundry facilities, no matter where they were in the galaxy. Cayde seems to have calming Little Guy down, so she leaves him to it. But she does take one of Little Guy's hands and squeezes it gently in a show of concern and solidarity. "We won't let anything hurt you. This Temple is the safest place on this whole planet. And we'll only be here for a few more days at most. Then we return to Tenoo. No one will find you there." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Pike will then witness them strapping the blue alien to the berth. Thaarin is then dragged into the room and forced to sit in the chair, arms and legs both cuffed. They open the briefcase, and withdraw a syringe... The memory then becomes very blurry -- but Pike and the specialist will be able to sense and witness that the blue alien is in intense psychological agony while Thaarin is being forced to watch. They'll also be able to tell that in reliving this memory, the blue alien is once again experiencing all the same hallucinations in real time. The elder Master may suddenly find himself being sucked into a black abyss of a void, and the sensation of being suffocated may overwhelm him. <Master Windu!! Fortify your mind with the Force!> the specialist reaches to the other Jedi. <If we are to wake him, now is the time> The small alien seems reassured, but still in a hurry to leave. They look around as if in search for the ship they'd arrived in, and both Navi and Cayde will sense a question about when they would be leaving for this... Tenoo place. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     It wouldn't be long. Cayde continues trying to calm it down. A few days, at most. But probably less. But it would be safe here. He pats it on the shoulder, nodding and straightening back up, then continuing to head up to the rooms.     He falls in step with Navi. <How are you doing> he asks, somewhat randomly. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike feels the pull and heard the specialist's warning. The Jedi Master recites his Order's code and open's himself to the Force, the wellspring, for strength! 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Have faith, Little Guy... we'll be protecting you and your friends every step of the way. Just another two or three days and we'll have the ship repaired and be on our way," Navi promises in what she hopes is a soothing tone. "You have absolutely nothing to worry about." She rises and starts on her way again as Cayde starts off. His question surprises her a little. "I'm okay. Considering how long a day it's been. Just hoping we can save Thaarin's brother and get everyone on their way soon." "I wish I didn't have to go back there... I won't lie about that. I mean, it's not like I'm going to run out on you and the Masters and Thaarin and his companions and probably over half the people I know and love in the galaxy. But if all of you and all of them weren't there, I'd've never gone /near/ Tenoo. It still feels like a disaster waiting to happen, at least to me," she adds sadly. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Pike will be able to feel his connection to the specialist in the Force strengthening! The alien man's mind... he'll be able to feel it stirring! And not just quietly, either. He may actually wake up this time...but they needed to give him more encouragement, using the Force...! The small alien seems somewhat convinced -- they're satisified for now, though they'll make it very clear in the Force to Navi and Cayde that their preference is to leave today. They trail Navi and Cayde, using two fingers to cling to Navi's robe sleeve. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <You can go home> Cayde tells her as she really doesn't seem to want a part in it. <We will be okay.> he assures her.     He makes his way up to their rooms, and opens the door to the suite to let the other two in ahead of him. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike allows himself to be a conduit, channeling the Light Side. "Friend, it is time to awaken. Come into the Light. Join us." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Not that I don't very much appreciate the offer, but I can't run out on you all... if I'm right, you're going to need every pair of hands and every lightsaber you can get," Navi says sadly, shaking her head slowly. "Besides, I'm not going to be the reason anyone on Tenoo gets hurt or killed. That's not who I am. Maybe I didn't really want to go, but I made a commitment to this fiasco, and I'm sticking to it." She gently leads Little Guy and the droid inside, with a grateful nod to Cayde. "Here we are," she says warmly. "The Temple doesn't have as many amenities as a hotel, but it's much safer, and pretty comfy." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' There's a moment where neither Pike or specialist will feel assured that their efforts will actually result in anything. The alien man's mind still seems resistant, though unintentionally. But then, his eyelids will flutter open. He does not sit up, though, or try to speak. The small alien trails after Navi, glancing back at Cayde momentarily. They look around at their accommodations, and nod slowly, taking it all in. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Yes, yes. Can you..." Pike realizes speaking Basic is useless. Instead he pours as much warmth as he can into the mental connection. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [Thank you] Cayde signs, and nods in appreciation of Navi's commitment to her friends. [You are brave] he continues. A part of him wonders if she has considered seeing about a return to the Order. Perhaps the Council would welcome her back?     The padawan watches as the smaller alien makes itself at home, appearing to have calmed down significantly. He looks back to Navi. [To check with Master Pike] In the case there was violence, and he needed backup...     He starts back toward the elevator. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I'm not brave... just too dumb to know when to quit. One time in my life I wised up and walked away from a hopeless mess. Guess it was just a fluke, huh?" Navi replies wryly. She looks after Cayde with concern. "Be careful. I'll stay with the Little Guy, since I promised someone would. If you need help, ping my mind," she says worriedly, taking a knee to gently hug Little Guy. "You're safe here, Little Guy. I'll be right here with you," she promises. "You know, I just remembered that I never asked what your name was. I just wasn't sure how for the longest time. What should I call you? You probably already know my name is Navi, so there's that. Please translate for me?" she adds, the last to the protocol droid. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The blue alien sits up. At first, Pike might find his expression unreadable, but upon closer look he might recognize a strange look in his eyes. He was not well, mentally, and Pike will not need to Force to conclude that. But before the specialist or Pike can react, he suddenly bolts. Off the berth, out the door, out of the infirmary, disappearing into the darkened hallways of the Temple at this hour! The small alien doesn't respond to Navi. Instead, they've gone completely still, staring blankly ahead. It tugs on Navi's robe, giving her a notion about a horrible premonition they'd just had, and wondering if she'd felt it, too. The droid chukcles nervously. "Well, I could... but don't you all think you ought to get some rest? It is a late hour, and the reason I came looking for you is because I did not immediately find you all in your quarters..." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods as Navi decides to stay with their new friend. He turns then and starts heading back toward the infirmary where Pike and the healers are trying to wake Thaarin's brother. He frowns when a sudden feeling of foreboding overtakes him. Perhaps the procedure hadn't gone well...Thaarin seemed to think that there was a chance his brother was out of his mind and might become violent.     ...All the more why he should hurry down there. He quickens his pace, his hand going toward his lightsaber. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Uh..."     Pike needs a moment to recover from the deep mental connection. He is too late to stop the being from leaving. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I'm fine with getting some rest," Navi replies to the protocol droid. "But I promised someone would stay with this Little Guy as often as possible. So I'll probably be sleeping in here tonight. Thanks for checking up on us, though. Someone programmed you very well." "What is it?" she asks Little Guy softly, feeling as much as seeing the little being's sudden tension (well, more than the usual tension, anyway). "I felt something... a sense that something isn't right. But I don't know what it was." She opens herself to the Force, focusing on its flow between herself, Cayde, and Master Windu. <Cayde? Master Windu? I just had a premonition that something wasn't right... and I think Little Guy did, too. Is something wrong?> she asks gently. <Does anyone need help?> 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The healing specialist seems to require the same. She grunts and slowly gets up, blinking. "... he's gone." But when Cayde tries to call the lift to take him up to the infirmary, it will take more time then what seems to make sense for how empty it is at the Temple right now. Not only that, but it seems to be coming up instead of down. Someone must have just used it. Pike, maybe? or not... The droid, confused and somewhat alarmed, doesnt translate. "Miss Navi, is everything alright?" it asks. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns. But who else is skulking about at this hour?     He tries to remind Navi of what Thaarin had said about his brother potentially being insane and violent, and how, he thinks this might be related.     Then he decides to forget the elevator and hurry up the stairs. It'd be faster. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' <Thaarin's brother? I thought he was in a coma... do you think Master Windu and the specialist were able to revive him?> Navi asks Cayde via telepathy. "I don't know... I've had a premonition that something was wrong, but not what that something might be," she replies softly to the droid. "I'm trying to contact Cayde now. He thinks it may be something to do with Thaarin's brother, but he doesn't know for sure." <Do you want me to stay with you like this?> she asks Little Guy telepathically, maintaining her gentle hug in an effort to keep him calm. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The small alien wiggles out of her grasp, and shakes their head. They point at the doorway, and she'll get a strong notion in the Force about investigation whatever bad premonition they'd both just had. As Cayde is hurrying up the stairs, he might run into Thaarin, who is thundering down the steps just as Cayde is coming up - hopefully the young padawan will see him in time and they don't collide. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     <Maybe> comes the response to Navi.     Unfortunately, Cayde runs right into him, as focused as he was on finding Thaarin's brother, and as Navi was asking him questions. He's just so used to feeling a presence before seeing someone, that it takes him completely off guard. His lightsaber is drawn in a flash, the blade materializing in front of him into a defensive position. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' <Okay. You may want to hide under the bed or something, just in case. I'll make sure the droid stays with you,> Navi replies to Little Guy, standing and moving for the door. "Stay with him," she directs the protocol droid. "I'll be back as soon as I can." With that, she's out the door and hurrying toward the medical wing. She doesn't /know/ if this potential emergency is related to Thaarin's brother, but that's the most likely issue. Besides, the last time she'd experienced an emergency here, it had been in the medical bay. The area seems to be a magnet for emergencies, even beyond its normal functions in handling medical emergencies. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin, in his haste, apparently had also not seen Cayde coming up the stairs. They crash into one another unceremonious, and when Cayde draws his saber, he quickly backtracks, holding up his arms placatingly. "My brother," he says, pointing down the stairs. Thankfully for Navi, the lift is completely free by the time she reaches it. She'll be able to go up to the medical wing quickly, but by then, she'll be met by the healer specialist. "He bolted," she says, her expression anxious. "No idea where he went..." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh...Cayde puts the blade away when he sees Thaarin. Wait, he'd gone down? But the elevator had been going up? Well, perhaps he'd used the shaft for some reason. Either way, he turns around and starts heading back down in the direction Thaarin is pointing. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Well, that's not good. I'll see if I can find him," Navi replies to the specialist, nodding. "You should probably stay here, just in case he comes back. And alert Temple security, but tell them to use less-lethal force, 'cause we want him caught alive and as unharmed as possible." And then she's out the door again and jogging along the corridor, trying to contact Cayde via the Force. <Cayde? I just left the medical wing, and it's definitely Thaarin's brother! He's awake and left the medical lab in a big hurry. They don't know where he went, so keep your eyes open for him.> 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "No time," Thaarin says, and starts running down the stairs again. Hopefully Cayde will get a hint and follow. Navi may notice that the motion sensor lights in the hallway are still on, though they're starting to blink out one by one. And this path of light seems to lead to... the lift. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde continues to hurry down, although he glances over his shoulder every few seconds to make sure Thaarin is still behind him and he's going the right direction. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Of course..." Navi murmurs, picking up her pace to a run toward the lift. "You can fool the medics, but you can't fool the automatic light sensors!" She smacks the button as she reaches it, hoping it's still on this floor... It's not. She has to wait a few moments for it to get back. At least the lift ride down is smooth and free of trouble. She makes sure to pause at each level to look for automatic lights that are still on, or just turning off. Maybe one of them will be paydirt? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' None of the upper floors are illuminated with the motion sensor lights in the hallways -- except for the first floor. Once Navi reaches the bottom floor, she'll see the lights in the hallway that leads to the hangar still on. Around that same time, Cayde and Thaarin will arrive, having just come out of the stairwell. Thaarin doesn't wait, he races down the hallway towards the hangar... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde hurries after him into the hangar, quickly searching for anyone who looks like Thaarin... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "The hangar level? Could he be after a /ship/..?" Navi murmurs, spying the lights still on in the corridor. She is just in time to spot Cayde and Thaarin bursting out of the stairwell and running toward the hangar. Following them with all possible speed seems like the best idea, so that's what she does. "Fancy meeting you two here! I guess we'll either spot him, or find a ship warming up!" she suggests. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' They won't need to look hard. As soon as they arrive, they'll hear a muffled cry, and then see a dark silhouette getting forcibly tossed from the top of a gangplank belonging to a Longbeam that's only half repaired, across the hangar. Then, abruptly, the gangplank starts to withdraw, but not before the Longbeam's lights flicker on and it starts... moving! There's a horrible screeching sound as the Longbeam veers left, only one of the thrusters functioning. It's left wingtip guts the rooms adjacent to the hangar -- the hangar lobby, and the primary comms hub. Glass shatters, and lighting fixtures shower sparks as the chaos unfolds... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde immediately springs into action with a Force-propelled leap as he attempts to get up onto the walkway before it fully closes and rush onto the malfunctioning ship before its crazed pilot can do any more damage. He will attempt to restrain him first though, before resorting to any lethal measures... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Brother! Nooo!" Navi cries, watching the beginnings of a disaster as the damaged Longbeam attempts to take off on only one engine! The collateral damage is going to be one serious mess, that's clear... "Thaarin! Catch up as quick as you can!" she calls to Tall Blue as she spots a parked shuttle... and gets an idea. Bracing herself on the foot of the shuttle's ramp like a track and field sprinter, she reaches into the Force, amplifying its flow between her legs, the hangar, and the damaged ship... And then she springs... horizontally! The leap catapults her the length of the hangar between the shuttle and the half-controlled juggernaut that is the ailing Longbeam, and right through the still-partly-open boarding ramp! Tumbling to a stop and barely missing Cayde, she comes to her feet, smacks the ramp open button soundly with her fist, and pelts forward in Cayde's wake in a desperate effort to reach the cockpit. And once she's there, she goes not for the brother, but the copilot's station, trying to stop and shut down the ship before it can do any more damage! 
}}

Fake IDs

2025-07-02T07:05:07Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-04-13 |Synopsis=Cayde and Navi search for the small alien from Ilum, who is attempting to acquire proper documentation. |Cast of Characters=159, 261, 143 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' While Master Windu and the specialist remain secluded in one of the rooms in the medbay, the rest of the group will receive a notification from the Temple security that smaller alien who had disappeared as soon..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-04-13
|Synopsis=Cayde and Navi search for the small alien from Ilum, who is attempting to acquire proper documentation.
|Cast of Characters=159, 261, 143
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' While Master Windu and the specialist remain secluded in one of the rooms in the medbay, the rest of the group will receive a notification from the Temple security that smaller alien who had disappeared as soon as they'd landed on Jedha had been located, to a degree. The Whill Disciples had seen them last in the Square of Supplicants, but they'd then disappeared from view quickly and were not seen again. The guards had then reached out, requesting support from Force sensitives a bit more skilled in the area of locating individuals... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi had been dressing when a security agent (security monk?) knocked on her door and relayed the urgent instructions. "Be right there!" she called through the door. "Geez," she murmurs, resuming her dressing. "Can't a lady get her shawl tied before she gets booted out the door?" Half an hour later, she enters the square, looking around for anyone who might have information to share on the little alien. "Hope he hasn't had time to get far," she observes softly. "Dunno why he's hiding out like this." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde is already waiting in the square when Navi arrives, frowning slightly. Had they considered the idea that maybe this...creature, whatever it was, didn't want to be found? Maybe it didn't want to go to Tenoo with them. And if that was the case, they shouldn't force it. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The square isn't terribly busy, which will definintely work in favor for both Cayde and Navi. A cursory look will reveal a few vendors peddling wares, and various street snacks, but as the Whill Disciples had said, the small alien is nowhere to be found. They could ask around, or they could consult the Force... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Oh! Cayde! There you are!" Navi cries softly, with some relief. "Looks like it's just us for this one. Think you can reach out with the Force and see what you find? I'm going to ask around and see if anyone's seen the little guy. And possibly do some reaching out of my own, depending on what I find out. If you need anything, nudge me with your brain and I'll be right back." She hastens to talk to the nearest sentient. "Excuse me, please, but have you seen a small alien, about yea tall, wearing a gray robe? Possibly seemed kind of lost?" she asks, indicating the diminutive alien's height with one hand raised to about her own waist level. Mentally, she's preparing herself to hear a lot of regretful or annoyed 'No's'... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Well...     Cayde nods and tries to reach out with the Force, searching for the little guy's presence somewhere around here. Maybe then, he could at least ascertain if it wanted to be found or not. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The vendor rubs his head. "Uhh... maybe? A lot of people passed through here this morning. Did they look like a Jawa, a little?" Cayde will be able to feel the alien's presence faintly. They're not -that- far away, but the young Padawan will get the sense that they're below ground ... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "There is a certain resemblance to a Jawa, yeah," Navi replies, with a little nod. "Have you seen anyone like that?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Underground? Well, perhaps it truly did not want to be found. Cayde frowns, focusing harder in an attempt to find out if it simply did not want to go with them. After all, if that was the case, then they should leave it alone. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The vendor nods. "Oh, yeah. I think so. They didnt talk, and didnt seem to understand Basic. That your guy? I saw them wander off with some questionable looking folk..." Cayde wont be able to discern much, but there is a sense of fear there... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Questionable-looking... like maybe thugs? Con artists? Anything like that?" Navi asks, feeling a sudden sense of dread. "And do you know which way they went?" She reaches out to Cayde via telepathy. <<Cayde, our little guy may be in trouble. This guy says he wandered off with some "questionable looking folk". Still trying to dig up some more info, but I'll be right back with you.>> 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde sighs, sensing the fear and then receiving the information from Navi. But, 'somewhere underground' wasn't much to go off of. He isn't very familiar with this area. Neither was 'questionable looking folk', either. The padawan frowns again, attempting again to learn more about whatever situation it may be in. Was there trouble? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "No!" the vendor says, throwing up his hands. "But they had tattoos. Probably some syndicate." Again, the young padawan wont be able to get a clear read, but Cayde will again feel fear, and a vague sense of danger. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Thanks so much, Sir. Hope your business is booming today," Navi replies, before hurrying back to find Cayde. "Cayde, that vendor said those guys had tattoos, possibly from some syndicate," she says, a bit breathlessly. "They might be slavers. Have you been able to get an idea about where the little guy might be? I have a feeling we might want to hurry." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde continues trying to determine more. At least some kind of location? More than just 'somewhere underground'. When Navi tries to talk to him, he doesn't appear to have heard her... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Cayde and Navi won't be able to pinpoint exactly where the small alien is, but they'll get a sense that they're not far, and they're below ground north of them. Everything else about their location will remain a grey area. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi knows better than to interrupt Cayde when he's trancing or meditating. Instead, she reaches out through the Force, looking for any sign whatsoever of the diminutive alien. Its mental signature was distinctive... perhaps she could find a trace of its particular energy? "North," she says, after a moment. "North, and not far. But... underground? Maybe it's a catacomb, or a sewer tunnel?" Whichever it might be, she starts off northward. "I lived in this city for a year or so. I think I remember this area. Mostly, anyway..." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods, it would seem so. As Navi starts off north, he follows her. Maybe she knows a way underground? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' As they head north, the feeling of the small alien's presence grows, and they'll find themselves wandering towards a back alleyway with sewer grate at the end of it. It smells bad, but looks like its been handled recently. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi grimaces at the smell. "Well... I've got some good news and some bad news," she says, in a low voice. "Good news is, we seem to be on the right track. Bad news? It IS a sewer. Better bundle up that cloak and stow it somewhere, or you'll never get the smell out," she suggests, moving to shift the grate out of their way. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Ugh, why was it always the sewers? Or caves, or tunnels, or catacombs of some kind where you could always get lost? Cayde sighs and takes his robe off, and starts trying to shove it into Navi's medical bag. Unfortunately, it is rather bulky and doesn't fit in there very well... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Yes... hopefully Navi, Cayde, and her now bulging satchel will fit through the sewer grate. It's kind of a narrow opening, but they'd best hurry. They'll both be able to sense the small alien is growing more and more fearful.. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Here... this'll work better," Navi suggests, taking the robe, folding it twice width-wise, and wrapping it around the lower end of the strap of her medical bag, securing it with a length of synthcord wrapped multiple times around its length and tied. "I learned a trick or three with the Brotherhood for stowing bulky clothing." Lightsaber hilt in hand, she crouches and tries to squeeze into the tunnel, hoping the glowrod clipped to the collar of her jacket will provide enough light to see by. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde watches as she somehow manages to compact the bulky robe just enough. Huh...     [Thank you] he signs, and then grimaces and starts going down into the smelly sewer... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The smell is worse as they descend, and theyll have to exert a certain amount of self control to not immediately retch. But the small alien's presence is very near now. They seem to be at the end of the tunnel, though neither Cayde or Navi will be able to see the end just yet 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi grimaces, reaching for the Force to focus her attention on their mission and away from her nose. "One of these days I'm going to have to research how criminals squeeze into such tiny entrances... especially with captives," she murmurs, trying to adjust the glowrod to point down the tunnel. "And we seem to be running out of tunnel. Hope we're almost there..." They are. Navi almost bumps into a door she hadn't been able to see until she was right on top of it. Looking back over her shoulder, she puts a finger to her lips, then reaches out with the Force, searching for active minds, surface thoughts, inside the room. Maybe she can get an accounting of how many people are there, and which of them are threats... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Unfortunately, the smell is just too much for Cayde. As they are headed toward the end of the passage, he turns to the side and vomits onto the floor. It already smells terrible down here at least, so the putrid stomach contents at least don't make it noticeably worse. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' she'll be able to sense the small alien, and their fear. Its not overwhelming, but they are trying to figure out how to get out of the situation they're in. There are a few others inside, discussing some business matter regarding getting from point A to point B, but Navi wont be able to tell much else about what theyre discussing. But then Cayde is retching, and it seems the people inside have heard it... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi winces at the sound of Cayde's stomach turning itself inside-out somewhere behind her... and then at the sudden sense of alertness from the minds behind the door! "Grab your lightsaber, Cayde... it's /go time/!" she hisses, trying to open the door with her left hand and gripping her lightsaber with her right. "Locked..!" she growls, igniting her lightsaber and, using its bluish-white glow to mark the locations of the lock, shearing through it with a swift but precise stroke. /The Force was with her/, at least for that moment. Pushing the door open with her shoulder, she steps into the room, her weapon raised. "I recommend you keep your hands away from your weapons if you want to keep them," she says, scowling around the room, looking for any sign of the diminutive alien. Or any signs of resistance, for that matter. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde does his best to fight the nausea he feels from the rancid odor down here. And then Navi is breaking down the door. The padawan puts a hand on his lightsaber, but first he tries to enter the minds of those inside. Perhaps, he can convince their leader to make them all stand down and leave without a fight. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' There are four aliens, all armed, inside the room, and the small alien sitting at a table in the corner. They seem unharmed, but intimidated by the others. They are very displeased when Navi bursts in her saber glowing and immediately pick up their weapons and ignore her demand, opening fire on the Sephi girl. Cayde's attempt to convince the leader to tell his thugs to not open fire works, but before he can even open his mouth to tell them not to attack, the others start shooting! 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As Cayde was busy in the leader's mind, he gets grazed by some of the blaster fire. Well it seems that one's mind is open to him now, so he tries to press the urgency of the matter...he'd better tell them to stand down now, while they still have all their limbs! 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The leader obeys, and shouts for the other criminals to stand down, but they sneer, "He's gone completely mad! Heh. No surprise there...!" And then one of them shoots him. He collapses. But at least they now have one less foe to worry about. Cayde will be able to sense that at least one of them wants to run, too, he's more interested in saving his own skin than anything else... However, while Cayde is attempting to convince the more of the thugs to flee, one of them stows his original weapon and takes out another, one that shoots a stun net, perhaps in an attempt to take Cayde hostage! 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     If the criminal is already wishing to run, perhaps a mental invasion isn't necessary. Instead, Cayde draws his lightsaber as well, the energy blade crackling loudly in front of him. Unfortunately, the net catches him, knocking it out of his hand and dragging him to the floor. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi casually turns aside the blaster bolt one of the thugs sends at her, sending it harmlessly into the floor. She rushes him before he can recover, but he backpedals a step in the face of her charge. Her slash misses by mere inches, carving a furrow in the ceiling instead. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Trandoshan Navi is attacking snarls, just barely avoiding getting slashed by Navi's saber. He raises his blaster again, and is about to shoot, but then he suddenly realizes that the small alien who had been sitting in the corner quietly just prior to the fight, is gone. "This is far from /over/ Jedi," He growls, and then he and the remaining two criminals run out into the hallway and make a sharp left turn, disappearing into the darkness of an adjoining tunnel... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I'm a NOVICE, suitcase-butt! Not a Jedi!" Navi retorts. Then she realizes they gave up much too quickly... A quick look around reveals that the diminutive alien has vanished! She hurries over to assist Cayde with the net he'd been struck by. "The little guy's booked it again. We've got to get him a beacon or something... anyway, those goons are after him, I'd bet. We have to get to him before they do!" She reaches out through the Force again, trying to zero in on the thoughts of the little alien. Hopefully he hasn't gone far, and the thugs aren't on his trail... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde struggles to his feet, wondering what the point of the net was if they were just going to run off. Then he sees that their quarry is gone once again. Perhaps, it really doesn't want to be found by -any- of them.     They'd given it the opening it needed to get away, right? But he tries to check to see if it has gone very far, and once again tries to find out if it actually wants them to find it to begin with. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Navi might be surprised to find that the small alien's presence is ... in the opposite direction that the thugs had gone? Well, that was odd, what had made them run off, away from their quarry? Regardless, Navi and Cayde may notice that this room isn't actually a dead end. There's a nook in the back, and in wedged in that tiny nook is a very small door that they likely would have never noticed if they hadn't been looking for the small alien, who, if the Force is to be trusted at the moment, seems to be behind whatever lies behind the door. Then they'll both be able to feel the small alien reaching out to them in the Force, beckoning them, and telling them to hurry. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     The padawan holds out a hand, his lightsaber flying up off the floor and into it before he stows it again. He frowns and heads toward the small door, turning sideways to fit through it. Clearly, these thugs weren't very smart. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Wait... why are they going /away/ from him..?" Navi murmurs, confused by what she's sensing. "It doesn't make any sense." And then Cayde finds the narrow door, almost hidden in a nook in the back of the room near where the little alien had been a moment ago, and it makes sense. "Clever little guy! We better find him quick before those muscle-heads realize they're chasing the wrong womprat." With that, she follows Cayde through the narrow door. It's a tight fit, even for a Sephi. She has to shift her medical bag to her side and push it through ahead of her, then squeeze through sideways, following Cayde's example. "This door clearly wasn't built with girls like me in mind..!" she grumbles, hurrying after Cayde. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' They'll find themselves in an expansive room, that looks very akin to one you'd find in a warehouse used purely for storage. There are racks and racks of mysterious cargo boxes, some of them locked, some of them open, filled to the brim with scrap parts or datapads. On the far end of the room, there's another set of bolted double doors. Above them is another sewer grate, and the sounds of the city above them can be heard filtering in through the ribs of the grate. And then they'll find a couple of dead bodies -- A Besalisk sporting tattoos, and a Jawa, perhaps to their surprise, in it's underwear. But before they can become too distracted by it all, the small alien beckons them in the Force again, urging them to hurry, hurry. They're in the back somewhere, hidden by stacks and stacks of datapads near a weathered desk in a dark corner dimly lit by a single lamp. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde makes note of the environment, but nothing really catches his interest so he hurries toward the back where the desk and lamp are. Given the thugs rushed the other direction, hopefully they have a bit of time. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi grimaces at the sight of the bodies. Especially the Jawa. "Geez... red hearts on used-to-be-white fabric aren't scoring that poor guy any style points," she murmurs. Possibly to keep from momentarily losing her grip on her sanity. There is much too much death in this room. But Cayde is hot on the trail of the little guy, and she hurries after him. "Maybe we should see if that sewer grate can be opened. If we can get out that way, those goons will never find us," she suggests, keeping her voice low as she moves to check the grating. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' There is an array of jerry rigged devices on the desk, and each one's purpose may not be entirely clear from a first glance. The area is littered with old datapads, in, around, and under the desk. To the left of it looks like some kind of specialized printer that's attached to an console of sorts with a dusty screen and various knobs, dials, and buttons. The small alien gestures emphatically at them, motioning for them to come over to the desk. They point at the console, then the printer, urgently. A notion will bubble up in their mind, about the small alien not knowing how to operate the technology... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I think he wants us to use this... technical /thing/ here..," Navi observes uncertainly. "I'm pretty sure this is a printer, here, but less sure about this console. It's probably used to print something illegal, considering where we are and whose company we just left. I'll try to figure it out," she promises, dusting off the console and studying it with due care. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde looks toward the device as the creature points at it. Okay, it doesn't know how to use it, well...he doesn't either. But what does it need from the printer?? He glances up at the grate leading back up to street level. They should get out of here, really. Before the thugs come back. He can easily move that grate, either with hands or with the Force. Besides, what if those criminals have a way of detecting someone using the device?     As Navi starts trying to use it, he shakes his head and tries to slap her hands away from it. Then he points up at the exit and starts moving the grate away from the opening. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The small alien shakes their head vigorously and grabs Cayde's shirt, tugging on it aggressively. They point at the machine, then back at Navi. Navi and Cayde may also notice now that the small alien has taken the Jawa's clothing, and looks exactly like one. Cayde and Navi will get a very distinct nudge in the Force regarding... documentation. They were a no one here -- no papers, no ID, no credits. And if they wanted to make money, go anywhere, do -anything-, including exist on this side of the galaxy, without being jailed or prosecuted... they would need identification. That's what the device was for. It could produce fake IDs... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Geez, Cayde! Just what is your malfunction?" Navi cries, drawing her hands back from the device as Cayde tries to slap her hands away. "This is no time to play the clapping game or whatever!" And then the little alien weighs in, and she begins to understand. "Okay... I'll try to make this thing work. But in return, you have to come back to the Temple with us. This galaxy's more than you can handle right now. Besides, there's no guarantee that one of these IDs will stand up to a security scan," she replies. "Cayde, can you make him understand what I'm saying? I've got to try to make this thing work." She resumes her study of the machine. "This guy sure seems to know a lot about a machine he's never even used..." she murmurs. "Maybe he saw them make one of these things..." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns. No...no, no that wasn't what it needed. They couldn't be caught trying to sneak people around with fake IDs, not to mention, create them. Someone at the Temple would know the process for Republic refugees.     He shakes his head, <No...> he projects to Navi. <That...it is illegal...no need.> Then looks up at the grate again. <Have to go now> There is a tone of urgency. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The small alien stares at Navi, obviously unable to hear what she's saying. They tug aggressively on Cayde's shirt again, and point at Navi, and an overwhelming sense of urgency regarding getting documentation will descend upon Cayde's conscious. They really, really wanted to get an ID, find work, and get as far as mortally possible away from where they were found on Ilum, -fast-. They grab Cayde's wrist and try to put it on top of the console. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Geez, what a mess... I don't know /how/ these muscle-heads hooked this thing up, but I can't tell what half these cables even /do/," Navi says, shaking her head. "It's almost like they built it out of whatever they could find. Even if I can get it working, I don't know what I could do with it. I don't know how to make an ID, real or fake!" "We can do more for him at the Temple than we can do here. Try to make him understand that we can help him better than these scum and their criminal documents ever could," she adds in frustration. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     When the small creature grabs his wrist, Cayde lets it place his hand on the console--for about half a second. That is, before he grabs the device by the print head and flips it onto the floor--hard. With a sickening crack, the thing falls into three broken pieces. Now -no one- would be using that machine to counterfeit -anything-. Which is how it should be. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The small alien sinks to the ground, covering their face with their hands. An uncontrolled wave of utter grief and dismay enough to give Cayde and Navi a headache washing over the two Force sensitives. But before Cayde and Navi can fully recover from the storm of emotions, they'll hear some familiar voices calling out, "What happened here? Surrender your weapons now, and we will not harm you!" Several Disciples of the Whill burst into the room, their crossbows at the ready. But when they see Cayde and Navi, they lower their weapons. "Navi!" They glance at the dead bodies. "... what the kriff happened? Are you and Cayde alright?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi grimaces, taking the rush of emotions as best she can. She can feel the beginnings of a pounding headache from the overstimulation of her brain, but she has no time to process it more than slightly. Seconds later she's staring at the business end of at least three crossbows, held in front of three Disciples of the Whill. At least they lower their weapons when they see who they're aiming at. "Don't forget Cayde," she advises softly, kneeling to hug the diminutive alien, trying not to wrinkle her nose at the smell of the dirty Jawa robe. "We found the little guy we were looking for. He got kidnapped by some kind of syndicate thugs. The bodies were here when we arrived... I don't know who killed them, but I'd guess the same thugs that kidnapped our little friend here." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     When the diminutive alien begins to throw a tantrum, Cayde tries to either calm it down by assuring it that they will help it get the documents--LEGAL documents--it needs, or simply force it to fall asleep. He doesn't acknowledge the two crossbow-wielding disciples. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Navi and Cayde may then notice that there's a couple more Disciples behind the ones who had just rushed in. They're escorting the thugs they'd been fighting earlier, who look none too happy to see Cayde and Navi. "-We- killed them?!" the Trandoshan screams angrily. "You're a crazy bastard, Sephi! These guys are our trusted contractors. We'd never stab 'em in the back like that! Pah! You dumb bantha, they were obviously killed by blunt trauma, but you didn't see any of us carrying clubs or the such, did you??" The Disciples frown, and examine the bodies. One of them nods, frowning. "He's... right. They were only carrying blasters, but the Besalisk and the Jawa here were clearly struck by a weapon that wasn't ranged." He walks over the device lying on the ground, and studies it, looking thoughtful. He sighs deeply. "I'm assuming your friend here was wanting documentation." Cayde will find that he can't really affect the small alien much. Their mind is fortified, and the young padawan will find that their ability is equal to his own. But the small alien seems to have fully regained control of their emotions now, and both Navi and Cayde will find the headache and brain fog they'd experienced just now to have evaporated. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "And the barrel or grip of a pistol or the buttstock of a rifle make as good a club as a stick or baton," retorts Navi to the angry Trando. "But I'll take your suggestion into account... IF you clean up that nasty mouth of yours before you speak to me again. In case it escaped you, you're not in the best position to be calling names or casting aspersions." She looks down at the little alien, which she's still gently hugging. <<Did you hit them?>> she asks, trying to form it into images and impressions. <<Did they try to harm you?>> 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde was about to smack it and knock it out just as it finally manages to compose itself. But they really need to go now. Plus, he really doesn't want to spend another moment in this foul-smelling place.     <Let's go> he projects to Navi urgently, glancing up at the exit again. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' the small alien forms an impression in the Force that emphasizes that they had only acted in self defense! They had tried to harm them first. They just did what was natural and protected themselves from danger... But the Disciple Navi had been speaking to catches Cayde's gaze. "Look," he addresses Navi and the young padawan sharply. "I know you want to leave. But this has become an incident that the constabulary may find out about soon, and unfortunately, that does not bode well for your friend here." "We spoke with the others," he says, gesturing with his head towards the mouthy Trandoshan. "They reported that your friend here had agreed to serve as a navigator for them in exchange for a few credits and forged documentation. I don't know how much of that is true. But one thing does seem clear to me - they're looking for a quick way to get an ID." He sighs again. "Sadly, this is something that many innocent undocumented refugees try to seek and end up entangled the webs of crime and spice smuggling. Because the truth of the matter is, it can be extremely difficult to acquire documentation here on Jedha, and in general. If you have some existing form of ID already, are educated and well to do, carry a detailed written record of your work history, and have no criminal charges against you, you might get a temporary work permit and identification documents good for a year within ten to sixteen weeks. If you don't have those things..." He pauses. "You may find yourself incarcerated. Or in a refugee camp on a remote world on the edge of the Mid Rim." "If the constabulary finds out about this incident, they'll come looking for your friend, and at that point the BPIC is guarateed to get involved. What I advise is to take them back to the Temple and hide them there. Let as few people as possible know that they're there." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "We followed his fear here," Navi explains softly. "I think he didn't know what he was really getting into and began to realize it too late to escape. We saved him from a ship crash on Ilum. He seems to be from a whole different part of the galaxy, one that hasn't been explored in centuries. He gives me the impression that the two dead sentients tried to attack him when he entered this chamber, and he protected himself." "For what it's worth, we'll take your advice. He'll be at the Temple, and that's where he'll stay." She doesn't mention that she and her party are leaving Jedha soon, and most likely the diminutive alien will go with them. It seems best they don't know about that part. <<C'mon, buddy. Let's get you to the Temple. It's safe there, and we can help you,>> she impresses gently upon the little alien. "Let's go, Cayde. I think we're done here," she adds to Cayde. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Indeed, Cayde is...well, even paler looking than usual. Why did any of this matter, anyway...they were going to be leaving in a few days. It seemed they would have to take the strange little creature with them, annoying as the thing was.     [Okay] he signs to the unsolicited advice given. However, just then another wave of nausea washes over him, and he turns to the side and retches onto the floor again. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' the Disciple pales slightly and massages his forehead. "I... understand that," he says, "but I do hope you realize those are extremely -unfavorable- circumstances for your friend. I'll see what I can do to keep the constabulary off of this incident, but you -must- make sure that the BPIC does not find out about him. He'll be deported and likely prosecuted immediately." He watches Cayde with mild disinterest as he retches on the floor again, then sighs. "Now the three of you had better get going. Try to avoid public areas with high traffic." Then he turns on his heel and gestures for the rest of the Disciples to follow him and escort the other thugs out the way they'd come. The small alien does not seem to believe Navi very much. They couldn't hear what the Disciple was saying, but they had the Force, and guessing at body language can't have been hard. They impress concern upon Navi, for themselves, Thaarin, and his companion as well. They couldn't stay in one place for too long, nor they could remain undocumented like this. It was dangerous. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi watches the Disciples and their prisoners leave. "Are you okay to walk, Cayde? 'Cause the decontam showers are back at the Temple, and I could use an hour in one of them," she asks her companion. She looks to the diminutive alien, gently releasing it from her hug. <<Look, Little Guy... I know you're afraid, and I'm trying to understand why. But if the officials here learn about you, you might be in /real/ trouble... the kind we can't get you out of. The smartest thing you can do is come back to the Temple with us and try to keep a low profile. I'm just hoping we can figure out just what you're running away from,>> she impresses upon its mind, as gently as she can without losing meaning. <<We need to go. That robe may not smell too good, but it'll keep your identity hidden. Hopefully nobody official will notice you.>> 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods and leaps up out of the hole after he has just removed grating from. Hopefully, the Jawa outfit will turn any suspicious attention away. 
}}

The Wedding

2025-07-02T07:02:03Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-04-11 |Synopsis=Jorn, Ellari, and Volken find themselves at Thaelin and Sanza's wedding ceremony. |Cast of Characters=159, 418, 296, 321 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The morning after Jorn and Ellari have settled at the small and cantina in Vorkarr, they may find that the lobby is nothing like it had been the night before. The cantina's somewhat crowded - it looks like this morning, a crowd..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-04-11
|Synopsis=Jorn, Ellari, and Volken find themselves at Thaelin and Sanza's wedding ceremony.
|Cast of Characters=159, 418, 296, 321
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The morning after Jorn and Ellari have settled at the small and cantina in Vorkarr, they may find that the lobby is nothing like it had been the night before. The cantina's somewhat crowded - it looks like this morning, a crowd had swarmed the small inn. The hostess from the day before is rushing about, trying to find accommodations for everyone. This likely doesn't bode well for Jorn or Ellari - the folk milling about look like they might have come from Sundari or offworld. Meanwhile, Volken is likely on his way to Thaelin's wedding ceremony. The event is starting in roughly thirty minutes, and of course, the younger Mandalorian and his bride are looking forward to seeing Volken there. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn will wake up and begin to amor up. It's the people. Well, the sound of the people that alarm him. Everything has so much potential to go bad. That does make him double check everything on his person. A moment later he tries to remember the layout of the small places. If there's some nook, or cranny, they can crawl out of. "I should have thought about that," Jorn chides himself. He should have factored in the wedding. Perhaps make an early escape, something. Holding back, he figures it's best not to turn the small, potentiual refuge into a shooting gallery. It's best to keep it as a refuge instead of turning it into a makeshift prison. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari was already up, checking to see if there had been any response from Master Volk yet, whilst also checking in with Volken. She frowns at the noise downstairs. That didn't bode well.     "Thought about what?" she asks, upon hearing Jorn mutter to himself. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' <<I'm heading to the wedding. Standby. Thaelin, so far, has not been receptive to Jorn. It's almost as if cutting off his arm and holding ontot he Dark Saber has made things sour.>> Volken's responses to them are clinical and brief, not wanting anyone to know that he's been commnicating with the fugitives but the occasional answer to a question is given to both Jorn and Ellari. If he's silent it's probably because he's too busy...much like he's about to be. He's otherwise cleaned up about as best Volken Mons can be. Armor polished, gear properly secured and attended to. Huge arms hanging out like Rancor legs. Gotta have the guns on display, plus the tattoos. <<I';m heading in now.>> 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Indeed, he should have thought about the wedding. Lingering in the hallway near the cantina but out of sight will allow Jorn to eavesdrop on snippets of the conversation here and there. Most of them it would appear, arrived late and couldn't accommodations in the immediate vicinity. They're talking about Reeve... and her mother. "I hear she quietly hired a couple of the best of the best to look for him," one of them says. "Her daughter's infamous beau, and the most wanted man on all of Mandalore right now." "Ha!" his companion says. "I heard that rumor alright. I /also/ heard they're here. In Vorkarr. But you'd never know," he says. "They were hired by the Republic once, but no one knew they were actually from Kalevala..." Ellari will have received a message from Master Volk. He's wondering if he still wants to talk. Evening would be best, he says... As Volken heads towards the venue, he'll see a small crowd gathered outside in the courtyard. The faces are somewhat familiar. He might recall that some of them had brawled in the streets just a few days prior. Perhaps they'd been among the many he'd plowed over in his anger... 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn sighs. "We may have to hunker down until they clear out," he says to Ellari in a quiet voice. The chatter catching his attention. "Apparently Mom is looking for me," shaking his head. That tells him the offers shouldn't have been trusted. He knew that, but confirmation is nice. Communications are off. A thought lingers in Jorn's mind, but he holds it close to the chest. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari nods. "It's just as well, Master Volk can speak to you tonight, if you're still interested in what he may have to say." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "I am. Safe spot. I've got at least two additional independent hitters working with Mom now." Jorn shakes his head. There's an irony about all of this. One day, he'll figure out where to laugh. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Volken slows a bit to take in the crowd. His helmet is off at the moment so his narrowed eyes and broad, bearded, brutish features can be seen peering at each of those present in turn. His heavy footsteps soon pick up once again, treading forward and towards them all. He says nothing just yet but instead begins searching the courtyard for specific faces. The twins, the bridge and groom, the mother, the father and any others who were allies or at least friendly to him during the days leading up tot his mess. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Ellari's comm starts pinging again. It's not Master Volk, this time, it's that damned guard from the impounding yard. He's asking if they're still supposed to meet up...? Volken won't have a hard time finding the faces he's looking for. The twins are both here, dressed nearly identically and without their helmets. Revara's mother is in a corner near the rose garden, talking to some high ranking politician. Thaelin and Sanza aren't around, but they're likely somewhere behind the scenes, getting ready or taking pictures. Volken may also be in the middle of noting that the Duke isn't here when two of the Mandalorians he'd punched out in the streets approach him. "Well, well, well. Fancy seeing you here," one of them remarks sarcastically. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari checks the message. Hm...telling him her location might not be the best idea. But, she begins to consider the wedding. After all, she'd been invited, and any proper invitation should also include at least one guest along.     "Good, stay here and wait...lie low. I'm going to head back to Sundari and see if we can find ourselves at least one more ally."     She replies to the message, instructing him to meet her at the port, and that he'd better have some formal clothing ready. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "I'm in the groom's party." Volken's tone is deadpan as the Mandalorian approaches him. His response matter of fact. He glances over the area again, taking note of who is where. The twins get a long look, trying to see if he can tell which one from which... He then turns back towards the two before him and slowly smiles. "...How's the jaw? I tried to use you to throw at one of them but...you're a slippery one aren't you..." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The ignorant guard responds eagerly, peppering Ellari with questions about where they were going, and what the formal clothing was for. Were they finally ... going on a date? The other Mandalorian chuckles. "Oh I know. You're not much one for jokes, are you?" He smirks, and Volken will be struck by what an unpleasantly handsome face he has. He rubs said jaw. "It's seen worse," he muses, "and I'm sure it would have worked out just fine if you'd had a better throwing arm," he says, clearly amused. But then he'll be overshadowed by a familiar looming figure - Er'gi. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "I'm usually good with jokes but....uh...it's been a rough night." responds Volken, now allowing a more full toothed smile to arrive. It seems he -is- amused after all, especially at the other Mandalorian's follow up. No hard feelings it seems. "I gotta work on that. My arms were tired from playing tug of war with and benching transport ships..." As the other Mandalorian giant arrives, Volken turns his attention towards him and his smile becomes more true now, "Er'gi!" he rumbles, rolling the 'r' slighlty to give it a more throaty greeting. "Well...look at you, vod. How're the new pups doing?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Is that so?" the Mandalorian says, "well, then, I suppose should let you mingle with more familiar faces, mm?" And then he slithers away. When Volken asks about the dogs, the man eyes light up. "They're in good health," he says, "I took two. A female, and a male. Perhaps I'll breed them one day. They're both prize creatures at hunting." He flicks Volken's shoulder in a friendly fashion. "You ought to get into the sport of hunting," he says, "and not the bounty kind. You might be surprised at how clever some mammals are..." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     << You might call it that>> Ellari replies simply. She makes certain to leave Volk's contact information with Jorn, then quickly exits the inn and looks for an outfit in one of the shops in town for herself. She will then hail ground transport back to Sundari...and head to the port to wait for her...guest. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "And miss out on filling my credits for use for my wild nights and days in places like Canto Bight? No, vod, I'm afraid the mammals here are far too clever for me. I need simplier prey that will keep my belly full and the ladies calling..." Volken waves it off and then gives Er'gi a grin, "You, however, I never had a chance to see if you can stand up to me. We never even had a chance due to the scrimmage being cancelled. An arm wrestlikng match... -something- that should bring some attention and women hanging off of our arms. I can probably manage at least three on mine. Two on yours." He claps a hand on Er'gi's shoulder as he speaks, still grinning and in good cheer though he adds, "Perhaps when this is all done...we can talk!" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Ellari's guest is early. He looks like he spent too much time on his appearance, but at least he's in good spirits. "You never said where we're going," he says, with a grin. Er'gi guffaws. "You insult me, vod. I could have four on mine! I may be shorter, but that does not mean I am weaker!" He goes over to the wine bar, and requests two glasses - one for him, and one for Volken. Volken may notice out of the corner of his eyes that the twins, or at least of one them, is trying his damnedest to -not- mingle with the crowd. Now what's that all about.... 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Well," Ellari replies, smirking a bit. "I figured this sort of invitation would be best told in person. We are going to Duke Thyssel's Bastille, for his daughter's wedding. I do hope you've cleaned up your armor." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "-Four-?! No, no, that won't do. I have a reputation to maintain! We'll figure out ohw many can hang from our arms at once when the wedding is over. That'll solve this debate once and for all." He grins, accepting the wine as it's brought to him and he takes a full drink of it while slowly noting the actions of the twins. "Mmm...pardon me, vod." he rumbles to Er'gi before turning and beginnig to lumber his great bulk directly towards both of them. They supposedly wanted to see and speak to him here after all, and he makes no attempt at being subtle as he approaches... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Well, if you think so," he says a bit nervously, "Then I have! I'm .. flattered. Thank you for inviting me along, Ellari. When do we leave for it?" Er'gi waves a hand dismissively, chuckling at Volken's bravado. "I think it's already solved, you just can't admit it," he says with cheerful mischief. But as soon as Volken starts to make his way towards one of the twins, he excuses himself and darts inside the chapel -- off limits to anyone not part of the bridal party. Thankfully, Volken won't even have to rebel this time to follow him - Thaelin's good graces has made sure of that. Er'gi does notice him peeling off, though, and follows, gripping his arm. "Vod," he says quietly. "I may not be the smartest Mandalorian but I am no di'kut. You didn't just come here because of Thaelin, did you? Let me help you." Meanwhile, Jorn may be back at the inn, following Ellari's instructions regarding laying low. However, as he's mulling over the fact that Revara's mother may have sent two hitmen after him, he'll come upon a woman wandering the hallways. She looks lost. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari looks him up and down. It would have to do. "Now." she replies. "Unless, you aren't ready?" she asks, arching a brow at him. "You can always make your own way and meet me there later, I suppose." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn waits just contemplating things with his thoughts. A few thoughts come to mind still. That's the one thing with him. Just a lot of time with the thoughts trying to survive this. Although, when he sees the woman wandering, he stills himself. Trying to slowly slink off into the shadows. All who wander are not lost. And so, he believes this woman isn't lost. While he can't confirm what she's doing, there's a simple presumption that she's here for him. And so, he decides doing nothing is the best course. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Volken pauses and considers Er'gi... He then nods his head and looks away. "...Thanks vod. Yeah...you're right. I uh...I don't want to tell you everything here. To many people around.. but you'll probably find out soon enough anyway so sure. Your help's appreciated. Come on then.." He starts for the chapel, "If you don't want to come in yet I understand.." he does note, "But..I think those twins are up to something and it has to do with the Dark Saber and Thaelin's mother. I just want to find out more and get proof. Everything that's been happening... it don't make a lot of sense does it? I think The Duke and Thaelin deserve to have this whole mess cleaned up." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' For a moment, he looks incredibly insecure and worried. Perhaps she didn't like how he'd dressed? But then she asks him if he's ready to leave and he almost interrupts her with, "Of course, yes. I'm ready to leave now." He gives her a faint and awkward smile and offers her his arm. The woman doesn't notice Jorn. But he'll see her go right up to the room where he and Ellari are staying and examine the door. She looks through the peephole, and frowns. What was she doing?? Had his future mother in law's hitmen already found him so quickly? And if there were two of them, is this a ploy to flush him out of the inn to where her partner is waiting?? Oh, Jorn is in a position now... Er'gi nods. "Later," he says, "but I do want an explanation. You know the rumors have been circulating. About you, Jorn, Revara's mother possibly being the one to send the mob to the Bastille..." He shrugs. "I'll come along. I'm no friend to the Von'egels, but the Duke is a respectable man. Even now, the medics aren't sure if he'll make it." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "..I didnt know that.." Volkens' spirit seems to fall for a moment and he glances at the smaller giant. "I... I see, that makes alot of sense about why Thaelin is..feeeling the way he is." After a pause he rumbles, "Thanks for having my back vod. You might make me a hunter yet. But...what rumors? What's been getting said?" He'd tried...very hard...to not be linked directly to Jorn and Ellari but it seems as if that's no longer viable. "..What do you already know?" As he speaks he continues moving to enter the chapel though he slows to let Er'gi speak. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Excellent." Ellari takes his arm and hails an airspeeder to the wedding venue.     "So, you mentioned that you may be able to help with recovering data from a damaged drive?" she asks, once they're on the way. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn will turn on the communicator for sheer necessity. He will send a message off to Ellari, <<We might be hunted. Someone seems to be hunting us, or at least trying to find us.>> His gaze just levels and tries to memorize this person lookign for them. Their features. Anything distinguishable about her, he wants to note. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Er'gi nods grimly. "I heard from Jon'as," he says softly. "Poor vod..." "Nothing you should be terribly concerned about. Yet, anyway. No one can prove anything. Only that you collapsed a large part of a structure just before Jorn disappeared, completely. That's the worst of it, honestly." Er'gi continues to follow. "Yes," Ellari's plus one says emphatically. "I should be able to. Well it does depend on how ad its damaged but Ive never found a device I couldn't slice!" She's knocking on the door of the room now, looking puzzled. Jorn may be contemplating his next move when the hostess suddenly comes upon him. "Oh dear!" she cries, "I'm so sorry for the confusion!" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Excellent. Then, I have a job for you, after the wedding." Ellari replies, nodding. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn will turn off his messages and just let Ellari figure it out. Then he's stumbled upon when he was trying to be quiet with that text message. "It's fine. We're good," and he will leave it at that. Not exactly trusting the situation at all. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Alright vod, listen..." Volken stops before entering the chapel wholesale and simply says, "..I will trust you. Jorn didn't steal the Dark Saber. It was planted on him and I think the twins know who did it...and that Thaelin's mother may be involved. All of this was to discredit The Duke's efforts, probably, and initiate all of this unrest. To rewrite the rules and the game board. I'm looking for proof. The footage showing what happened on Jorn's ship was damaged..... So we're trying alternatives. I collapsed the dungeons trying to throw people off of his trail, to even fake his death but he screwed that up by staying in contact with Revara...." He grumbles at that but it's old news at this point. "I just want to know what's really going on. But I know some of those involved are capable of mishandling and stealing the Dark Saber because it happened before.... I've told Thaelin but he's very angry right now and has a right to be, at Jorn. But it's not just about him anymore." Looking away from Er'gi the giant Mando snorts, "...I swore I"d never get dragged into these politics but now I'm stuck in the middle. Anyway..if you dont' want to help now or dont' believe me I get it." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Her plus one regards her inquistively. "May I ask what the task is?" he says, as the escort pulls up. "I overbooked," the hostess pants. "And I believe I assigned this young woman to your room! I'm sorry if there was any kind of inconvienence..." The woman who had been inspecting his room door has now seen Jorn and is coming over. "Don't worry about it," she says to the hostess. "Take your time sorting it. And if there's not room, I'll go somewhere else." She turns to Jorn. "Are you here for the wedding? I couldn't help but overhear in the cantina. I just came back from the Outer Rim and was looking to stay the night somewhere before heading back to my father's place in the city." She offers Jorn a disarming smile. "What are you doing here?" Er'gi stares at Volken in disbelief. "How do you ... " He frowns. "That's dangerous, vod. Don't you know anything about Thaelin's mother? If anyone was going to get away with seizing power, it'd be her!" Er'gi shakes his head when he mentions Revara. "He needs to cut ties with her, if all that you say is true. Otherwise, it'll all fall apart." Er'gi shakes his head. "It's alright. I don't know if I have absolute faith in what you say, but I do want to know the truth, as well." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Thaelin's told me about her.. His mother that is. I know it's dangerous.." rumbles Volken. "But...if I'm then I'm wrong and Jorn will pay the price for that. But if I'm right and the Dark Saber is being passed around by treachery and scheming..? What will that mean for all of us? Yes I just want to now the truth at this point. I almost dont' care about anything else. That...and I don't think Thaelin and his bride deserve to be dragged around like this either... He...you... a few others... it's rare that people are so nice to me. I think I should do right by everyone..." Frowning now, Volken turns away and rumbles, "Anyway...let's see what's happening.." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "You'll find out, soon enough." Ellari answers him. She frowns, checking her comm and reading Jorn's message. That didn't bode well but it also wasn't surprising. "By the way, I thought I had your name, but it seems I may have missed it." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The young Mandalorian deflates a little when Ellari asks for his name again. "Varen," he says, "... you don't remember me from primary school?" he asks. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn thinks on the next few steps here. He can't rely on Revara because of her mother. Mother has hired two hitters that he has no visual on, which creates a distrust of everything remotely new. The wedding undderway, which would be like entering a den of hungry animals and Jorn would be the raw meat. The ship is locked for the moment. Thinking on it he tries to remember the name of the Jedi contact. Maybe he needs to make some allies. His gaze just pushing forward as he tries to connect the dots. To figure out the proper picture before his eyes. "I'm a guest. Thank you," and Jorn will try to slink back into his area that he rented with Ellari. To Jorn it's that simple. He's a guest in this place of unknowns. That's all anyone needs to know really. It's not a lie, nor is it an exaggeration. Is it a simplification? Maybe. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Varen! Oh, of course!" Ellari smiles and nods. "I'm sorry, I'm terrible with names, and it was so long ago." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The woman arches a brow, coming to stand in the doorway of room Ellari and Jorn are staying in. "You're a guest of the wedding?" she says. She seems suspicious of his wary behavior. "Is something wrong?" she asks. "Are you trying to stay out of the public eye for a reason? If so, I wouldn't suggest going to Thaelin Thyssel's wedding." Varen chuckles nervously. "Oh. That's alright..." although it's a bit obvious that it's not. "So when will I get to know more about what we're doing...and why?" 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "No. I'm not," Jorn says honestly. "Just passing through," because every good lie is built upon truth. "I'm very tired. I've been to a variety of places lately. It has worn on me. Less about the public and more about enjoying some silence," and he nods. "Weddings are highly quiet. Even the ones that go smoothly, the party is ruckus at best. If they go badly, the drama will just keep a jacuzzi of noise bubbling and swirling uncontrollably," and he chuckles and shakes his head. "May the happy couple have many good days though," he says in all honesty, incase the happy couple has some kind of celebrity status. Jorn knows they don't, but it may help sell his story. Lean into the foreigner in a strange land aspect. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "After the wedding, I promise." Ellari answers, nodding and leaning back slightly. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The woman chuckles. "Well," she says, "I'm glad for you, then. I agree, Mandalorian weddings do tend to be a ruckus, at best. I've only ever been to one in my entire life, and I think there was enough fighting and drinking that happened there to last me half a lifetime." she pauses. "I've been away for a long time, but speaking of a ruckus it seems like there's quite a political buzz going on about the Dark Saber missing. Haven't heard more than that, and don't care to, never been the political sort. But I do have to head back to the city at some point. Anything I should be warned about?" she asks. Varen doesn't say anything for a moment, but after several seconds, he attempts to reach for Ellari's hand. "How long will it take us to get the venue, do you think?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "I'm not sure, I haven't been there before. But hopefully not long." Ell replies, letting him take her hand. "What do you think of this...mess, anyway?" she asks suddenly. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "It seems I'll be leaving at a good time. Politics tend to bore me," Jorn says simply to that one. To him, they're always uninteresting. Even now when he's so embroiled in them, they're boring. "Well, you should try to enjoy a free drink. I'm sure many will be celebrating. I'll try to catch up on some sleep," he gives a nod toward the woman. Trying to be kindly dimissively. The plan is to try and reach out to Volken's contact. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' When Ellari allows him to take her hand, he suddenly seems entirely forget that he'd even asked about how long it would take to get to the venue. "I think..." he trails off, uncertainly. "I'm.. I'm not sure. What do you think?" The woman chuckles again softly. "I will," she says, "but likely later." She pauses, her smile suddenly turning sultry. "Perhaps you'd like to enjoy one -with- me, just before you leave?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Perhaps I'm not sure myself, but that's why I asked you, Varen." Ellari answers, doing her best to mask a bit of annoyance at the lack of an answer. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Everything about the invite gives him pause. "Maybe a little later. A drink may be nice," Jorn leaves it at that. He doesn't want to say he's enegaged because Ma Ma Revara's hitters. They're unknowns and may be someone that will proudly speak of her daughter. So, he tries to keep it vague, his tie to Revara in the shadows for a few moments to strangers. Then he tries to shut the door. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Erm... well..." Varen trails off, stumbling over his words. "I believe... I believe that once the Dark Saber is recovered, we'll finally have answers to most of the questions we have," he says vaguely. The woman grins. "Alright, later, then? Come down to the cantina and ask for Naamara," And then, just before Jorn closes the door, she reaches over and brushes her hand under his chin in a flirtatious manner. Then the door is closed and she's gone. Once Volken and Er'gi enter the chapel, they'll see Thaelin, his mother, along with the holograph team, posing in front of the ceiling to floor windows in the chapel. The baron they'd seen slip inside, is nowhere to be seen, for the moment. But Thaelin looks up when Er'gi and Volken come in. "Volken," he says, calmly. "you're just in time. The holographers wanted to take some of just the groom with the wedding party." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Mhm...I see. Well, I heard that the thief claims he's been framed. That the Darksaber was planted on his ship." Ellari tells him. "Do you think that's possible?" she asks, fixing him with a piercing stare. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Mm....duty calls.." rumbles Volken as he hears this. He studies Thaelin for a few seconds before offering a swift glance over towards his mother and then he takes a good long look over the entire chapel...searching for signs of the baron. He offers a quick glance back to the other giant besides him and then steps away to start to approach Thaelin with slow heavy steps...still glancing here and there in search for signs of the Baron and any doors that may have been taken by him. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Something about that touch concerns Jorn. Slipping inside, he shuts the door, locks it and then figures time is against him. He will quickly gets to work reaching out to the contact Trassa Volk via message. > That's how the message begins. He hopes for contact to put a few more puzzle pieces together. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Of course," Varen replies immediately, though it's up to Ellari to decide whether she thinks he's being sincere or just being obsequious. "Anything's possible..." Thaelin's mother smiles at Volken. "Good to see you, Mons," she says. "You disappeared in such a untimely way, and I haven't seen you since. Where've you been?" But before Volken can respond, Thaelin requests that he, Volken, and Er'gi have a moment alone. She seeems reluctant to grant the request but finally leaves them alone, and Thaelin gestures for them to follow him into the men's refreshers. "Have you seen my cousins?" he asks, "have you spoken to either of them?" Jorn will receive a response relatively quickly. <<So I have heard>> the Jedi Master replies. <<Shall we speak over a holocall?>> 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Well, what do you think it more likely?" Ellari asks, her gaze only intensifying. "As you know, this is a very important matter." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Thaelin's intervention was timely because Volken did have a response on the tip of his tongue. However he pauses as Thaelin approaches him and then he looks over towards Er'gi and then back down to Thaelin. Before long, the two giants have been taken aside and Volken frowns as he hears the query. "No." he rumbles, "I saw one of the Von'egel's enter the chapel but I don't know which one. We were....looking for him. I had been told they wanted to talk to me at the wedding but so far they've been...avoiding me." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' <<Only if I can secure it. Eyes everywhere.>> Messages are easier to encode, but transmissions like that would take some effort. And he needs that precuation before going forward. <<How secure is your transmission signal.>> That's an honest question from him. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Varen blinks. "Well.. perhaps he didn't steal it," he answers, trying to shrug it off. "Perhaps... ah... perphaps." He fidgets nervously. Thaelin frowns, folding his arms. "I don't think it's quite so straightforward. They do, but they're both convinced you're hellbent on beating the truth out of them, regarding the Dark Saber. And I'm sorry, but I can't really advise you on that matter. You know what I think." He sighs. Er'gi listens patiently, his expression intensifying, fists clenching and unclenching. <> the Jedi Master replies. <<It is encrypted. What favor do you request, on Volken's behalf? Tell me more>> 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "If I have to... I'm dragged into this mess now." responds Volken, expression dour. He rests his hands on his hips, likely to give them something to do but the agitation is clear in his voice. He keeps it down however and rumbles, "The very fact that they said something to you about it...suggess they know something. Why would they even tell you or be so specific unless there was something to hide? Why would they even know to approach you about it and that I am investigating it?" Volken makes an idle gesture, "It was Caine Von'egel that suggested your mother was after it and either him or his brother were at Jorn's ship, harassing him, before the Dark Saber was found there...and I know from another Mandaloria that Caine made an attempt on the Dark Saber in the past...didn't he? Of course, Fett was crazy - but regardless..." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Perhaps...what?" Ellari goads, wanting to know what he really thinks...her patience is beginning to run thin... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaelin pinches his nose bridge, sighing. "Either of them having something to hide is never new, Volken," he says, "It's just the way they are. Kasseady believes the Dark Saber to be a symbol of power, but ask him when he's drunk and he'll talk druk about it for hours. Caine doesn't care for it. I don't think he's ever tried to possess it. Displace it, yes. But properly own it, no. He would never." "And it's no secret my mother's angle. Those who don't like it, can't do much about it. She's too well connected." "Fett?" Er'gi chips in. He scoffs. "I should have known that name would be associated with trouble..." "Perhaps he's not who everyone makes him out to be!" Varen blurts anxiously. "Ellari, you know that there is no task you cannot ask of me. You have my loyalty.." But their transport is slowing. They must have been arriving at the venue now. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Hm. I know." Ellari tells him. "But I don't want you to do it only for me."     As they approach the venue, her gaze turns toward the window as she sees they have nearly arrived. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "What are you trying to say, Thaelin? That those twins are always hiding something doesn't change the fact that they are hiding something about -this- and not doing anything to prove they've nothing to do with it aside from running and hiding instead of simply facing me...and no of course he wouldnt want to own something he apparently put his hands to in order to sell." To Er'gi he just shakes his head, "He was ...uh...intense. It's a long story but not so disconnected from this. Caine was...obessive about trying to bring Revara back here. He even incited a battle in the middle of a Republic detention center over it. Fett pursued them, having sworn to help Revara stay away from Mandalore which apparently was waht she wanted. She was desperate to not return...but...here we are. I -thought- ...at the time ... I was doing some good by siding with Fett to let Revara make her way away from Mandalore on her own terms but apparently I judged that whole situation wrong." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Varen doesn't respond. The doors of their transport hiss open as the airlock releases, and he hurries out - but makes sure to wait at the bottom of the gangplank and offer her his arm with a meek smile. "What I'm saying is that it isn't unsual for them to hide something from everyone, but allow me to be privy to hints of the somewhat obvious sort," he says. "Do you understand? They trust me. I don't want to break that trust, but I'm not about to let their secrecy pave the way for a power grab on my mother's part." He pauses. "You should go find them," he says. "we're long overdue for the holographs, anyway. Try upstairs," he says. "The attic. Just don't break the floorboards. I still need to get married in this chapel." "You did the right thing, vod. No one can know anything when it comes to Revara," Er'gi says with a nod. "Now let's go find that di'kut baron." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Thanks vod.....and I'll try though what's a wedding without a little property damage, mmm?" Volken gives Thaelin a full toothed grin and then turns towards Er'gi as he speaks. "Thanks vod..." he repeats before reaching up to clap a hand roughly onto Er'gi's back in appreciation for his help. "Alright, let's go... though between the two of us if the attic floorboards are a problem..." he lets his voice trail off on that as the obvious need not be stated. "We'll see what it looks like.." he adds before turning to start to head for the indicated direction. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari smirks slightly, taking his hand as she reaches the bottom of the walkway. "Shall we, then?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaelin smirks. "Yes, but we need something standing to demolish after the ceremony, don't we?" He lets them go, and returns to his mother in the main sanctuary. Volken and Er'gi won't have any trouble find the narrow staircase in the back that leads up to the attic, but they'll have go up single file... Varen blushes, and squeezes her hand affectionately as they make their way towards the venue. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari doesn't squeeze back, although she doesn't pull away, either. She then turns her focus to the wedding party, searching for Volken....if he's here, he should be easy to spot. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' This looks like a disaster waiting to happen. "Between the two of us....I'm not sure how sturdy this is going to be. You better give me some distance, vod." he says towards Er'gi as he steps forward. "...All jokes and competition aside... I'm probably heavier then you by some degree for..uh...reasons..." Indeed, Er'gi seems to be a natural born Mandalorian, specially gifted in girth but Volken is both gifted and further enhanced by virtue of his actual species. Having them both on the steps and a collapse would be...embaressing to say the least. That said he begins his climb up towards the attic. He's naturally ignorant to Ellari's search for him but given his high visiblity and that of Er'gi - that they both went into the chapel should likely be easily determined via a few quick questions of other wedding guests. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Varen seems dismayed by Ellari's lack of response, but he follows her, of course, like a strill puppy. Er'gi chuckles. "Is that so? You act as if weight is a sensitive topic. It's not." He then laughs. But he lets Volken scale the steps first. The attic, Volken will find, will barely fit him. But the space being small means the baron isnt hard to spot - he's lurking by the window, staring out at the courtyard. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari doesn't seem to notice Varen's dismay, as she is focused on asking around about Volken. It isn't long before she starts making her way toward the chapel anyway, glancing at the time. The ceremony should begin soon, right? 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Normally Volken would have shot back a quip at Er'gi on that but he has quickly found himself at the top of the attic. There's no way that both of the two giants will fit in so he makes a gesture for Er'gi to hang back for a moment and then slowly squeezes his great bulk forward into the attic. He takes a few careful steps forward to test the weight of the floorboards - but then calls out towards the Baron. "You're really good at running, vod. Didn't you and your brother say you wanted to talk to me? Which one of you am I talking to? You two need to carry a sign on you or something." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Well, it would appear that Ellari is a little early. There's still quite a few guests just loitering in the courtyard... The Baron turns to face him. His body language reads like hes ready to pull a weapon at any moment. "You brought Ellari with you," he said evenly, avoiding the question. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "You're anywhere from three to five hundred pounds wrong on that front... " answers Volken cryptically. He can't see the courtyard anyway though he does add: "And anyway if she is here she didn't come with me. ..but based on your comment..." He makes an idle gesture, "..Caine? Either way I don't care. So let's talk. What did you have to say?" Volken holds his massive hands up, revealing no drawn weapons though really such a gesture is more implied then literal. He effectively is a weapon after all. "Well?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ell glances around, looking for any potential familiar faces. "See anyone you know?" she asks Varen quietly. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Baron looks irritated. "You've done nothing since we've last talked," he says, his brows furrowing suddenly. "You haven't found Jorn. Or, you have, and you haven't turned him in." His eyes narrow. "You claim not to be a di'kut, but if want to keep Thaelin's mother from ascending to a rank of unstoppable power, Jorn -can't- be allowed to marry Revara." Er'gi is coming up the staircase, but he doesn't enter the attic just yet. Instead, he just listens from the stairwell, ready to back Volken up if need be. Varen doesn't reply. She might notice he's... hiding behind her? Well, that's not a good look for her, or him. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari scowls. "What's the matter with you? Afraid of a party? If that was the case, you should have told me. Then you could have left before we arrived." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Listen, just answer me plainly. I'm not too great at this investigative junk. I'd rather throw holo-tables at people, not sit at them and plan and haggle. I already figured that about Revara. That much is plain to me. Don';t worry about where Jorn is or Ellari. Worry about -me- right now." Lowering his hands, Volken makes a beckoning gesture. "Keep it plain and simply and just answer: -Who- put the Dark Saber onto Jorn's ship? Was it Revara or you or your brother? Give me a straight answer." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Varen once again does not reply, but Ellari will see that someone's approaching now. "Ah! Varen von Dagerrel," a tall thin Mandalorian says, arms spread wide. "Now how did you manage to get yourself invited to this wedding...?" "Jorn did," The baron says, a smile suddenly curving onto his lips. "He paid me to do it. He was quite insecure in his relationship with Revara, frequently questioning whether she really loved him, or just the idea of someone who would accept her, flaws and all. But he loved her of course, and it didn't take him very long to figure out that the only way to ensure she'd stay with him was to acquire an item of undisupted power and influence." Then he shrugs. "It worked," he says. "why do you think she's not here today, at her own brother's wedding? She's searching for her one true love, Jorn of Bakura." He shrugs. "Whatever he's told you about being framed, well, it's all a lie. It may have made him very unpopular in the eyes of everyone else on Mandalore, but he secured the one thing he wanted so dearly - her committment and loyalty." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari scowls, annoyed at the lack of response. But then someone else is approaching. She doesn't involve herself just yet, since Varen is the one being addressed. Instead, she just stands back and waits to see how this will play out. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "That sounds like a pretty far-fetched and illogical lie, vod. In order for that story to sense there's a lot of logic loop holes that have to be leapt through. Maybe I know more then I'm letting on or maybe you think I"m more stupid then I actually am. Maybe it's both. But say I believe you. Why would -you- ..someone who was so obessed with Revara you chased her into The Republic, to Coruscant of all places... fought -two- other Mandalorians to bring her back and declared your love for her infront of me - take -money- to help a -rival- secure his marriage to her?" Volken taps his forhead as he speaks. "I'm not as dense as you think, vod. That's not even considering everything else that's happened. But... maybe I'll give you some benefit of the doubt. Let's pretend we're telling the truth. Nobody is going to accept the saber passing hands through theft or just being given away and a marraige wouldn't pacify anyone so what's the end game here?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "And who's this?" The tall, thin Mandalorian says upon seeing Ellari. "You're clan Vizsla? Well I never..!" "She should be happy," the baron says immediately. "And if a committed relationship with someone else makes her happy, then why not? This was before her mother was a part of any of this mess. I thought they'd severed ties completely. Once she'd vowed to never do her mother any favors, but she also once said if she had to raze a village to earn a place by her side, she would. Yet, I still figured they'd never truly reunite because her mother found her so utterly despicable. She publicly declared that even on the off chance that Revara ever brought her an advantage, she'd immediately pass it up, for nothing gained through Revara could be considered honorable. But that witch of a woman is a liar, and I should have known better." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Ellari Zin." Ell answers, nodding politely and extending a hand for a shake. "And yourself?" She glances somewhat suspiciously over at Varen. What exactly was going on here? 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn is actually in the small area where they set up shop at. He managed to escape the inn, but is keeping a low profile. Although he's wearing robes and put a shader on the helmet to make it look different. He'll change it back soon. Very soon. It feels weird to have a faded red helmet with white accents. He's trying to get a bead on his would be bounty hunters. Those are still two mystery folk he needs more intel on. Especially when it comes to appearance. Although Revara will get a simple one worded text message. Jorn only turns his messaging on for a moment, anything to avoid tracing. The word sent is simply, "Safe." He can't fully trust her, so that's all Revara gets. Plus, with him moving, he could see if any tried to check where he was. All the questions about resources linger in his mind. Right now, everything has too many variables. So, he's trying to solve a few of them. Make all the decisions a little clearer. This mess is too complicated for his taste. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Narren Asek," The Mandalorian addressing them says with a dramatic bow. "I didn't know Varen had it in him to pull a lady from Clan Vizsla," he chuckles. "He was rather forgettable in primary school." A pause. "So how did this arrangement occur?" While Jorn is out and about, he'll see a public transport pull into the only platform in the whole town. It's a large one heading back towards the city, with a few stops in the countryside. Perhaps he can blend in. But there's a problem. The woman who'd tried to go into his and Ellari's room is at the station too! She won't recognize him with his armor different ... but he should be careful. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "What you're saying doesn't make any sense. People assume I'm an idiot just because of my vices and that I think with my fists first but I'm not stupid. ...and if you -are- right then I'll just pop Jorn's head off when I see him. But I've seen enough to know that your story is absolutely wild and has a lot of holes in it. You expect me to believe that as crazy as you were for gettin' Revara home, enough to cause trouble in Coruscant of all places...that you'd sit idly by and be alright with this crazy plan for her marryin' a complete stranger she -just- met due to the weddin' festivities? You're telling me that -Jorn- hired you to steal the Dark Saber? You -taliked- to Jorn? Or did you talk to someone else who -told- you that story?" Volken takes a few slow steps forward, moving carefully and gingerly as he tests the studiness of the attic. "What about your brother?" 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn decides to try his luck with the public transit. He'll try to slip inside and remember the talk with the Jedi. Everything was a blur and he needs to follow that avenue. Something about the woman at the Inn bothered him. Then again, maybe that's a bit of paranoia talking. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Pleased to meet you, Narren." Ellari answers, bowing in return. "Just a chance meeting, that is all." she replies vaguely to his question. "Isn't that right, Varren?" she asks, glancing over toward the man currently at her side. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The Baron's eyes narrow at Volken. "Have you ever truly, deeply loved anyone?" he asks. When Volken asks about his brother, he shrugs. "Am I my brother's keeper? If you want to know his business, then ask him yourself. He's here." Then he turns back to the window, and stares out of it, expression distant. Perhaps its the paranoia, perhaps its not. The woman from the inn boards after him and sits in the row in front of him, coincidentally. Or maybe not. She doesnt address him. Not yet, anyway. The public transit lurches, and then they're underway. But about ten minutes into the trip, the woman gets up and heads for the refreshers in the back of the transport. "Uh," Varen stammers. "... yes. Of course." He fidgets, and Narren looks suspicious. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Volken seethes, frowning as the Baron turns away to look out the window. He gives a quick glance over his shoulder to see if Er'gi is still listening and then looks back again. ""Don't give me that 'if you love someone you'll let them go' nosense. I -saw- you. Revara did not want to come back to Mandalore and you -took her anyway-. -With- Ellari Zin's help! I was there. You shot at -me- and brawled with Khalo Fett in the middle of a detention center -just- to get your hands on her and force her back here. You're not being straight with me 'vod' .... Either that or -you- are also caught up in some of these web of lies and being tricked yourself. Now answer my question. Did you -directly- talk with Jorn?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "See?" Ellari says, smirking a bit. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we are going to get some refreshments." With that, she turns away and starts heading for some of the food tables. "So Varen, tell me what you've been doing all these years." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn raises a brow under the helm, but just takes the train back into town. He will keep his eye out, but do nothing more than make note of it. Again, today is about blending. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Did you?" The baron says calmly. "Can you prove, without a doubt, that I am the person that you think I am? Not once during this conversation have I explicitly claimed to have any affection for Revara. When you asked why someone who was so obsessed with Revara would allow a rival to secure marriage to her, I may have been answering in a hypothetical fashion. I merely stated she should be happy, which cannot be assumed to mean anything aside from what it could mean at face value." He turns back to Volken. "To answer your question, of course I did. We met that day the Duke invited us to Bastille, and asked us to be part of the wedding party." He was playing games. But why? What did the barons really want? But now someone's calling up the stairwell, asking them to come down for holographs. Varen seems relieved. "Oh, uh. Well, you know. just working at the impounding yard. It's been that way for the past several years..." Jorn may think nothing of it, but then suddenly a drunk passenger stumbles into the row Jorn is in, and vomits all over the floor. Some of it may catch his leg. Hopefully that woman is done in the refreshers soon... 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Volken must truly have great respect and concern for Thaelin because by now he'd normally have reached out to try and throttle the baron. As itis, his enormous hands twitch as if his patience is running thing. "So am I to assume that -both- brothers feel some kinda way about Ellari Zin? Because you sure seemed unhappy to see her as if you had a personal issue with her, much like Caine does, not to mention if you don't have any sort of connection wtih Revara why would you care if she was happy or not?" counters Volken while folding his arms. It is indeed a game that he is tiring off rapidly. "I know you're lying." is all he adds. There's a pause as he considers something ...and then he adds, "..And soon, everyone will know..." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "No, actually I don't." Ellari practically interrupts. Her brows go up. "Really, ever since graduating primary school? Where did you learn slicing, then?" she asks. "On your own? A random hobby you became interested in? They must not have worked you very hard, hm?" 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn is able to move his leg so most of the vomit misses. He'll live with the rest. Then he just tries to give the drunkard room. Barely acknowledging the drunk exists. He evens ays nothing, just trying to focus on the destination. Basically, emulating most commuters on the less than opulent area of Coruscant 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The baron chuckles. "You could say that. That's no secret, anyway," he says with a smirk. Then he shrugs. "She's aliit, vod, even if not by blood. I may not like her, but I have to care about her to some degree." the holographers are in the stairwell now. "We dont have much time now," he grouses. "Come now, both of you..." "Oh uh, yes. Uh. I found myself with some free time recently and started to learn the art of it." he says nervously. Strangely enough, the woman does not return from the refreshers for a whole forty five minutes. And when transport comes to a stop nearest to the venue, she'll get off too ... 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Something about that time away unnerves Jorn. There's no real time to question it, but his mind makes a note. Getting off at the first stop, he just tries to walk like this is typical business. The best way to hide sometimes is to not make yourself the highlight of the party, nor the person in the very back. You try to blend in with the people in the middle. Act like you should be there, and that's Jorn's approach. As he moves, he'll look for familiar places. Things that will somehow standout. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Started recently? Thought you said you were an expert." Ellari remarks, picking up a small plate and adding some small meat bites to it. "Or do you just -happen- to be some kind of genius savant?" 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' While not exactly pointless, Volken sneers, looking unfulfilled and pointless. He'd hoped the baiting of implying they had access to the means to obtain the truth might shake the baron but...his cool remains. And now time is nearly up. He casts an apologetic glance back to Er'gi, the other giant an ally in this but also not wanting him to feel his time was wasted. Still, somethings were gleaned by this even if Volken doubts the full truth of them. "Fine.. let's go. For Thaelin." he rumbles while turning to let the Baron go first. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' What's worse, is him and the woman are the only ones to get off at this stop. There's nothing obviously familiar about his surroundings, but there are signs everywhere for Thaelins wedding. The woman begins to approach him, arching a brow. "You know Clan Thyssel?" "You could say that," Varen says, but he wont look her in the eyes. However, Ellari will find herself distracted by a droid who wants her in the chapel for holographs of the wedding party. The baron makes a show of swishing his cape to the side as he descends. Er'gi waits until hes out of earshot before he says. "I don't know anymore than you, but I think he's afraid of you, vod. That's why he won't tell the truth." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' That cape swish and Er'gi's words seem to confirm a hypothesis for Volken who rumbles, "That was probably Caine putting on a good show then.... I haven't even interacted with the other brother but Caine I've actually laid hands on....a few times even. He knows what I can do to him and that I'm tough enough to take his retaliatory attacks. He's slippery and fast and obsessed with Revara. What he said doesn't make sense. I've been with Jorn. His actions don't line up with the story that di'kut is peddling." Volken reaches otu to clasp a hand on Er'gi's shoulder now and he gives him a grin, "Thanks vod. You had my back and I won't forget it..." He then moves to squeeze past the other behemoth to start to make his way back down the stairs. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Well, we will find out soon enough if you are a liar now won't we?" Ellari points out to him, still smirking. Then the droid approaches, and it seems her presence has been requested elsewhere. "Seems I am being called away. Enjoy yourself, in the meantime." She then turns to follow the droid, tossing out the empty plate. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn gives a small nod. "You?" the voice he tries to conceal with some modulation. That's what he tries to make casual small talk with the woman. He's trying to fall into the roll. Try to speak very little. Just do what he needs to do and survive. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "But how do you know Jorn didn't lie?" Er'gi points out. "Not saying he did but-- I will say this. Caine is no coward. He will fight for what he believes he deserves. And you haven't met Kass much, but he is the coward of the two, despite all his bragging. So I don't feel as certain as you. And another thing. They are both excellent liars and actors if need be. Be careful, vod. Tell me if you find out anything else..."And then he exits the chapel and Volken is forced to pose for a holograph. Several... holographs. Varen doesn't say anything, but he watches her fondly as she heads to the chapel. The woman smiles 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "But how do you know Jorn didn't lie?" Er'gi points out. "Not saying he did but-- I will say this. Caine is no coward. He will fight for what he believes he deserves. And you haven't met Kass much, but he is the coward of the two, despite all his bragging. So I don't feel as certain as you. And another thing. They are both excellent liars and actors if need be. Be careful, vod. Tell me if you find out anything else..."And then he exits the chapel and Volken is forced to pose for a holograph. Several... holographs. Varen doesn't say anything, but he watches her fondly as she heads to the chapel. The woman smiles. "Yes. I'm a familar of Thaelins mother. What about you?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari makes her way up into the chapel, where the rest of the wedding party is posing for holos. Including Volken, as she is not surprised to find. She idly wonders if Jorn has gotten to speak with Master Volk yet or if he's still at the hotel or not... 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "Hnnn..." Volken is indeed listening to this, considering these words. It is true - Caine did try and fight him but -- "Caine is a fighter yes. But he also ran from me.....But..." Some uncertainity does reach his eyes now as he thinks back over past encounters. "...It is true that off Mandalore Caine never did shy away from going on the offensive. Maybe you're right vod and they're using their likeness to continue to sow confusion. As to why I believe Jorn? A lot of this doesn't make sense. We know that one of the twins went to Jorn's ship and boarded it without his permission... and that the dark saber was later found there. I also know that Revara has been constnatly trying to reach him and get him to come to her with the Dark Saber, claiming that things can be made right. It was one of the twins - Kass or Caine - that said that Lady Solstice is after the Dark Saber.... I also don't know that I believe that Jorn is head over heels in love with Revara. He pities her, yes...but in our discussions about her he's never indicated some sort of desperate love that'd risk the Dark Saber just for her attention. He'd have ignored me and others and gone right to her with the Saber if that was the case. That'd be hs out of the situation he's in. He hasn't. Why?" Volken makes a vague gesture, "These twins lie and use double speak. It's not enough to be certain but ...those involved are working on a way to get the footage that'll hopefully put this all out in the open..." Soon enough though, holographs are indeed being taken and a grumpy Volken is pulled into the middle of it all. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn's quiet for a bit. "Maybe you'll have to introduce me. Formally. Wouldn't mind a conversation," every thought he has screams this is dangerous. Still, maybe it won't be so bad. Maybe this is one big coincidence. Probably not. He's just waiting for the metaphorical fireworks. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' As Volken relates all this to Er'gi, he nods, taking it all in. "You're right in some ways," he says, "I'll consider all of this," he says, "but you know Thaelin's mother is no joke, even if he's really in love with Revara, that woman is enough to give any in law pause. Why else do you think he would have disappeared around the time she arrived in Sundari?" Then he shakes his head and takes his leave, as the holographer is shooing him out of the chapel.  The holographer ushers Ellari to the spot where they're all supposed to stand for the holographs, giving instruction to everyone about how to stand, and the kinds of expressions they should wear. It's all rather... pretentious and Volken might find it distasteful. Both Ellari and Volken may notice that yes, the twins are both here, and wearing identical suits and armor. Perhaps that was intentional.  "...I'd be happy to," she says, "But why maybe? You the introverted sort?" She gestures for him to follow her as she heads for the chapel just down the road -- clearly where the wedding is taking place. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Yes this is indeed quite frustrating to Volken. But he hangs in there. He's come this far when he could have left long ago. Eventually, however, he makes his way over towards Ellari and rumbles in passing, "We need to talk.." He gives a quick glance over towards the twins but says nothing to either of them. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Pff. Of course they are. Trying to hide, that's what this is. Ellari sighs and stands in whatever position is needed for the holographer.     She nods when Volken says they needed to talk. Presumably, in private. "I take you've some...news." she says under her breath. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' But then one of the usher droids announces for everyone to be seated and for the wedding party to take their places just outside the doors of the chapel. The wedding ceremony would commence in twenty minutes...! Whatever Volken wanted to say to Ellari, he'd have to say it quick or wait. 
}}

Sleepless at the Temple

2025-07-02T06:59:37Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-04-06 |Cast of Characters=159, 143, 261 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It's midnight at the Temple of the Kyber, and the first night in quite some time either Navi or Cayde will have spent on Jedha. But perhaps it's a welcome change - it's not exactly warm here in the Holy City at night, but it certainly isn't as cold as Ilum - the last planet they'd visited in the past week or so. <b..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-04-06
|Cast of Characters=159, 143, 261
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It's midnight at the Temple of the Kyber, and the first night in quite some time either Navi or Cayde will have spent on Jedha. But perhaps it's a welcome change - it's not exactly warm here in the Holy City at night, but it certainly isn't as cold as Ilum - the last planet they'd visited in the past week or so. The Temple is serene at this time, with only the occasional mouse droid scurrying here and there or maintenance drone performing routine sweeping. Indeed, at this hour a majority of those in the Temple are either sleeping or quietly meditating. However, this is not the case for Thaarin, who would find himself plagued with sleeplessness. Consequently, he'd wandered into the atrium on his way to back to the archives - or perhaps anywhere else in the Temple that struck his fancy. Everything here was foreign, so he might as well explore its depths, for lack of anything else better to do... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Thaarin isn't the only one who can't sleep or rest. Consequently, he's at the training grounds, running up a series of slowly oscillating blocks as part of some kind of obstacle course meant to put even the strongest and most versatile warriors to the test. But even this doesn't seem to faze him much, thanks to the physically vigorous training regimens Ann often favored. It's probably been about the fifth time now... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Snug in her tiny guest room, Navi had been meditating, or at least trying to. The events of the last ten days had left her mind unusually scattered and restless, and getting into a calm and relaxed frame of mind had taken a lot longer than usual. Over an hour had crawled by before she could achieve the proper focus. Now, almost three hours later, something else seemed to tug at her mind, threatening to break through her meditation trance. It takes a moment for her to realize the tug is not at her mind, but her ears; the disturance is some errant sound, to the tune of someone walking in the corridor outside her room. Normally this wouldn't get her attention, but the soles of military boots on that floor are very distinctive; few of the regular residents of the Temple wear such things, favoring footwear with softer, flatter soles. With a soft sigh she breaks off her meditation and reaches for a robe. "At least it's not Cayde," she murmurs, knowing the Padawan doesn't favor such boots, either. Unless it's someone she hasn't accounted for, it's more likely to be Thaarin than anyone else. Grabbing her medical satchel, with its burdens of lightsaber and staff (just in case), she ties the belt of her robe and somewhat reluctantly steps into the corridor.,, 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It probably won't take Navi very long to figure out where he'd gone - the motion sensitive lights in the corridors have left an illuminated and obvious trail for her to follow. She'll find him standing at the edge of the training grounds, watching Cayde run up and down the obstacle course over and over again. His expression is difficult to read but theres the slightest hint of amusement there, as he stands there observing the young padawan, hands folded neatly behind his back. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     The 6th cycle is completed before Cayde finally finally stops to rest, his breath heavy and his heart pounding. He doesn't sit down though, but simply gets off of the course and starts pacing slowly back and forth in front of it. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Hello, Thaarin. Couldn't sleep?" Navi asks the tall Chiss softly, glancing between him and Cayde. "I guess Cayde couldn't sleep, either. At least he's not in trouble," she adds, just as softly. After Cayde starts pacing, she walks over to stand close enough to see his gestures. "Couldn't sleep?" she asks. "That looked like a very intense workout. Is something on your mind?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He continues to watch Cayde until Navi approaches, and asks him if he couldn't sleep. He looks up demurely, and nods. When she says Cayde isn't in trouble, he smiles softly and watches as Navi goes over to the young padawan and asks him if something is on his mind. In the meantime, he reaches into his pocket and presses the button on the device that calls the protocol droid. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     When Navi approaches, Cayde stops his pacing and turns toward her and Thaarin standing there. What were they doing up at this hour?     He pulls his robe off of a rack on the wall nearby and puts it back on. [I am okay] he answers her. [And you] he asks, arching a brow slightly at her. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I've been trying to meditate, but my focus is off. It's been a rough couple days," Navi replies, shrugging. "I can't get my mind off of Thaarin's brother. I know there's something we're missing." Beat. "Well, maybe I don't /know/ it, but I definitely /feel/ it. We have to keep trying." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' A moment later, the protocol droid arrives, looking surprised that theyre all awake and roaming about. It starts translating for Thaarin, whose expression becomes pained when Navi mentions his brother. He comes over and grips Navi's shoulders gently. The droid begins to translate, "He says that he doesn't think its a very good idea to continue trying to wake him. But if you must, then take a weapon with you and be warned. He is dangerous, and if necessary, do not hesitate to kill him." The droid looks uncomfortable then. "He wants you to take an oath, that you'll do this." His scarlet gaze seems to penetrate Navi's soul, as he maintains eye contact. Those burning pupils seem to be glowing brighter somehow... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods understandingly, putting a hand on her shoulder and trying to calm her mind.     But he looks concerned when the droid tells them that Thaarin seems to think that his companion might become an enemy. She'll suddenly feel the notion that perhaps they shouldn't wake him yet enter her mind. Maybe an expert could examine his brain first, and determine if there were problems, if she and Pike couldn't find them with the Force. Identifying the problems was the first step to fixing them. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi blinks in surprise at Thaarin's sudden extra-closeness and that penetrating gaze. The protocol droid's translation doesn't help her feelings any. "I can't swear an oath like that," she says at last. "But if he does attack us, I will protect everyone present to the very best of my ability. I won't let him hurt anyone." She looks to Cayde. "You're right. Our most important priority is finding whatever's going on in his head that would make him any kind of threat. Thaarin, if you can, tell me about what you've sensed from him that tells you he might wake up hostile. At this point any information may help." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Suddenly, his demeanor and gaze softens. He remains close, but instead of gripping her shoulders, he releases her and touches her cheek very softly. The skin of his palm feels strangely and comfortingly warm. The droid hesitates before beginning to translate again, "He thanks you for trying to wake his brother, and would like to express his deepest gratitude. He is not dismissive of your efforts, at all. You are a kind and beautiful soul, and he doesn't want to see you or anyone else get hurt, or be inconvenienced. He says he feels he and his brother are undeserving of such unrequited compassion. He has nothing he can give in return for what you have done." "Something was done to his brother, and prior to all this he has already observed his descent into madness. He has had increasingly fewer lucid moments, and during the last one he had, he made it know to Thaarin that if he became uncontrollable or posed a threat to his life, he should end it, quickly and swiftly. And he made him swear it. He wishes to keep his promise to his brother." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde's frown deepens as he hears about the slow and tragic loss of sanity. The mind is the worst thing to lose. It was a complete loss of identity, and far worse than losing any physical faculty. If only they could find a way to connect with these people, and help restore him..,but even if it were possible, it would require someone much more skilled than himself or anyone here. If such a person even existed.     <We must honor it...> Not a command, but a pressing matter. Becoming one with the Force, it seemed, was likely the only way to free him from his plight. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "When you're working with the Jedi, inconvenience kind of goes with the territory. Or, more accurately, the Jedi and their colleagues choose to be inconvenienced for the greater good. So it's no bother, trust me," Navi replies to Thaarin, nodding, even if she can't help blushing faintly at the shower of compliments. "We will do everything in our power to save your brother, and without risking anyone else's safety in the process." "We're /already/ honoring it, Cayde. We just need more time and maybe another expert," she adds to Cayde, in an undertone. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin then seems very weary, and grief stricken. He sits down on a bench nearby and buries his forehead in his hands, with a great sigh that seems to utterly deflate him... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde sighs and sits down next to him, patting him on the back in an attempt to comfort him. He only wishes he could enter his mind and do far more...but this is the best he can manage for now. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi sighs quietly. "One of these days, I'll say the right thing at the right time..." she grumbles, sitting on Thaarin's other side. Taking a deep breath, she hugs the tall man from that side, resting the side of her face against the edge of his upper arm. "I don't know how to make it clear that this isn't an inconvenience for us... it's more of an obligation. Most of what the Jedi do is in service of the Republic, and the greater good. I mean, you're some kind of naval officer, unless I've missed my guess. If you found a drifting ship without power, wouldn't you do everything in your power to save any survivors on board that ship? Of course you would. It's the same thing for the Jedi." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin embraces Navi back softly. The droid then translates, "He says that you already have. Perhaps it has not been evident, but your words, presence and affection have encouraged him greatly. He would like to express that where he is from, loyalty is hard to win and favors are rarely ever free. He would assist any ship drifting without power, within or outside of the Ascendancy, but he'd also like you to know he is a poor example of his own species." The tall blue alien then smiles kindly at the young Sephi girl and kisses both of her hands, squeezing them gently. The droid continues, "Though he is aware that he is under no obligation to do anything for any of you, he still wants very much to extend a personal favor to you because he likes you so much. How unlucky the Jedi were to have lost you from their rank!" When Cayde sits down next to him and pats him on the back, the tall blue alien suddenly stands and reaching for Cayde's hand, tugs him to his feet and embraces him tightly. "Thank you," he says softly, in his accented Basic. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde is rarely ever surprised by anyone. It feels so odd. Furthermore, very few people had this much interest...or care...for him unless it was part of their duties. Especially not this quickly. But after a second or two, he finally reciprocates. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "You're sure right about /that/," Navi observes, with a tiny but smug smile that quickly fades. "But that's water under a bridge I passed a long time ago. I'm more worried about the here and now, and your brother." In spite of her words, she blushes a little more as her hands are kissed. "And I can't in good conscience accept a favor... I'm only doing this because it's the right thing to do. Your brother deserves every chance we can give him." She stifles a giggle as Cayde is embraced, and seems to not know how to deal with it. "Hug him back, Cayde," she says impishly. "Looks like you've got a big brother for life." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin does not seem at all put off or confused by Cayde's delay in response to his embrace. He chuckles softly and says, "I feel... better." Then he releases the young padawan and pats him on the back encouragingly. He smiles at Navi, and his scarlet eyes flash brighter in the darkness momentarily. The droid translates, "He says, then let us not dwell on it any longer, and that the favor no longer has anything to do with his brother, he'd like to leave that topic behind. Your character and integrity are a sight for a sore spirit, and he has estimated, given your current weariness, that the last time you had something even simple done for you as an act of self care was so long ago that you may not recall it. Is this correct?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Self-care? Cayde frowns, a bit confused by the wording. Why would anyone need to do self-care for him? He's perfectly capable of taking care of himself. That's something only children and infants need to have done for them. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin then turns to Cayde, offering the young padawan a faint smile. The droid translates, "He's wondering if you find the idea of self care repelling, or if you're offended that he did not directly offer you a favor as well, within the department of self care. If so, there's no need to be upset, he'd be more than happy to draw a bath for you as well." The tall blue man is clearly amused, and perhaps he'd meant it a bit sarcastically - either way, there's no way to know, the droid isn't good at conveying it. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     This only seems to confuse him further. Draw a bath? Was that what he had in mind? If anyone had someone else do that for them, it would have to be a droid, wouldn't it? But maybe it meant something else in his culture...     Cayde just shakes his head. [No thank you] 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue alien man then sits, meeting Cayde's gaze evenly. his smile broadening. The droid seems thoroughly confused for the same reasons, and subsequently seems to be assuring Thaarin that drawing baths was a job for droids. Thaarin just seems further amused and shakes his head. The droid then hesitantly translates, "He says that where he's from, they don't... use... droids? At all?!" the droid says, flabbergasted. "Oh, my." "He was joking about the bath. However, he'd like to know if there's anything else in that same vein that you'd like to indulge in." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde arches a brow at him. They...didn't use droids? He is just as shocked as the droid, only he doesn't make much of a show of it.     When asked what he'd like to..indulge in, he doesn't seem to have an answer. Same vein as baths? But again, why would he need anyone to do things like that for him? It was called self-care for a reason. But perhaps something has been lost in translation.     [I...do not know] he signs. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin looks thoughtful, then the droid begins to translate again, "Do you have a fundamental understanding of the concept of self care?" The droid says. "He seems to think you may have misunderstood his meaning." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde again just shrugs. He knows what taking care of oneself means, sure. But why would anyone need to do it for him? However, he doesn't know how to explain this, so he simply repeats [I do not know] 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin offers another faint smile. The droid begins to translate again, "Self care is the act of restoration to oneself physically and emotionally, so as to increase overall fortitude and endurance, through rest, relaxation, or indulgence in activities or behaviors that refresh and nurture the soul and body." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh, well, meditation served that purpose, right? Again, something that need not involve someone else.     [Meditation] he signs, nodding. [But is done alone] he explains. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi watches the interplay between Cayde and Thaarin with thoughtful interest. She doesn't even tease Cayde. That's how interested she is. "Self care by your definition is very important," she observes, mostly toward Thaarin. "We do the physical part pretty well, but the emotional part is harder. It's easier for the Jedi, because of the code they live by and their dedication to inner peace. The same is mostly true for the Shining Brotherhood. The rest of the galaxy has its own ways to deal with the emotional side of things, but not all of them are healthy." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin watches Cayde thoughtfully then nods. The droid then translates, "He says, you can't think of any self care methods you engage in regularly that could be collaborative, or done for you by someone else?" He then turns to Navi, offering her a kind and faint smile. The droid translates. "He's asking you if there's a favor in the form of self care that he might perform for you. Perhaps -you'd- like a bath drawn for you? Flowers? Sweets? All of the above? He says he thinks you've more than earned it after all the hard work you put into rescuing him and his companions." He's pinning her down with that scarlet gaze again, and Navi won't need the Force to see his clear desire to do this for her. The droid adds. "He wants you to be happy, even if it's just for tonight." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde simply shakes his head. It's such a strange idea. Perhaps it's more common in Thaarin's culture, wherever he comes from. But not around here. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi feels herself blushing faintly again under that scarlet gaze. Thaarin just seems to have the power to bring out her blushy side. It's so strange! She has to swallow a lump in her throat before answering. "A bath sounds very nice, actually... but not tonight. I'm so tired I'd probably doze off and drown or something," she replies at last, with a faint, wry smile. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin flashes Navi a mild but charming smile as the droid continues to translate, "Perhaps tomorrow? Or just one of the nights before you leave Jedha. At this point in time, he's not sure if he'll accompany you to wherever it is you're going in the Outer Rim. But he would love to do something kind for you, a small gesture that will not measure up to the favors you have done for him, but could at least be something memorable." The droid continues. "He'd like to invite both of you to explore the gardens in the back of the Temple of the Kyber with him-- he theorizes this may help relax him so that he can sleep, and perhaps it may be of assistance in reducing your stress as well." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods. The gardens sounded nice...they were sort of like the Arboretum at the Temple back home. Sometimes he'd go there when he couldn't sleep. Although he didn't usually stay there. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Tomorrow evening would be fine, unless something comes up. Which seems unlikely. Even if it does, we can always reschedule it," Navi replies, nodding to Thaarin. "And I'd be glad to take a walk in the gardens. Please, lead the way." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He nods, his smile widening slightly before he turns and starts heading for the back of the Temple of the Kyber. As they walk, the tall blue man falls into step beside Navi. He offers her another faint smile, and the droid begins to translate, "He meant to apologize earlier, but he wants you to know that earlier when he suggested that no one speak about Cayde's private insecurities publicly, he did not mean to come across as harsh if you interpreted it that way. Or, if you found his comment to insinuate that you aren't a good friend, well, that was not his intention at all. You are a kind and thoughtful friend to Cayde, he has observed this much." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde follows them, although as Thaarin falls in step by Navi, he kind of lags behind, letting them walk together ahead of him. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi isn't sure if she's blushing or not when she realizes Thaarin is walking beside her. "Thank you," she says at last, after the protocol droid has translated for him. "I wasn't angry... at least, not for long. It took me a moment to realize you were just observing good manners and a measure of respect for Cayde's feelings. I can't get mad about /that/. Cayde doesn't have a lot of friends, and you've been quite a good one for him, too." She glances back as she realizes Cayde has fallen behind, at least a little bit. "Feel free to join us," she calls softly in invitation. "You're part of this conversation, too." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He inclines his head politely, and the droid translates, "He says that he's glad you weren't upset for very long, and once again would like to reiterate that he's sorry for coming across a bit too harshly. But he also thinks that he hasn't done anything notably kind to Cayde, only what he thinks is natural and logical when interacting with someone like Cayde." The tall blue alien then drops back slightly, slowing his pace and gesturing for Cayde to come alongside of them. The droid translates for him, "He'd like to see what you've been drawing lately... if there's anything new, he would very much like to see it." They're entering the gardens now, and all three of them will notice a sweet smelling aroma filling the air, as it would appear some of the flowering bushes are in full bloom. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     If Cayde is aware they are talking about him, he doesn't seem to acknowledge it. After all, other people talking about him in front of him was just a regular part of his life. As they slow their pace, he walks with them, but when Thaarin requests to see more drawings, he looks away, as if ashamed. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin slows his pace even more, eventually bringing them to a halt in front of a stone bench near a bubbling fountain. The droid translates, "He'd like to know if you'd like discuss what's been troubling you." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi takes a seat on the bench after only a moment to brush off any lingering dust or dirt. As Thaarin addresses Cayde, she holds her peace, watching them thoughtfully. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     There is a pause that hangs in the air for a moment, but he finally relents and shows Thaarin the drawings. If Navi looks as well, he won't protest. There are some new ones, but they are much more of the same as the previous ones he'd seen.     The one thing they all have in common is that they feature some form or other of a person or groups of people surrounded by something nebulous and nightmarish, their faces and bodies twisted grotesquely as if tormented by some unseen foe. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The droid makes a small sound of surprise when Cayde presents the drawings to them. It tries to mute its horror at the ... frightening images. Thaarin, of course, remains demure and does not act shocked or disturbed by the images. The droid translates for him. "... He's asking if you know what these images are of, or where they come from." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Yikes..." Navi murmurs, looking at the drawings with wide eyes. After a long moment, she asks, "What are these supposed to be? An impression of the effects of the Dark Side of the Force?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde's expression falls at Navi's and the droid's reactions, and he quickly puts the images away. When Thaarin asks him if he knows where they come from, he points toward himself. [Cannot sleep] he signs. Perhaps this was the reason he wasn't in bed right now. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin's expression darkens slightly, and his brows furrow in thought. He turns to Navi, and the droid translates, "He thinks it's possible that it stems from a traumatic memory of sorts," the droid says, then turns to Cayde. "He wants to know if you think this is possible. And," the droid adds, "he'd like you to know that he's experienced similar dreams, in the past, and even as recently as tonight." The tall blue man's expression softens and he places a hand on Cayde's shoulder. "No shame," he says gently to the young padawan. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "No wonder you couldn't sleep. But these pictures are nothing to be ashamed of, Cayde," Navi adds reassuringly. "Art is a good outlet for your emotions. And our friend the droid could be correct. It could be a dream triggered by a traumatic memory, but it could also be a vision of the present, or future. Whatever it is, I think it could be important." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods slowly at the question. He knows they come from bad memories. Some, he knows. Other, older ones he is not quite sure of. He casts a distressed look Navi's way. He certainly hopes that it is not of the future... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin, seeing Cayde's distress over the particular topic, stands and motions for Cayde to follow him as he starts walking towards one of the paths branching away from the fountain plaza they're sitting in. He waves a hand at Navi, gesturing for her to stay where she is, and for the droid to also remain. "Come," he says to Cayde in his accented basic. "We'll ... talk." He pauses, thoughtfully. "Privately." If Cayde follows him, he'll lead him towards a bin full of yard waste away from where Navi and the protocol are sitting. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     A brow goes up slightly. But...without the protocol droid? He seems a bit wary, but follows the young Navy officer anyway. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi blinks, then nods to Thaarin. "I'll be right here," she agrees, nodding more emphatically. Scowling faintly as the two walk away, she grumbles, "Great... fenced out by guy talk." She looks to the protocol droid. "Don't suppose you've got a datapad or a music program, maybe?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I'm sorry," he says to Cayde. "About..." he pauses. "My mind. My brother's mind." Another pause. "We can't speak," he says, "it's hard. For you. And for me." His expression soften. "But," he continues. "I'll try. Always." He places a hand on Cayde's shoulder. "Try to understand," he murmurs softly. "Know that. I promise." Then he offers the young padawan another faint smile and gestures at the yard waste bin. Cayde may notice that the gardening droids had pruned the bushes, but in doing so, had cut off many various beautiful blooms and thrown them in the bin. It's a bit of a waste, but the droids didn't really know the difference did they? "Use these," he says with a nod towards the discarded flowers. "Surprise her," he says, gesturing in Navi's direction. "She will... be happy." Then he turns and goes back to fountain plaza, where Navi is sitting. He'll just be returning when the droid huffs. "No need for that!" the protocol droid says, "you know, you could always just... talk to me?! What an interesting couple of beings. One is effortlessly charming, the other speaks like an infant...!" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi watches Cayde and Thaarin thoughtfully for a moment, pondering the droid's comment. "Which is which?" she asks, after another long moment. "I'd tag Thaarin as the first, Cayde as the second, but it could work the other way, too. At least, if you don't watch too closely." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde glances at the bin. Discarded flowers? But...well, some of them did still look fresh as if they had only been cut only a few hours ago. He shrugs and plucks a bunch, then heads back toward the others.     He approaches Navi and offers her the flowers, his face flushing a bit. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The droid scoffs, "What a stupid thing to say!" it exclaims. "But how can I blame you? You don't know a lick of Minnisiat." When Thaarin returns, he sits down on the bench next to Navi, and glances at the droid, arching a brow slightly. "..." He seems acutely aware of the fact that the droid had been gossiping, but isn't commenting. When Cayde returns with the bouquet of flowers, he smiles faintly, and the droid begins to translate. "He says this is a wonderful and kind surprise! Cayde is truly a thoughtful and intentional friend..." But Thaarin winks knowingly at Navi. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Well of /course/ I don't... I couldn't even tell you what the native speakers of Minnisiat look like, 'cause I've never even seen one. But I've met plenty of droids, Humans, and Twi'leks, so naturally I learned how to talk to /them/. It's only practical. Organics can't just program a language into our brains in a couple minutes and go, like droids. We have to learn them the hard way." "Welcome back," she adds to Thaarin as the Chiss returns. But she's unprepared for the bouquet Cayde offers her, even if it's a bit haphazard in spots and a few of the flower petals are drooping. "Awwwww, Cayde... that is /so sweet/ of you! Thank you!" she coos, simpering a little as she accepts the flowers. She glances sidelong at the protocol droid. "I know you mean well... but Thaarin's kind of got to say something before you can translate it," she observes impishly. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Navi's reaction has Cayde flushing even deeper. They were kind of haphazard, but it seemed she appreciated them. Well...did she really? But maybe he shouldn't probe about that sort of thing. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "What!" The protocol droid exclaims unhappily, Navi's insult apparently mostly going over its chrome dome. Thaarin chuckles softly and briefly, amused by Navi's comment. He observes the flowers for a moment, then looks over at Cayde, and then the droid begins to translate for him again, "He says that you are truly gifted visually. The flowers are beautiful. You're not just an impeccable artist, but you have an eye for what looks good." The tall blue humanoid stands, patting Cayde on the shoulder. "He says this is a unique strength, and one you should continue honing." Then he bows to Navi, and the droid continues translating. "He says he very much enjoyed spending time with you, and Cayde. And he's grateful you were willing to sacrifice a little bit of your time so that his conscious could rest a bit easier. But now that he's feeling a little better, he thinks he should attempt to sleep now, and recommends that each of you do the same." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I think that's a great idea. And if you could fetch me a vase with some water in it, please and thank you, I can put these in it and they'll last longer," Navi replies, first to Thaarin, and then to the protocol droid. Rising, she gives Cayde and Thaarin a quick hug each. "Have a good night, you two. Thanks for everything," she says warmly, before starting back to her tiny guest room. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [Okay] Cayde signs when Thaarin suggests they should try to get some sleep as well. Although he doesn't feel very confident that it will work very well for him. It usually doesn't. But he sighs a little bit and starts to go back inside anyway. 
}}

An Attempted Awakening Pt 2

2025-07-02T06:57:36Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-03-30 |Synopsis=The group works in tandem with a healing specialist in an attempt to wake Thaarin's brother. |Cast of Characters=159, 143, 381, 325 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' That night, the group would eventually find themselves shown to their quarters by the protocol droid, and hopefully fully settled in by the next morning. Little will have transpired during those hours. Howeve..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-03-30
|Synopsis=The group works in tandem with a healing specialist in an attempt to wake Thaarin's brother.
|Cast of Characters=159, 143, 381, 325
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' That night, the group would eventually find themselves shown to their quarters by the protocol droid, and hopefully fully settled in by the next morning. Little will have transpired during those hours. However, a couple hours before noon, the four of them would find themselves once again summoned to the infirmary. The transmission notifies them that a specialist from the Order's own rank, previously stationed at a medical research station on the other side of the moon, had just arrived at the Temple of the Kyber and wanted them all to be present for a particular procedure she had in mind for the guest they'd brought in from the Unknown Regions. Perhaps it would be effective in waking him... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     What sort of procedure required everyone to be present, Cayde wonders. Or even benefited from it? The unconscious patient hadn't awoken at all, so presumably he is not familiar with any of them save for Thaarin. But he makes his way to the infirmary as requested anyway. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike answers the summons and makes his way to the infirmary. He is ready to assist in any way. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' When they arrive at the infirmary, the specialist and several nurses are there waiting for them. They'll also notice that Thaarin, at some point, must have been admitted, he's resting on a mediberth looking concerned. The specialist bows politely in greeting. "I'm sorry I couldn't arrive earlier," she says, "I had some other urgent work to attend to. However, today, I'd like to try a technique that's a bit riskier and difficult to perform. However, I do believe that if we can manage it, we may be successful in waking him. The nurses here reported that at some point last night, your... guest showed slight signs of improvement. He didn't wake, of course, but his comatose state has risen to a shallower level." She pauses. "Anyone with a mote of ability in mind powers should assist. We'll need all the help we can get." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns, glancing over at Thaarin. Was he all right, or was he just here for his friend's sake? When the healer mentions she'll need help, he glances at Ann, and she can feel him searching for her approval. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike listens carefully as he visually inspects the patient. When his colleague mentions mind powers, Windu smiles and nods as he looks at Cayde. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' When Cayde looks over at Thaarin, one of the nurses interjects. "Oh, last night he came in asking for a sedative to because he was having trouble sleeping, but we decided to run a few tests on him just to be safe and discovered his blood pressure is even higher than the last time we checked. Since we don't know much about his physiology and have no idea how long he's had high blood pressure, we decided to admit him to keep an eye on him." She pauses, checking on of the monitors. "It does seem to have lowered since you all arrived. Interesting." The specialist glances over at Cayde, but doesn't say anything. The young padawan won't need the Force to see that there's some reluctance there. She nods at Pike, then turns to Ann. "We wanted to ensure that you felt comfortable with your padawan assisting," she says. She doesn't mention Cayde's history, but she lived here on Jedha. She had to know... 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "If you don't know much about his physiology, how do you know the original blood pressure was high?" questions Ann, eyebrow raising a little. "Did you tell them, Thaarin?"     Shrugging it off, she looks down to Cayde, and simply nods. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Master Windu says, "I have no objections, if that quiets any doubts, Cayde." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods once Ann gives a confirmation, arching a brow at the healer a bit apprehensively. She was the one asking, so why was she uncertain about her own request for help? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin arches a brow slightly and folds his arms. He seems to think they're overreacting, but there's no way to know whether they are, or if Thaarin is concerned about his own health as Cayde is thoughtless about accidentally eating something that might give him a severe rash. "We don't," the nurse says, "but we were unable to get a clear answer from him about whether the original measurement was high or not, so we decided to be conservative." The specialist glances at Pike, then at Ann, then at Cayde, a brow raised slightly. "Your opinion is duly noted, Master Windu," she says, "but I don't believe you were terribly familiar with Cayde before he became Ann's padawan." However, she says no more about the matter. When Ann simply nods, there's a slight pause before she finally says, "You're aware, of course, that you still have full responsibility for your padawan, though I am leading the exercise, then," she says, with a nod. But she doesn't wait for Ann to respond before continuing with, "Well, then. I suppose we shouldn't waste anymore time." She gestures for them to follow her, but lingers in the doorway for a brief moment, "Ann, will you stay here with Thaarin? It seems that having one of you around at least lowers his blood pressure." A beat. "We'll get a feed set up in here. So that Thaarin can have visibility into what we're doing. And," she adds. "just in case anything... happens, you'll be able to know immediately and intervene, should the circumstances call for it, since we'll be right across the hall." Then she turns and heads for the room where Thaarin's companion is being kept. She wouldn't say it, but no one needed the Force to see the Cragmoloid in the room. She knew about what had happened with Tomi. The feed wasn't for Thaarin, it was so that Ann could watch Cayde. They wanted her far away enough that she wouldn't disrupt whatever they had in mind for the procedure regarding the Force, but close enough to do damage control if Cayde... lost control. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     But how does the healer know lowering Thaarin's blood pressure is even good? If whatever it was before is normal then maybe it's a bad thing. Ann might be thinking the same thing; at the very least he's sharing that notion with her.     Anyway, given what happened with Tomi last time, it was to be expected, right? Cayde just sighs under his breath and tries not to show this resigned self-deprecation. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     The specialist's words sink in as Pike follows her. Now his own doubts begin to form.     "Have you tried more conventional treatments? Perhaps this procedure should be a last resort." 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "Yes, I understand that people like to cover themselves," says Ann in response to the note about being responsible for Cayde, in a tone that's -mostly- joking.     "Sounds like you might need me to eye Thaarin in case lower pressure is a bad thing, too," she adds, brow raising- but acquiescing to stay by the door rather than continue through. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Cayde's quiet sigh either goes unnoticed, or ignored. "Yes," the specialist says to Pike, "and it appears that whatever Navi and Cayde tried last night had some effect. However, for this procedure, we'll need more hands, and to be more careful." The nurse whispers something to the specialist, who frowns, but doesn't respond to Anne's comment. She then escorts Cayde and Pike into the room, then closes the door, dimming the lights. "We will begin this procedure first by meditating, then connecting to one another via the Force," she says, "we must forsake reality entirely, and embrace the nature of our task completely..." Once the others have filtered out of the room, and a droid brings in a feed for the security camera in the other room, Thaarin seems to understand what the others are attempting to do. His eyes widen, and he suddenly and instinctively leans forward as if to get up, forgetting temporarily that he's partially secured by the blood pressure monitor. "Not safe," he says. The machine monitoring his blood pressure beeps urgently and the readout shows the bar skyrocketing into the red zone. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde follows the healer into the room, and nods at her instructions, closing his eyes and trying to focus. But it's not easy...he has been...distracted lately. He can't seem to keep Tomi off of his mind, and the events that surrounded him at the Temple prior... 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike's own doubts cloud his mind and he is unable to fully connect with the Force.     "If you think this is best for your patient, very well." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The specialist notices right away. <You -must- clear your minds> she reiterates. <Embrace the Force> The lights turn off completely, and then Cayde and Pike will be able to feel the specialist reach out in the Force, attempting to assist them in clearing their minds. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde struggles a bit until he is able to connect with Pike and the healer, their presence guiding him away from his emotional baggage. Now just what did this specialist have in mind? 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike's mind clears. He senses the specialist, Cayde, and the patient... 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "Alright, lay back a moment- not safe how? Because there's always some risk with this kind of procedure, but if you've been holding out on something extra-special about your friend, best it come out sooner than later," says Ann to Thaarin, frowning as she walks across the room to him. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Cayde won't be left in the dark as to what this healer specialist has in mind. As soon as Cayde and Pike are able to clear their minds, the healer guides them to a deeper level of meditation. If they follow her, and lean into their connection to her, this level of meditation does require them to completely detach their minds from their physical bodies, and focus all their attention on entering the mind of Thaarin's companion. For a second, Thaarin doesn't respond, instead, he just anxiously watches the feed. But then he finally relaxes and leans back with a sigh, and his blood pressure drops slightly. "...The nurses," he begins slowly, choosing his words carefully. "They know." He shakes his head. "Waking means..." he looks thoughtful, "danger. For them. But..." Then he suddenly deflates, and his expression becomes incredibly weary and sad. "He wakes," he says, "Or he dies." He rests his head in his hands. "Why must they... be so good?" he asks, looking back up at Anne, brows furrowed. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Leave his body completely? But...Cayde hesitates, suddenly fearful. What if he can't come back? Would he be trapped in another's body forever? What if he wasn't ready to wake yet? 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     /Trust in the Force, Padawan./     Pike isn't sure if his thought will reach Cayde. But he tries anyway. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Regardless of whether Pike reaches Cayde or not, the specialist will sense the young Padawan's uncertainty. <If you can't do this> she warns. <Then pull out now. After this point in time, there will be no turning back or making critical mistakes> she says. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As much as Cayde wants to help, all the fear and uncertainty of past catastrophes just rushes in as soon as the healer tells him this is some kind of point of no return. He could feel it...she had requested his help, but hadn't felt very confident in it, given the fiasco that had occurred with Master Tomi. What had happened to the Arkanian, anyway? They'd managed to destroy the creature that had been keeping him trapped in his own nightmares, thanks in the most part to Ann, but had the man been able to make a full recovery?     He sighs and withdraws then, shaking his head. It wasn't worth the risk...he's more of a liability than anything else. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike senses Cayde's presence diminish. The Jedi Master focuses on the comatose patient, minding his own advice to trust in the Force. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The specialist seems slightly relieved that Cayde had withdrawn. She makes no mention of it to to either Pike or Cayde though, and proceeds to guide Pike to a deeper level of concentration. They'll find themselves on the edge of the unconscious alien's mind now. Cayde will have to make his way out of the dark room quietly, and close the door behind him to not disturb the specialist or Pike. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde sighs and leaves the room as quietly as he can, looking rather defeated. He heads across the hall back to the room where Ann and Thaarin are watching, trying to hide his disappointment in himself as he sits down next to his master. 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "It's what we agree to do when we join the order. Try to better the galaxy for whoever's in front of us, basically. Doesn't always work, but always worth a try. The wise part is figuring out what to do when it doesn't."     She turns rather pointedly to Cayde- but it's unlike the pointed looks she often gives officials and the like- more to indicate an example of what she's saying. "Take Cayde here. Went in to try to help. Didn't go the way he'd hoped. Saw that it wasn't in the proverbial cards today and pulled out safely. Maybe didn't fix it himself, but showed good control and a sense of caution and good judgment. You did well in there, even if it doesn't feel like it, Cayde." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin watches Ann for a moment, his expression pensive. He smiles faintly at her and there's a hint of admiration there as well. He may not have understood every word she said, but he seems to get the gist. He nods at both of them, then signs /Thank you/. He offers then offers Cayde a compassionate smile, and pats him on the shoulder. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Ann's words serve to encourage him a bit, and he tries to let her know that, connecting to her presence as he leans against her shoulder slightly. <Thank you Master> 
}}

The Tenoo Frontier

2025-07-02T06:56:10Z

Sindt:

The Republic is sending at least two thousand colonists to an Outer Rim planet called Tenoo, to found a new colony there alongside the existing one, Kublop Springs. But the Jedi and their allies have reason to believe that many of the colonists are not who they seem to be. They hope for the best, but expect the worst, as relational tensions begin to develop and possibly jeopardize the Republic's effort to found a new colony on Tenoo.

===== Logs =====
* [[The Tenoo Initiative]]

* [[Registration Day]]

* [[Recruitment Day]]

* [[The Preliminary Seminar]]

* [[A Dual Role]]

* [[Boarding the Legacy II]]

* [[Quarantine]]

* [[Quarantine Visit]]

* [[Communication Relay]]

* [[The Vergence and the Temple]]

* [[Conflict]]

* [[The Start of Something Bad]]

* [[An Excursion to Ilum]]

* [[An Attempted Assassination]]

* [[Rescue Mission]]

* [[Playing Hooky]]

* [[Unknown Aliens]]

* [[Ding Dong! Dresda is Dead]]

* [[Stopover On Jedha]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening Pt 1]]

===== Colonists =====
<gallery>
File:Soren.png|Dr. Cassias - well renowned doctor formerly convicted for falsifying Heydan Seegil's toxicology report.
File:Vons.png|Arsok Vons - private investigator who helped exonerate Navi in a murder case and aided in exposing the marauders who attacked the Temple of the Kyber.
File:Fan Four.png|Fan Four - four teenaged Chadra Fans who helped Navi discover who was behind the raid on the Temple of Kyber.
File:Xera.png|Xera Graf - Primary financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. A powerful member of the notoriously rich and influential hyperspace prospecting Graf family.
File:Unknown.png|Taryn San Tekka - The other major financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. He is a member of another rich hyperspace prospecting family, rival to the Grafs.
File:Unknown.png|Gael - Mal's older sister, also a Nightsister and assisted the Jedi in entering the Force tear below Jedha.
File:Mal.png|Malgabar - Nightsister with terrible amnesia who helped the Jedi previously in entering a corrupted Force tear
File:mondrian.png|Mondrian - Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black to investigate the colonist roster.
File:Veena.png|Veena - Mondrian's partner and Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black.
File:Unknown.png|Yvon - Ugnaught navigator for the Legacy II.
File:Unknown.png|Jahni - Ugnaught pilot for the Legacy II, fraternal twin brother of Yvon.
File:Unknown.png|Oona Yutelli - elderly Mirialan Jedi Master, formerly a Seeker and Temple archivist.
File:Thaarin.png|Thaarin - A mysterious, charming, blue skinned alien the Jedi found stranded on Ilum who has relocated to Tenoo to help with Republic frontier efforts.
</gallery>

An Attempted Awakening Pt 1

2025-07-02T06:55:35Z

Sindt: Sindt moved page An Attempted Awakening to An Attempted Awakening Pt 1 without leaving a redirect

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-03-23
|Synopsis=The group, with help from the Jedha healers, attempt to wake Thaarin's brother.
|Cast of Characters=159, 261, 143, 381, 325
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Not long after having arrived in the hangar of the Temple of the Kyber, the group is escorted by a protocol droid who'd offered to show them to their quarters while Yvon and Jahni saw to matters about the ship and restocking their supplies. However, just before they'd set out to see where their rooms for the next few days would be, their tall and foreign guest, Thaarin, had suggested they visit the archives. He'd not vocalized it, but it is an attempt to move Cayde away from the busy hangar and towards an activity he might enjoy more -- or at least to a place where he could find a bit more privacy. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I hope you're better at research than I am, Thaarin," Navi says as the group makes their way toward the archives. "The protocol droid will probably be a great help to you, since I'm not sure if the whole of the archives are in the same language. There's a lot of stuff there. I hope you find what you're looking for, either way." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods, appreciating the kind gesture form Thaarin. He glances at Navi a bit dubiously. 'Usually' might be stretching it. But he can't quite discern if she's serious about that or just saying it to be nice...as familiar territory as it is, her mind seems to be a jungle of emotions. And besides that, there's too much interference at the moment.     Anyway, he continues to follow the droid, eager to get away from the crowds. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike returns from his meditation to rejoin the others. The Jedi Master seems more at peace and remains silent. 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     Ann carries on with the group to the archives- sure, she's more the technical manual than history and lore sort, but likely best she mind the group (And the guest) for the time being, quiet though the temple often is. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue humanoid offers Navi a faint smile, and droid translates, "He says his people had made contact with the Jedi a long time ago. Likely during the era of the Old Republic. He wishes to see if the Jedi have anything recorded regarding it, since his people did not keep a very detailed record of their ... allyship." Soon, they'll find themselves in front of the doors to the archives, looking in will reveal a vast expanse of shelves lined with glowing datapads, as well as the occasional artifact or ancient work of art. However, Thaarin seems immediately drawn to a mural on the back wall of the archives, that depicts the last and conflict of the Jedi-Sith War, showing, naturally, the outcome of the battle with the Jedi as victorious. He glances over at the group, and says in his accented Basic, "You... won?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "We won," Navi replies. "That's what history tells us, anyway, but I can't see any reason they would lie about it." She studies the mural for a thoughtful moment. "Welcome back, Master Windu," she adds softly as the master healer rejoins the group. "Are you feeling better?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As they enter the much quieter archives, Cayde heaves a small sigh of relief as the headache fades at least a bit. He wanders through the shelves, randomly pulling book or two every once and a while to glance at it and then put it back. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     The mural also draws Pike's attention. He beams with pride as he takes in the artwork. 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "Wouldn't be much a republic if we hadn't," reminds Ann as she diverts off to walk with Cayde- eyes flicking over books but not yet touching any for the time being. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin observes Pike's reaction for a moment, then looks to Navi, seeming intrigued by her response. He turns to the droid, and the droid then translates, "He doesn't mean to be impolite or insensitive, but he's curious as to why you carry the Jedi's weapon, if you are in fact, no longer a Jedi." However, his attention is diverted when Cayde wanders off and starts randomly pulling holobooks off the shelf only to return them as if uninterested. He then holds up a hand to indicate to Navi that he'll be back, and follows Anne and Cayde, peeling off to join the other two, his brows furrowed. He gestures for the droid to follow, and the droid hurries after him, somewhat flustered. After a moment, the droid begins translating again. "He says his people participated in these wars alongside the Republic thousands of years ago, but withdrew back to the Unknown Regions long before the war was won. Since then, they have forsaken interaction with other alien species, and even to this day, most of his kind had assumed the Republic fell and the Jedi all but eradicated..." A beat, then the droid adds. "He'd also like to know if ... uh, the behavior Cayde is exhibiting now is one of a few, or several, that he displays whenever there is negative emotional stimuli, and if so, what are the others...?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "That's a long story. The short version is, I know how to build a lightsaber, I know how to use one, and I can do more with my lightsaber than my staff. And I'm almost always in the company of Jedi, so the ability to block blaster fire is very, very useful," Navi replies, shrugging. "Also, I built it from the remains of my late Master's lightsaber. She would've wanted me to have it. Anyway, no offense taken." She moves to follow Thaarin, joining the rest of the group among the stacks. "Um... I've never made a detailed study of awkward Cayde behaviors, but I'd venture a guess that that's exactly what it is. And I kind of had to answer that one, Cayde, so no offense or insensitivity intended." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     As Ann glances at the books, she might glimpse that a few of them he's taking off the shelves are related to slicing or Jedi masters of old who'd had a talent for it. One of them seems to catch his eye though finally, and he starts reading it for a bit longer than he had the others. In spite of everyone else talking about him now, he doesn't seem to notice or acknowledge it. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike remains behind, studying the mural as he opens himself to the Force, hoping for a vision of the past. 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "Let me put it to you this way," says Ann to Thaarin, shrugging a little as she turns to look at him. "Have you never had a tiring day and simply wanted some relative peace and quiet and to read or similar? Fairly normal, around these parts. And to ask a more direct question- you seem to have a lot of curiousity about Cayde in specific. Something on your mind?" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin nods imperceptibly, and the droid then asks her on his behalf: "Have you ever reconsidered rejoining the Jedi?" However, when she starts saying that she'd never made a detailed study of awkward Cayde behaviors, he frowns slightly. The droid becomes even more flustered, but continues translating, "He says that he admires your compassion and kindness, sees that you're very well intentioned, and a good friend to Cayde. If the comment was made in jest and the young padawan has clearly indicated prior that he does not mind such labels, feel free to ignore the next suggestion. He is certain that we're all aware that Cayde isn't deaf, even if at the moment he's absorbed in something else. But given what his Master had indicated prior, he's inclined to believe that it's probably best that we avoid speaking about his private insecurities publicly." Pike is not rewarded with a vision of the past, rather, he is reminded of a present problem. A couple of the nurse droids and a healer from the infirmary approach, their expressions ... concerned. "Master Windu," the healer says quietly, bowing politely. "The patient you brought in. We've done all we can for him, but he still will not wake. And we cannot touch his mind. The best we can do is show you what the scans indicated." she gestures at the droids, who pull out a datapad and show the results on the holodisplay... Thaarin offers Anne a faint smile, and the droid once again begins translating. "He wishes to understand Cayde. Perhaps you were not aware, but Cayde was the very first person to attempt to make a significant effort to communicate with and understand him, despite his own non-standard ways of interacting socially. He finds Cayde to be an exemplary and extraordinary Jedi, demonstrating the values of sacrificial kindness even while emotionally oppressed." A pause. "He'd like to congratulate you, on either helping him to become that person, or continuing to encourage him to be the fine Jedi he already is." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I have, a few times. I haven't made a decision yet. I'm already a member of a Force cult here, the Shining Brotherhood, and so far I feel I can do more good outside of the Jedi Order than inside," Navi replies, blushing faintly. She's not quite sure whether to take Thaarin's comment as a suggestion or a mild rebuke. The approach of the medical staff draws her attention. "Please excuse me... I have a bad feeling about this," she says softly, hurrying over to rejoin Pike. This sounds like bad news... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     When the nurses and healer arrive, Cayde is pulled out of the book by the healer's...distress over the situation with what he assumes is Thaarin's companion. He examines the readouts, trying to see if he can make any sense of them in conjunction with searching the healer's mind. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue humanoid nods imperceptibly again when Navi states her membership to the Shining Brotherhood. When the nurse droids and healer arrive and start talking to Pike and Navi, he looks up, but doesn't go over immediately. Unfortunately, Cayde won't be able to make sense of what the healer is thinking, or of the diagnostics the droid has pulled up. However, Navi might deduce that that Thaarin's companion seems to have incurred some kind of permanent brain damage. Though how it had happened, or when, will remain a mystery. His brain, probably not to the young Sephi's surprise, is quite different looking from a human's or Sephi's, despite his outward humanity save for blue skin and red eyes. "We're not sure how it happened," the healer says, "Or when. Some of our studies show that both his body and mind were subjected to torment for a lenghty period of time, perhaps weeks, perhaps months. Regardless, we don't really know what to do. No one here can touch his mind, and that's the best bet we have on helping him to wake." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I hate it when my bad feelings are right," Navi murmurs, studying the readout. "Protocol Droid? I need you to start looking through the archives for anything we might have on Thaarin's peoples' physiology. He can tell you what they're called. I especially need anything on their brains and nervous systems. Get more droids to work on it if you have to." "Thaarin? You will want to know about this. It's about your companion, and I'm afraid it's bad news," she adds to the tall blue alien. "I won't sugarcoat what's happened; he's suffered some kind of brain damage. If our healers could make contact with his mind, they could heal at least some of the damage. Maybe all of it. But we can't make contact with your minds. They're shielded. You know more about your own physiology than any of us, so you might be able to help us to help him." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     No matter how much he stares at the readouts, Cayde can't quite make sense of them. And the healer's thoughts on the subject also don't really help. But it seems Navi at least has ideas on what to do... 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "As capacity for reaching past that goes, Cayde would likely be the best talent there, if not always the most measured and stable take," Ann adds, arms crossing as she frowns a little. "But, to be completely honest, I'm shocked only one survivor sustained that kind of damage, that crash being wat it was." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Ah...right," the protocol droid says. "Of course, right away..." Thaarin frowns slightly but he doesn't seem surprised, in the slightest. He shakes his head. The healer looks to Navi, then to Anne. "Well," the healer says to Anne. "That's the thing. I don't think the brain damage was caused by blunt trauma. It's possible, but not likely. It seems to have happened prior to ... whenever you found him, which I'm assuming was relatively recent. However, you do have a point, perhaps we should examine the other." The droid begins to translate for Thaarin, and the healer turns to Anne again, glancing at Cayde. "But yes, about Cayde. He might as well try. What's the worst that could happen? There's already been discussion about whether we should just ask your guest if he thinks it would be best for us to just... well, you know. Euthanize him, if he doesn't wake up after a certain prolonged amount of time. It's terrible, I know. But we're not sure what else to do." The droid looks over at Navi, dismayed. "I'm.. not finding anything. There's a brief visual match on the Chiss, which are referenced exactly twice in all our archives. And those books were just... history texts, on the Sith Wars. There's nothing about their physiology, unfortunately." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns pensively, then nods at Ann's remark. He may as well try. The question of what could be the worst that might happen isn't as flippant as the healer is making it sound, but the other man needed help, and that was enough.     He'd read that there were some species who were more difficult to read than others, but it could be done if one was willing and learned to open his mind. Even if he was unconscious, maybe it was... possible. Maybe there were some books about it here.     [I can study...I can try] he signs. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Grab me those two, then," Navi replies, nodding to the droid. "I'll take whatever I can get on these Chiss. There is a chance that, if we can get this fellow home, his own people can cure him. The Jedi Order would probably want to do their due diligence on this matter anyway." She looks to Thaarin, Cayde, Anne, and the healers. "I doubt it was the crash that did the brain damage... he was tortured for a long time before he, Thaarin, and the little guy made their escape and took that ship. Times like this I wish that little guy hadn't run off the way he did. He might know more about what happened." "Thaarin, are you willing to submit to medical scans of your nervous system? It may be the only chance your friend has if the Jedi Order isn't interested in trying to get you both home," she adds to Thaarin. 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "Speaking of that small one..." Ann muses, pulling out a commpad to tap out a quick message to the temple security staff, detailing the notes on the small creature and their slip-away. Better safe than sorry.     "Scans might help, yes, and I would give Cayde time- it sounds like your friend's condition isn't worsening, at least. Better a cautious approach, all things considered." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "...Alright," the droid says to Navi, though it's clear it's rather skeptical of the outcome of this all. Regardless, it dutifully translates for Thaarin, who nods faintly when Navi asks if he'll submit to a medical diagnostic. He turns to Cayde, watching the young padawan sign. Then he turns to him and signs flawlessly in Basic, /Thank you/. Then he has the droid translate for him to Anne, "I'm sorry if my companion and I are becoming a burden. You'll have to leave in a few days, yes?" The healer then nods, and motions for them to follow her to the infirmary. "I suppose we shouldn't waste anymore time," she says. "And should give Cayde the maximum amount to examine him. I hear you're not to stay in Jedha." Once they arrive at there, a droid begins running a medical diagnostic on Thaarin, while another Force adjunct gifted in psychometry takes his badge for examination. Both the healer and Navi may be surprised at the results, he has very high blood pressure, but his outward demeanor as per usual, is calm and demure. "How strange!" the healer exclaims. "His body seems to have endured an immense amount of stress as well...! But he isn't displaying any signs of impact..." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "That's true, unfortunately... we're supposed to leave for Tenoo once our ship's repaired," Navi replies to the Healer as they move to the infirmary. She gives Thaarin a grateful look when he agrees to volunteer for the scans. "You're not a burden, Thaarin. If the Republic and the Chiss were once allies, it's possible that they may be again. Besides, Cayde likes you, and I tend to trust his judgement when it comes to people." The mention of Thaarin also suffering torture doesn't surprise her, but the news of his response, or rather his lack of response, to it certainly does. "That IS interesting. I'm going to take a guess that Thaarin and his friend were both subjected to an experimental treatment or torture method, possibly a drug or an interrogation droid. It's possible that Thaarin was exposed to less of that sort of treatment than his friend, and that's why he's in such good shape compared to him. I won't rule out the intervention of the Force, either, or the possibility that the smaller alien was somehow protecting him from the worst effects of the torture." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [Very welcome] Cayde signs back to him.     He follows the healers to the infirmary. He may as well try to take a look and see if he can at least get some kind of idea on how to enter the unconscious man's mind. Maybe if he and Navi joined their efforts it might work? Already he tries to convey this idea to her, showing her the notion that maybe if they worked together with the healers they might enter his consciousness. 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "This is the kind of thing Jedi do. Don't worry about it," says Ann to Thaarin, shaking her head.     "Hoping you communicating back home will be approved- if there's a delay or something... well, you seem sharp. Might be a good hand to have around the Tenoo colony." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The droid translates for Thaarin, but Navi's response doesn't seem to lift his spirits much. He nods at Cayde when he tells him he's welcome, offering the young padawan another faint smile. However, when Anne tells him not to worry and says that he might be a good hand to have around Tenoo, the change in his expression is visible. He seems both comforted, and conflicted, at the same time, for a brief moment. His expression reverting back to the typical unreadable look, he gazes after Anne for a few seconds. The Force adjunct gifted in psychometry returns now, and connects with Navi and Cayde telepathically to reveal what she'd found. The history of the badge is blurry, at best, but it would appear that Navi's assessment had been correct -- Thaarin and his companion had been exposed to some kind of drug, or interrogation device. But it would seem that Thaarin's companion had been subjected to more physical abuse prior to exposure of the drug, while Thaarin had been forced to watch. Perhaps this was why his companion had been more susceptible to whatever they'd been exposed to, although Thaarin himself had suffered more psychological trauma. Just as before, Thaarin's companion's mind hovers like a blank, cloudy slate in front of the young padawan. Perhaps it is possible, with a joint effort... but as Ann had stated before, it would likely take time some time. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Well, he could at least try to begin with. Everything had to start somewhere. He touches the man's forehead, focusing all his efforts toward trying to connect with...-something-. Anything, even the slightest hint of a memory... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "It's worth a try," Navi says to Cayde, taking a seat nearby and beginning to draw on the Force, then joining her mind with Cayde's and beginning to tweak the flow of the Force between herself and the unconscious Chiss's mind. With the favor of the Force, perhaps they could pierce that veil and access his mind. And with a bit more favor, perhaps they could cure him. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Amazingly, they're able to see... and feel, something. But the shapes, colors and movement are blurry, as if Navi and Cayde are seeing it through thick, frosted glass. They'll be able to sense an immense amount of fear, and a very strong urgency to get back to where he was from - the Ascendancy. But also, and perhaps a bit morbidly, a desire to die, although that desire is in conflict with the others and neither Cayde or Navi will be able to discern why. And yet, if they attempt to calm him, cure his mind, or affect his conscious in any way shape or form, they'll find themselves foiled... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns in deep concentration, trying to focus on the emotions, and the vague images. What did they need to do to hone this technique? To pierce the veil, so to speak? Surely, there was a book somewhere in this archives, or maybe even several books, on how to penetrate the mind of species who were difficult to commune with. It probably involved coaxing them to open themselves up...but how? 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' <<Oh, of all the... please, work with us here. We know you want to go home! If you'll just let us heal your mind, you're a lot more likely to be able to do that! Can you give us something to work with here?>> Navi asks telepathically, in frustration, as their work is foiled time and again. <<He may have closed his mind off to protect what's left of his sanity,>> she adds directly to Cayde. <<What if we could link Thaarin into our telepathic loop here, and let /him/ talk to this guy's mind directly? He can speak to him in his own language!>> It's the best idea she can come up with. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' But Navi will feel very much like she's just shouting into the void. The man's mind is closed off, and he's not even intentionally doing it. And Cayde and Navi will find their telepathic grip on his conscience slipping. His feelings, his thoughts, desires... they're fading to black, and no matter what they do, it's receding. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde sighs and withdraws, but he puts a hand on Navi's shoulder reassuringly. <Don't worry...be patient> he encourages. Frustration wouldn't get them anywhere. But maybe find a way to show Thaarin how to open his mind to them was an idea. He nods toward the young Chiss, pointing toward the man's head and then pointing to his own temple, followed by holding his palms out like a door swinging open. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi sighs as their grip on the man's psyche slips away. "We're going to have to do something different if this is going to work," she says wearily. Looking at Thaarin, she asks, "Thaarin, would you be willing to let Cayde and I connect with your mind telepathically, so you can speak directly to your companion's mind? If you can speak to him in his own language, you might be able to persuade him to lower his guard and let us help him. We've tried it alone, but it just doesn't work." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The droid starts to translate, but the tall blue humanoid holds a hand up for him to stop. He stands and gestures for them to follow him into a pretty empty maintenance closet. If they follow him inside, he tells them a phrase in his own language, then takes Cayde's hand and places it on his own temple, nodding. The concept of telepathy doesn't seem at all foreign to him, and despite Cayde's rudimentary hand motions he seems to understand perfectly. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods. Good, it seemed he was willing. They had to try. He takes both of their hands, and closes his eyes, trying to see if he could show Thaarin how to open his mind to them... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi follows Thaarin to the closet. She commits the phrase he had spoken to memory. "Let's hope this works. I'm all out of ideas," she says softly, opening her mind to the Force again and joining the thought-loop between Cayde, Thaarin, the unknown Chiss, and herself. <<Ready?>> she asks them, and then reaches into the stricken man's mind, telepathically speaking the phrase Thaarin had spoken a moment before... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The first several minutes will be ... difficult. Or perhaps its longer than that, time is hard to measure while Cayde and Navi are in mindscape limbo. Thaarin seems initially rather confused about how to open his mind, and Navi and Cayde will have to exert every ounce of effort into helping him pry a channel in his mind open. But at some point, a sliver of a crack will appear. Now they'll just have the seize the opportunity and try to speak to the unconscious man while attempting to keep the narrow, narrow gap open... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     That's it...a crack. Even just a narrow one, but it was progress. They could maybe, possibly get at least a lead to the next step. He strains against the veil, pushing as hard as he can. This other man, whoever he was, clearly meant a lot to Thaarin. And he imagines he might mean a lot to a lot of other people back home, too. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi focuses her own efforts on widening that gap that has opened. It's quite a strain, but she puts her all into it, wishing she were half the telepath Cayde is. <<Your turn, Thaarin. May the Force be with you,>> she says, doing her best to stabilize the connection and give Thaarin his chance to speak to the otherwise doomed man. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' But try as they might, they can't get the gap any wider - only maintain it. And maintaining it is ... well, they'll both start to feel a massive headache coming on. But for some reason, Thaarin is hesitating. They won't be able to discern why - not at this point, with all their effort focused on maintaining that narrow channel. After a moment, Thaarin attempts to speak to the man in their own language, but Navi and Cayde will suddenly find their grip on the channel loosening. It's ... it's closing, though they can feel the other man's mind starting to stir the tiniest bit... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     No, no...not now, not when they were so close! Not that he's expecting to fix everything instantly, but he at least needed some kind of lead. Somewhere to go next to find the solution. It feels as if his head might split apart, but he pushes past it, doing his best to ignore the pain and keep himself attuned to the Force and to Navi's mind as well.     He tries conjuring up a peaceful mindscape, a place where Thaarin and his friend might feel most comfortable. He's not sure what their homeworld is like...but anyone can feel at ease in lush, rolling hills? A well-paved path, with a clear way forward. No confusion, no questions... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' <<No! Not now!>> Navi cries, less internally than she would've liked. <<I'm not letting you go! Not when you can live again!>> Conscious of a building pressure behind her eyes, one that is growing worse with each passing second, she forces the pain to the back of her mind, focusing instead on Cayde and his plan. Even as the Padawan works on his peaceful mindscape, she focuses on keeping her grip on the Chiss's mind, and keeping that all-important channel open. If they lose contact now, all their effort will be for nothing... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The unconscious man is stirring more, but Navi and Cayde may realize with a sinking feeling that their efforts are in vain not because their telepathy isn't effective, it's because Thaarin is losing faith. He must have seen something in his brother's mind, through that narrow channel, that had caused him to question whether they should continue trying to wake him this way. And so, despite the splitting headache that's threatening to make their heads feel as if they're about to implode, the channel snaps shut, and the pressure release might be enough to cause either of them to stumble and fall. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' <<Oh, bother..!>> cries Navi over the telepathic connection, and faints dead away from the shock... 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde quickly withdraws. Hopefully, Thaarin has learned something useful...he looks to the man expectantly. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' If he has, he's not telling them. His expression has become terribly weary, and he signs to Cayde again. /Thank you. For trying/. Then he pats Cayde on the shoulder gently, and offers Navi a helping hand, pulling her to her feet gently if she takes his hand. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     But...Cayde sighs, his shoulders slumping. Doesn't he want to help his friend? [What did you see] he asks. [Please...] 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi rouses from her fainting spell after a moment, putting a hand to her head. "Oooooohh, my head..." she murmurs, accepting Thaarin's hand and getting slowly to her feet. "What happened? Why did you pull back?" she asks Thaarin wearily. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' That weary look doesn't go away and default to a standard unreadable expression, surprisingly. He takes Navi's hands and kisses them very gently. "Thank you," he says. Then he turns to Cayde, looking grief stricken for the first time. /Nothing good/ He places both handss on Cayde's shoulders. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde puts a hand on Navi's shoulder, trying to ease her pain and point her toward something better.     He stares desperately at Thaarin. [Please...help us...help him] 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi gives Cayde a grateful look. "Thanks," she whispers, before looking at Thaarin, her eyes tearing up as her hands are kissed. "As best I can tell, he wants to go home. But he also wants to die. Those are at cross purposes to each other. Unless he wants his body brought home to be laid to rest. It's not a possibility I like to think about, but neither can I ignore it." "Protocol droid!" she shouts, waving her arm outside of the closet door. "Need your help over here!" Withdrawing back inside the closet, she looks to Thaarin. "Is that what he truly wants? To end his suffering and be taken home? I can't give up on him if there's even a tiny chance he can be saved... I can't!" 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Thaarin nods, slowly, his expression melancholy. His scarlet eyes seem so sad now, but also full of compassion and gratefulness as he takes her cheeks with both hands and uses his thumbs to wipe away her tears. "You should go," he says very softly in his accented Basic, looking up only briefly to make a shooing motion at the droid, who appears utterly confused. He doesn't say anything to Cayde, for the moment, only stares at the young padawan sadly, shaking his head. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde's expression falls, as he finally gives up and sighs sadly, turning to leave. If Thaarin didn't believe in them, then there wasn't much point to any of this. They would need his cooperation... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "It's too late, then," Navi says softly, bowing her head when Thaarin releases it. "Is it really so bad that it would be worse for him to live than to die? I'd hoped not, but... well. You know him best." She hugs him fiercely. "Do what you must do. But if there's any chance you're wrong, you know where to find us." She releases him, then turns to follow Cayde, utterly crushed. "Protocol droid? If you could show me to my room, I'd be beyond grateful. I really need to lie down. Possibly for a week." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He closes the door of the maintenance closet, then accepts Navi's embrace gratefully. Afterwards, he opens it, and beckons for the protocol droid to come over, as Navi requests to be shown to her room. Once Navi and the protocol droid have left, Thaarin reaches out and grabs Cayde's wrist gently. Now it's just the two of them in the patient room. "It's.. not you," he says in his accented Basic. "Please. Don't be sad." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde looks back at Thaarin when he tries to pull him back by the wrist. But he just pulls away, shaking his head. Regardless of what the reason was, all their efforts had been in vain. If only he would trust in the Force, there was a chance his friend might be made well again. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue humanoid watches as Cayde pulls away, shaking his head. His gaze follows the young padawan as he leaves, his scarlet eyes burning with the things he wanted to say but couldn't, for the moment. Then finally, he sighs, and turns around, heading back into the infirmary. 
}}

The Tenoo Frontier

2025-07-01T21:13:27Z

Sindt:

The Republic is sending at least two thousand colonists to an Outer Rim planet called Tenoo, to found a new colony there alongside the existing one, Kublop Springs. But the Jedi and their allies have reason to believe that many of the colonists are not who they seem to be. They hope for the best, but expect the worst, as relational tensions begin to develop and possibly jeopardize the Republic's effort to found a new colony on Tenoo.

===== Logs =====
* [[The Tenoo Initiative]]

* [[Registration Day]]

* [[Recruitment Day]]

* [[The Preliminary Seminar]]

* [[A Dual Role]]

* [[Boarding the Legacy II]]

* [[Quarantine]]

* [[Quarantine Visit]]

* [[Communication Relay]]

* [[The Vergence and the Temple]]

* [[Conflict]]

* [[The Start of Something Bad]]

* [[An Excursion to Ilum]]

* [[An Attempted Assassination]]

* [[Rescue Mission]]

* [[Playing Hooky]]

* [[Unknown Aliens]]

* [[Ding Dong! Dresda is Dead]]

* [[Stopover On Jedha]]

* [[An Attempted Awakening]]

===== Colonists =====
<gallery>
File:Soren.png|Dr. Cassias - well renowned doctor formerly convicted for falsifying Heydan Seegil's toxicology report.
File:Vons.png|Arsok Vons - private investigator who helped exonerate Navi in a murder case and aided in exposing the marauders who attacked the Temple of the Kyber.
File:Fan Four.png|Fan Four - four teenaged Chadra Fans who helped Navi discover who was behind the raid on the Temple of Kyber.
File:Xera.png|Xera Graf - Primary financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. A powerful member of the notoriously rich and influential hyperspace prospecting Graf family.
File:Unknown.png|Taryn San Tekka - The other major financial sponsor of the Tenoo Initiative. He is a member of another rich hyperspace prospecting family, rival to the Grafs.
File:Unknown.png|Gael - Mal's older sister, also a Nightsister and assisted the Jedi in entering the Force tear below Jedha.
File:Mal.png|Malgabar - Nightsister with terrible amnesia who helped the Jedi previously in entering a corrupted Force tear
File:mondrian.png|Mondrian - Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black to investigate the colonist roster.
File:Veena.png|Veena - Mondrian's partner and Undercover CSF lead detective sent along by Black.
File:Unknown.png|Yvon - Ugnaught navigator for the Legacy II.
File:Unknown.png|Jahni - Ugnaught pilot for the Legacy II, fraternal twin brother of Yvon.
File:Unknown.png|Oona Yutelli - elderly Mirialan Jedi Master, formerly a Seeker and Temple archivist.
File:Thaarin.png|Thaarin - A mysterious, charming, blue skinned alien the Jedi found stranded on Ilum who has relocated to Tenoo to help with Republic frontier efforts.
</gallery>

An Attempted Awakening Pt 1

2025-07-01T21:13:00Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-03-23 |Synopsis=The group, with help from the Jedha healers, attempt to wake Thaarin's brother. |Cast of Characters=159, 261, 143, 381, 325 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Not long after having arrived in the hangar of the Temple of the Kyber, the group is escorted by a protocol droid who'd offered to show them to their quarters while Yvon and Jahni saw to matters about the ship and restocking..."

Vorkarr

2025-07-01T20:54:22Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-03-20 |Synopsis=Ellari and Jorn head to the Mandalorian countryside, Volken goes early to Thaelin's wedding |Cast of Characters=159, 296, 418, 321 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Some hours will pass. Presumably, they'll take the ship down somewhere remote and away and from Sundari, with Jorn and Ellari lying low, the latter likely attempting to contact the Republic - for better, or for worse...."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-03-20
|Synopsis=Ellari and Jorn head to the Mandalorian countryside, Volken goes early to Thaelin's wedding
|Cast of Characters=159, 296, 418, 321
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Some hours will pass. Presumably, they'll take the ship down somewhere remote and away and from Sundari, with Jorn and Ellari lying low, the latter likely attempting to contact the Republic - for better, or for worse. It's certainly a choice to be contacts one's sworn enemies, but interesting times called for interesting measures. Jorn will receive other messages and calls from Revara, asking him to meet up and return to Sundari, making promises that seem shaky at best. As for Volken, Thaelin will ask regarding his whereabouts and if he'd still planned to come to the wedding. His cousins would be there, and would be forced to be civil. If Volken wanted answers, the wedding would be the best time to confront them. Now, whether or not they would tell the truth... is an entirely different matter. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari is working on getting in touch with what few contacts on Mandalore she has that she can trust fully. Unfortunately those are in limited supply, so she's also taken to attempting to find and contact a Republic outpost in the sector to see if they know anything about this Annelia Belask whom Volken had apparently aided on several occasions. It was a long shot for sure, but indeed, these were interesting times and they didn't have many options. An outside party was most likely to be...unbiased. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn turned off communications a while ago. He may have a slew of messages when he turns on the communications. For now, he's content with keeping them off. "Any word from your friends?" Jorn asks. Ellari, and Volken, have more contacts than Jorn. So, he's at their mercy a little bit. Breathing out, he just savors the strange silence. It's an odd comfort compared to people trying to shoot at him, constantly. Right now, it's nice to just not have a group of people trying to kill him. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Ellari may be surprised by the number positive responses she gets from those she's reached out to. Jon'as seems slightly on the fence, but willing to be persuaded under the right circumstances. Er'gi seems mostly unconcerned about who owned the blade, and more interested in whether she had it now, somehow. He does not, strangely enough, even ask if she'd acquired it properly. She might also not be surprised to find that old flame of hers who'd been working the impounding yard had sent her thirty messages. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     She isn't sure if she should fully trust them, since she doesn't know them that well. Are they sincere, or just looking for a chance to grab the glory for themselves somehow? Now that man from the yard, though. She doesn't have a doubt about him. He seems to be rather obsessed with her, so she checks to see what he has to say...     "Well, I have couple of prospects, maybe. But it's difficult to justify trusting anyone here at the moment." she replies to Jorn. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "Present company excluded?" Jorn tries to look on the brightside of things lately. So, he considers that to be better than some alternative options they had lately. His gaze looks out toward their surroundings. He does keep the guard up a little bit. The last time he let his guard down fully, Jorn wound up in a jail cell. So, he's trying to make sure that doesn't happen again. It may have been what kept him away from Revara. At least his words to her were true. jorn's very unsure about hers. Even the ones that deal nothing with the saber. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Volken has indeed cleaned himself up. Made himself as presentable and impressive looking as possible - by Mandalorian mercenary standards ..proably barely. By his own standards he's cleaned up pretty well - and he's going to a wedding. <<Yes. I'm coming. It told you I was coming.>> is his response to Thaelin. It's .. perhaps a little curt but one can hardly blame him given what he's been dragged into and Thaelins hould know him well enough by now to read between the lines. Volken Mons is concerned. <<We need to talk. Can you spare a moment before the wedding begins? And -alone-.>> Surely Thaelin can make that work without eavesdroppers nad others harassing them both. Ellari and Jorn he doesn't risk communicating with unless he has to. There's always the fear about it being traced. But before he finally left them to get a ride to Sundari on his own: "Annelia Belask. Master Volk of the convocation on Jedha. Try and get messages to them. Mention my name and that I'm calling in a favor. Both would know what and why. You can tell them it's for a noble cause if they balk. And for heaven's sake if Annelia answers tell her to -not- bring that mute jedi child-student of hers! He'd make this situation worse and get himself killed." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He'd found a very roundabout, uncomfortable and lengthy way to tell her that he'd been fired. Of course, he'd tried to paint it in a positive light, and say that he'd never really liked it there anyway, and that there had been some other incidents in the past that he'd been blamed for that weren't in anyway shape or form his fault. The rest of the messages are a recounting of fond memories he'd had of her over the years, some of which Ellari may or may not remember. The message concludes with a request to hopefully see her again soon. "<<Of course.>>" A beat. "<<What's going on?>> Thaelin replies. "<<Have you found Jorn? Have you heard from my sister?>>" his reply isn't antagonistic, though. "<< There'll be no spontaneous violence,>>" he continues. "<<Not before the wedding, or after. Only what we traditionally allow during the ceremony and reception. And for that reason>> he adds softly. "<<If it regards him, or Revara. I will listen patiently and consider your case. You have my word, vod.>>" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ah. Well, too bad none of the stories were actually that helpful. So she simply replies asking him where he is and what he's doing.     She nods as Volken takes his leave for the wedding. "Belask and Volk, got it. I'll be sure to mention it. Hopefully, she is not -too- attached to her ah, Foundling. But even if so, perhaps she can recommend someone else who is more free." She watches him go, wondering if perhaps she should join him at the wedding. She had been invited originally, after all. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' <<I'll explain when I get there. Let's meet. Now. Where do I go?>> Volken's response is straight to the point. He waits for Thaelin to give him the location and precise time. At that point he just waits and ponders. He has -one- more ace up his sleeve that he has yet to tell even Jorn and Ellari. about. A certain family, the lady who leads them, and their endeavours across the Galaxy from Canto Bight on ... might be worth reaching out to if it becomes necessary but that would indeed be...very very last resort. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "How big of a risk is the foundling if she -is- attached to the foundling?" Jorn says and then he looks at Ellari for a moment. "Everything okay?" he asks then looks down. Breathing slow, he tries to figure out how to find any kind of maps of where they're at along with just the general area. He has a few ideas, but needs a lay of the land. Something generic, he's not getting his hopes up for detailed 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The former guard from the impounding yard seems overly eager when she responds asking what he's doing. He replies immediately, telling her he's free, and still in Sundari, if she wants to meet up tonight. He starts suggesting cantinas they could visit. Oh, well, of course he'd assumed that. "<<We're running through rehearsals at a chapel on the outskirts of Sundari. We can meet in the hedge maze. I'll send you coordinates. We won't be disturbed there.>>" Thaelin replies. Jorn won't have too much difficulty retrieving geographical data on the area using his ships scanners. They're somewhere near a rural village whose sole purpose is agriculture -- it's far away enough from Sundari that the people here likely haven't heard the news, nor would care enough about it to cause a scene. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Rehersals -- so there might be a delay but there's not much choice. He could go right to the chapel but the seems better. <<I'll meet you there. I"ll be waiting.>> He finishes with that and then proceeds to head right to the maze once the coordinates are given. IAs to the others back at Jorn's ship -ff they have further questions they'll have to reach out to him. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari asks him if he knows anyone, or if he himself has any slicing skills. Anything that might be useful for recovering data, before he can even finish his list of cantina suggestions.     "I don't know, since Volken is the one who met them, but it sounds as if this Foundling might be a pretty big liability. Besides, Mandalore is no place for outsiders' children. Especially...disabled ones." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "Maybe the child is more capable than we realize?" stranger things have happened lately. Jorn looks over the maps. He pauses just looking over everything. "These lands are a good place to get lost in. A good place to lay low," but Jorn only half believes that. "Do you trust Volken? If so, then we trust his contacts," to him it's as simple as that. They don't have a lot of luxury right now. Truth and blind faith may be their best resources right now. "If we had time we could do something with the land, but how long do we have before a search extends outward?" he asks in all seriousness. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Volken might be surprised to find that Thaelin arrives promptly after he does. The youth, like Volken, has cleaned up well, but his eyes and demeanor are tired. But he seems relieved to see Volken. He hugs the behemoth. "Is everything alright, vod?" he asks sincerely. "What is it?" There's a pause, and he says that he himself knows a little slicing, and then he asks her why she'd ask such a thing... Speaking of a good place to get lost in, Jorn will find them right above an expansive agri-field, with blades of grain taller than ten feet. If they wanted to hide, here is as good of a place as any... 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "I trust Volken at the moment, for this purpose. He believes in justice and he believes you are innocent." Ellari replies. "As for the child, I don't know anything about him other than what Volken has told me. But if you would like to ask...Belask or Volk, I could put you through if we are able to get in contact." She arches a brow at him slightly. "What makes you say that, anyway?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     She studies the man's reply on her commlink, and tells him she is looking for someone who might be able to recover data from damaged drives. 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Character growth. Volken would have likely balked at that hug a few months ago but he doesn't push Thaelin away and allows it though he doesn't exactly embrace him back. Some things don't change easily. But he does note the tiredness in the young groom. "...Wedding rehearsals getting to you?" he jokes lightly and then asks, "How is your father?" It's an easy question but Volken also doesn't want to risk losing too much time on pleasentries so he appends to that, "...and I have news. Yes.. I have seen your sister, in the company of your mother. Listen, vod... .somehow they've been involved in this whole Dark Saber nonsense. Jorn was framed. He didn't steal that saber. It was placed onto his ship to make it look like he was a thief and to give a reason to incite the public and, possibly, to get -you- killed. I've been dragged into this mess but since I'm in it-- i'm in it to win. I don't like lies, conspiracy, being manipulated and dishonorable hut'uun so I'm going to do my part in fixing this. But I need to know if you believe what I'm saying." His eyes go towards Thaelin's cybernetics, "You have every right to not want to." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "That's a comfort," and Jorn legitimately means that. Not too many people believe him at the moment. It's another strange comfort in this situation. Then he thinks on it for a moment. "Patch me in to Volken," Jorn figures that would be a good way to try and figure out the city. To see what kind of odds they're against. Breathing out, his eyes close slowly as he tries to figure out what to do if more people are going to come for him. "What I wouldn't give for an armory right now. I feel like it's a small squad against everyone else. I wouldn't mind evening the odds a little," and then he looks out the ship to see the simple farms. He wished some of the bits were just a front for weapons. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' And then suddenly the guard says that would be no problem for him, and starts going off about how back in primary school, he'd sliced into the overseer's console so he could cheat on his metallurgy exam... Thaelin chuckles softly, but his faint smile is quickly replaced with weariness again. "Sanza is anxious. She's wondering if we rushed into this too quickly, or are marrying because of the political pressures of here and now. But I've never felt more ready..." Thaelin sits rubbing his forehead with both hands, cringing slightly at the sensation of his metal fingertips against the skin on his scalp. "... I suspected as much." He turns to Volken. "I want to," he says. "But I cannot, unless you have proof to prove that he was framed. Because it's equally likely my sister persuaded him to do it because of my mother. Then there's the possibility he really did just take it. He could be lying to you Volken. I wouldn't trust him. Don't forget that my father still lies in comatose because of him." He sighs. "What do you want to do," he says quietly. "Something must be done about my mother..." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Hmm, Ellari frowns pensively at the messages, wondering if he's exaggerating or not. He'd originally said 'a little', but now he's saying he's some kind of prodigy? She tells him a remote location somewhat near to where they have parked the ship, and a time later this evening. She'll just have to find out how much of his blathering has truth to it.     "Patch yourself in," Ellari tells Jorn, sending him Volken's contact details. "But be careful, we don't want to give ourselves away." 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' Volken isn't surrpisd at Thaelin's reaction. He looks patiently at him. That in and of itself a minor miracle. Patience is not his strong point. But he listens and then rumbles, "Normally I'd agree. But there's more factors to consider. Ellari Zin also believes him and your sister has made repeated attempts to get him to meet with her. Even promising to get his name cleared with the help of her mother. I've seen your sister in the company ofyour mother, at her keep and heard from one of the..twins...that they's after the saber. They might have been just trying to throw me off their scent but I'm sure one of them is responsible for placing the saber on the ship. Hell, Revara might have been the one to do it - but Jorn wasn't working with her. If he was, he' d have long delivered the saber to her and she wouldn't be begging to get him to come to her and offering a way for her mother to get his name cleared..." Vooken pauses and then rumbles, "I need to trust me. We need allies. We're trying to get the data that can prove his innocent. The footage that would have shown who put them sabre onto his ship was deliberately damaged. We're trying to ge ta data splicer and possibly looking to outside neutral parties that might be willing to offer some insight. But we need people to stand with us and give Jorn some benefit of the doubt." After a pause he says, "You should marry her, vod. But it's fair if she's hesitant now. It may not have been political before but now it is. We're looking at civil war." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn just sends Volken a message, <How is everyone in the city?> In the whole commotion, Jorn forgot when exactly the wedding's happening. However, he elects to send a message than do any form of active verbal communication in case Volken is around a lot of people right now. <Everything is quiet in coastal land. Never considered myself a water man, but here we are.> Just in case the chatter isn't so clear he'll throw in a red herring or two. Jorn's just trying to figure out how hostile the city is. Jorn just has visions of people that want to shoot him or worse. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The guard excitedly tells her he'll be there, and that he looks forward to seeing her again... Thaelin scoffs. "Of course it's damaged," he says morosely, "it's what anyone with a lick of common sense would do." He shakes his head sadly. "I can't give Jorn the benefit of the doubt. I'm sorry, Volken. I trust you, but I can't trust Jorn. Not after everything. But what I can promise you is an audience with my cousins. They'll be at the wedding. You will be the last person they want to see, but they won't be able to run, or start a fight. They gave me their word. I have no idea what they want, if they were involved, and if they were, why they were. Neither of them have really fancied the saber and hated Old Man Vizsla's guts. Perhaps it was purely out of spite." "Regardless, I will consider whatever you discover from them, and whatever proof you may have for Jorn being framed. I can't promise to be completely unbiased, but I will try my damnedest. And if Jorn wants to see my sister discreetly and you bring him here to do so, I will not speak of it to anyone." Then he looks sad. "It's what she would want..." "I don't know, Volken. I gave up on trying to be the people pleaser a long time ago, but if Sanza is afraid to marry for the wrong reasons..." he trails off. "What about you," he asks after a moment. "Have you ever thought about getting married?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari doesn't respond to his message, but just leaves it at that. Hopefully, he'll prove useful again. She checks to see if there has been any response from the Republic yet... 

:'''{{#var:321|Volken Mons (321)}} has posed:''' "If you can't trust Jorn, Vod, then trust me. Do you really think - with what I now about Revara, with what she's -done-....with what she's tried doing t -me- ..that if I had the slightest feeling that Jorn was in league with her and not her attempting to must manipulate this situation through her mother....that i'd vouch for him? Think about it. The situation doesn't add up. The pieces here don't lead to him being the culprit. Listen....I know it's a lot to ask and if I had of been there at that duel I might have stepped in myself after what he did to you...but we're past that now...." He knew this was a long shot but it was the closest person he had to trying to make a move on this front. It's still a big bridge for Thaelin to cross without some time so he just says: "Just think about it. Let it simmer in you for a bit until at least after your wedding..." To the comment about the twins he says, "I know. Apparently they -want- to talk to me..>" It's then that his message indicator goes off inside his helm and Jorn's message fashes across it. Volken frowns though, fortunantely Thaelin can't see it. He doesn't answer right away though being that he doesn't want Thaelin to know he's in commmunication with the others until he knows he's on his side. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' No response from the Republic. Yet, anyway... Thaelin gives Volken a pained look. "You don't have to ask me to trust you Volken," he says. "I know that whatever you do, even if you aren't telling me the whole truth, isn't because you're a lying hut'uun, but because you're trying to do the right thing for both me and Sanza, and everyone. I /understand/. It's the only reason why I'm giving you this chance to talk to my cousins like this. I know you'd never vouch for me, or my father, or even my sister to be manipulated by my mother into some greater plot to move her up politically." "I'll think about it," Thaelin says. "I promise you that much." Then his commlink pings. "The rehearsal for the ceremony after dinner is starting. I have to go. But I'll see you soon..." Then he gets up and heads back to the chapel. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn pauses at the lack of response. "Well, that didn't work," and he doesn't blame Volken's lack of response. The man is probably knee deep in some place extremely crowded. "Well, back to the drawing board," Jorn starts tow ork at the map again just loooking for some inspiration. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The map shows that beyond the farms, probably an hour or so from the farms Jorn is seeing out the viewport right now, is another small village. Perhaps, with some luck, he could find an armory, or perhaps more allies. Out here, far from Sundari, the folk were likely to be less politically minded... right? 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "How trust worthy do you think that small village is?" Jorn asks Ellari since they seem to be out of options. And so, he tries to come up with a plan. Maybe two. There's not much to do out here and in a situation where the primary goal is to hide. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Hmm..." Ellari studies the map, looking for the name of the village to see if it sounds familiar. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The village name sounds vaguely familiar. She might have learned about it back in primary school. Then, it had been known as mostly non partisan, politically, but that was probably over a decade ago. Perhaps things had changed, but perhaps things hadn't. Either that, or they could try to seek help from the farmers... 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari sighs. "Well, it may be worth a shot, given our lack of options at the moment. I know it used to be mostly neutral, but that may not be the case any more." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn makes sure the blade is on him, but hidden. He'll grab a few blasters then starts to make his way out of the ship. While he's trying not to skulk, Jorn is keeping the eyes open. He's not sure how far other eyes and ears may go. So, he presses onward. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The field they've exited into seems to span for miles, and though their radar shows civilization a few miles north, they won't be able to see anything but tall strands of grain waving in the wind in front of them. But the map says they can walk to the village, so as long as they don't get sidetracked, they should arrive there in due time. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ugh, Ellari isn't used to these farmland places. Weren't there -any- roads out here at all? She checks the map, sighing. "We should be able to get there if we just head due north." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn just keeps his eyes open as he looks over everything takne off. It's all new to him so he's trying not to miss any detail out here. What exactly he sees jsut yet, remains unknown. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' They might feel like they're walking blind as they make their way through the field, as the tall grain obscures the way ahead of them for as far as they can see, for now. But after walking north for about twenty minutes, they'll come out of the field and find themselves in front of a grassy enclosure containing some grazing nerfs. There's a barn to their left, and beyond that, lights that must indicate civilization and therefore the village they're hoping to reach. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "I suppose that wasn't so bad," Ellari remarks, although she is grateful to be done walking through all that grain at least for now. She starts toward the small village, looking for cafe or cantina or somewhere they might refresh themselves... 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "So far," Jorn says trying not to sound too paranoid. "The lights look normal up ahead?" He's making sure there's not any new lights added to the small smattering of them in the town. Because something new could be bad. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The nerfs have noticed them though, and some of them start lowing, somewhat alarmed by Ellari and Jorn. If the farmers are around, they might be alerted to their presence - which could be good, or bad. The farmers might know the area better, but they might not exactly be friendly... 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Well, they were going to have to talk to someone at some point, otherwise what was the point of even coming here anyway?     Ellari just shrugs and continues into the village, looking for a center or something. She squints ahead at the lights. "I suppose? What's your definition of not normal lights, anyway?" 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "Nothing that looks too different, or out of the ordinary," Jorn says and he looks back at her. "This is completely alien to me. So, I'm not sure if these lights are normal or not," he says and then nodding back to the lights. "I just wasn't sure if these were the regular people or if they have people from the city roaming in their quiet quaint home." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' As Ellari and Jorn start heading for the village, the nerfs will continue lowing and eventually will scatter to the far end of the field, away from the two of them. One of them might hear a door somewhere not too far away open, and footsteps approach... 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ell shrugs. "Well I am not from the country either, so I'm afraid I wouldn't be any wiser than you." She looks up when a door opens and footsteps approach. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn stops and pulls out a weapon when Elis tarts to look around. He may not hear anything, but trusts her instincts since she knows the planet considerably better than him. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Heavy, slow footfalls can be heard approaching. There's a shadowy figure approaching - portly, and wearing beskar by the looks of it, but no helmet. After a moment's delay, the figure calls out, "Who's there? At this hour?!" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari approaches him casually. "Who's asking?" she replies, arching a brow at him. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn turns holding his gun out toward the person. "What she said," he says just keeping the gun narrow. "Just passing through. No more. No less." He says honestly because he has no itnerest in meeting people out here anyway. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "I live here," the figure says, coming close enough for Ellari and Jorn to see he walks with a limp and barely fits in his armor. He's clearly older, and has seen better days. "You're both from the city, aren't you! Were you scared of the rioting? I heard someone stole the Dark Saber," he says, but dispassionately. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Yes...you don't care for that, do you?" Ellari remarks to him. "I see that you live here, I was asking who you are." she reiterates, folding her arms. "But I suppose I'll go first. Ellari Zin." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Pause. "Thadeus." Jorn lies because he doesn't want the attention. Jorn's not sure how far his name has been tossed about. So, he uses an alias for now. "Sorry to disturb your evening." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Don't worry about it," he says, waving a hand at them dismissively. "M'karr, Clan Dost. But what about you?" he asks Jorn. "Were you also afraid of the rioting?" 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari arches a brow at him. "I don't think 'afraid' is the right word." she tells him, glancing at Jorn as he gives a false name. "We Mandalorians scorn cowardice above many thing, after all." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "Fear isn't the word," Jorn just echoes the sentiment. "We're simply passing through. You have no fear, M'Karr of Clan Dost." Jorn inclines his head ever so slightly. Just wanting to be formal yet short about matters. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' M'karr shrugs. "Sure," he says when Ellari says that all Mandalorians scorn cowardice. He won't strike either of them as very traditional. "I don't suppose you're heading into town for the night, are you? You're passing through, but Vorkarr's hardly a stop for anyone." A beat. "So if you're not afraid, and you aren't staying here, then where -are- you going, and why?" He shakes his head and starts heading for the barn. "If you're looking for the Dark Saber, well, it certainly isn't here. I've nothing to do with House Vizsla." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Not entirely sure yet," Ellari admits. "But, for now I suppose we just need a quiet respite." she answers, glancing at Jorn again. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "Quiet respite. Maybe a glass of something. Simple things," which is why the rioting holds no appeal to them, storywise anyway. Jorn looks at the man. The gun is still out there, but the trigger finger isn't as itchy anymore. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' For a moment, M'karr just stares at them, his expression unreadable. He seems on the fence about how believeable their story is. But after a few moments, he finally shrugs and says, "Well, the Steelee's Bridle is a nice cantina and inn with reasonable rates. Tell the owner I referred you, and he'll give you a quarter percent off on your stay." He then turns to leave. "It's about as quiet as place as any, I suppose." 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari nods. "Thank you, M'karr." she answers. "Your recommendation is appreciated. And where might we find this Steelee's Bridle?" she asks. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "Thank you kindly," Ellari asks the question Jorn wants to, so that's all he can add in this situation. Soemtimes less is more. And thaus, he's going to keep quiet. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Head up to Vorkarr," he says. "It's the first cantina you'll see coming up to the plaza. Can't miss it." He bows his head politely. "Ret'urcye mhi, Thadeus and Ellari," he says, with a bow of his head. "And good luck. You'll need it. These are interesting times we live in." He then turns to go back towards his modest house behind the barn. As they begin heading for Vorkarr, Ellari will find her commlink pinging. She's getting a transmission from... Jedha? 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "I see. Thank you again, M'karr. We will not forget this." She nods to Jorn and starts heading toward the plaza. Her commlink goes off. A message from...Jedha, it seems. Ah, perhaps her attempts to contact the Republic haven't been fruitless after all. She opens the message. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "How rough do you think the area will be?" Jorn asks Ellari once they get moving again. His gaze looks toward Ellari for a moment. Seemingly their trouble seems to be done for now. Holstering his weapoon, Jorn just keeps his gaze forward expecting to find something equally lawless as the city. However, the city wants him. Perhaps this new area just wanted lawlessness for lawlessness's sake. One could hope. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' It appears to be from the Jedi Master Volken had referred to as Volk. He's inquiring about the nature of favor that Volken needed. Of course he was wary... the Mandalorians were sworn enemies of the Jedi. Once they approach Vorkarr, they'll find no such lawlessness. The town is ... barely a town. A few general supply stores, a fueling station, a couple tea and caf shops and then the cantina and inn M'karr had mentioned, the Stelee's Bridle. It's... utterly unremarkable, but that's good news for Jorn, right? 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari doesn't answer Jorn's question immediately, as she is frowning at her commlink. Yes, of course Volk is wary, she expected that. So she had best craft her reply carefully.     <<It's a long story, but it is a matter of justice for a man falsely accused.>> That should catch their attention, shouldn't it? <<Annelia Belask is one Volken has assisted before. But we should speak privately about this on the holo...if you are willing.>>     She looks up at Jorn then continuing toward the cantina. "It doesn't appear very rough, but I suppose looks can be deceiving." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "Agreed," he says about the looks being deceiving. The pair keep moving and he knows Ellari probably has her own reasons for being quiet. Jron thinks about turning the helm on, but doesn't. Pushing past a few memories as he just focuses on the here and now. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' <<Annelia is busy with other matters, currently, but Volken did assist us the night there was a marauder raid on Temple of the Kyber. I will see what I can arrange, but we can speak tomorrow over a holocall ... I wish to know more details about this man, and what he has been accused of>> The cantina is straight ahead. They might notice the House Kryze sigil painted boldly and sloppily on the right side of it -- graffiti most likely, but clearly the owner had never bothered to clean it up. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     Ellari notes the graffiti, but continues inside, reading the reply. << Very well then, we will speak tomorrow. >>     She looks back up at Jorn. "I received a reply from...Master Volk. The one Volken told us about. He said we can speak to him tomorrow over a holocall. He is interested in hearing your story." 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Seeing the Kryze spraypaint just makes Jorn want to groan and roll his eyes, but he maintains control. "Is there a relation?" The names are similar. Still, he will head into the Inn. "Well, hopefully the story is believed. That's been the biggest hurdle with it all," he admits softly, sadly. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The lobby area of the inn is quiet, so that's good. It adjoins to a cantina where a droid is filling the mug of a single patron sitting at the bar. There's no one at the receptionist desk, but they may get the feeling that the host, owner, and potentially groundskeeper as well are all the same person. After a moment or two, a burly woman with bright red pigtails, freckles, and no beskar comes into the lobby. "Can I help ya?" she asks. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "I don't think so." Ellari replies, shaking her head. She turns to the woman. "Any rooms left?" she asks, glancing over at an elevator. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' "What do you have to drink?" Jorn adds as he waits for the question about rooms come up. He looks between the receptionist at the cantina and Ellari. The mandalorian waiting. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Plenty!" the woman says, handing Ellari a room key, and pointing down the hall. "There's one for a couple just down the hall, number forty eight. Can pay first night's stay tomorrow morning," she offers cheerfully. "And as far as drinks go," she says, "The cantina's open round the clock. Drop on in anytime you like." She handwaves at a manual ringer on the desk. "If you need anything, feel free to hit the buzzer," she says, "I'll be about." And with that, she heads into the cantina and starts bussing some of the now empty tables. 

:'''{{#var:296|Ellari Zin (296)}} has posed:'''     "Thank you." Ellari answers, taking the key. Hopefully, the place is private enough. She starts down the hall, checking the numbers on the doors until she reaches room 48. 

:'''{{#var:418|Jorn (418)}} has posed:''' Jorn walks with Ellari and he looks at her, "You can have the bed. I'll take a couch or anything relatively comfortable," it would beat most pilot chairs anyway. Still, he's making sure Ellari knows they just have the one room between them. 
}}

A Chat in the Engineering Bay

2025-07-01T20:49:25Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-03-19 |Cast of Characters=143, 159 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Throughout most of the trip to Jedha, Cayde has been hiding in the engineering bays, away from the others. As of the moment, he's lying on his back on top of some coolant tubing, holding a datapad in the air above his face and using the Force to doodle on it with a stylus. Sure, it'd be easier to do..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-03-19
|Cast of Characters=143, 159
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Throughout most of the trip to Jedha, Cayde has been hiding in the engineering bays, away from the others. As of the moment, he's lying on his back on top of some coolant tubing, holding a datapad in the air above his face and using the Force to doodle on it with a stylus. Sure, it'd be easier to do it with a hand, but it was good practice... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The young padawan might find himself disturbed upon hearing footsteps coming down the hallway of the engineering bay he's currently in. But who would come down here? 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde immediately searches for whose presence it might be, but finds nothing. Well then, it must be one of those strange blue people. Either that, or one of the droids. Either way, he doesn't pay it much mind, and just continues drawing. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Indeed, it's the tall blue alien with the impossibly long name. He seems slightly surprised to find Cayde down here all by himself, but doesn't bother the young padawan. Instead, he walks the length of the hallway, studying the coolant pipes. However at some point, he clears his throat and gestures vaguely at the pipe Cayde is lying on. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde glances down at him when he clears his throat, his gaze following the gesture toward the pipes, then back up at the blue alien. But he isn't sure the man wants... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The man then beckons Cayde, stepping backwards a few steps and inviting him to follow. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     After a brief pause, Cayde sighs and gets down from the tubes, putting the datapad away. What could he want this time? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The man pauses but then shakes his head and points at the datapad he'd just put away. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh...he wanted to see the drawings. Cayde takes out the datapad again, but finds himself reluctant to show him...they weren't exactly the most pleasant of images. He glances up at the man apprehensively. Was he certain he really wanted to see them? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The man seems concerned for a moment, but then smiles faintly at Cayde. He pats Cayde on the shoulder gently, and then holds his hand out again for the datapad. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Finally, Cayde sighs and hands the datapad over.     Upon studying the drawings, Thaarin would find that they are actually quite detailed, and...well, somewhat disturbing. One of them seems to depict the interior of a half-wrecked ship, full of poorly dressed people whose faces are twisted with fear and distress.     Another seems to be of some kind of operating room, with surgical tools that look exaggeratedly cruel as if they were only meant to maim instead of heal. There is a doctor, whose garb suggests he might be some kind of cybernetic specialist, who wears a similarly twisted visage of fear. Except he seems to be more than just distraught like the ones on the ship...no, he looks tormented. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Perhaps to Cayde's dismay, the tall blue man studies the images intently. His scarlet irises narrow, and he seems to be memorizing every detail. He zooms in on the image of the operating room, studying the face of the doctor carefully. Then, after a moment, he opens a new blank canvas and starts sketching. The young padawan may notice this time that the drawing he's making is significantly better than the ones he'd tried to create before -- but they're very different in nature. This time the depiction is a detailed image of the bolts on the coolant pipes. There's two pictures -- one of how the bolt looks now, with arrows encircling it. And then a second image, showing how it should look. He hands the datapad to Cayde, then points at the bolts, making a twisting motion with his hand - very similar to the one Cayde might use if he were to use the Force to tighten the bolts. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde stares at the picture, unsure at first what it's supposed to mean. But after the twisting motion, it becomes more clear. He flicks a wrist toward the bolts, and the bolts turn, tightening until they won't budge any further. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue man seems satisfied. Pleased, even. He motions for Cayde to follow him, and points out other bolts that also needed tightening. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde sighs and tightens all the bolts, wondering why he couldn't do it himself. There were plenty of tools around here... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' But it may occur to Cayde that the tall blue man has no idea where they are, or even how to ask Cayde where they are and how to get to them. It was simpler, to ask Cayde to assist. He's watching Cayde now, observing his demeanor, his gaze unwavering. He seems to acutely aware of Cayde's reluctance to help. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde finishes tightening all the bolts, and then turns to face the man again. A pause, and he points at one of the bolts that happen to be easily visible and makes the sign for 'bolt'. Then picks up a loose one sitting on a workbench and shows it to him, again signing the word. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue man nods, and mimics the sign perfectly. He sits down on the workbench and beckons for Cayde to sit down next to him. He then points at the data pad again, motioning for him to give it to him again. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods and sits down, then takes out the datapad again and gives it to him. What now? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He hesitates, then uses a blue color pen to do a vague impression of himself, and then a white one with a mess of yellow on top to represent Cayde. He adds a plus between the images of the two individuals, then turns to give Cayde an inquisitive look. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde studies the image, arching a brow at the somewhat crude representations. His hair wasn't -that- tousled, was it? He runs a hand through it a bit conscientiously, trying to smooth it out a bit. as he frowns pensively at the drawing. Did he want to go somewhere with him? Or do something? He writes a question symbol below it. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' This seems to please the tall blue man. He chuckles softly, giving the young padawan a faint smile. He circles the question mark, then points at the image of himself next to Cayde. Then he waves a hand, and draws another rudimentary image of himself going out of the engineering bays, and adds a question mark. He then hands the datapad back to Cayde. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde looks at the drawing but then sighs and looks away, his face becoming melancholy again. He would rather stay down here for now... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue man then draws a big red x on the previous drawing of himself going back out of the engineering bays, and draws another rudimentary image of himself and Cayde standing next to each other. Then he adds a question mark, and points at the drawing, his expression inquisitive again. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde studies the drawing again, then looks back up at the man. He suddenly wonders why this man is so interested in him. Very few people paid this much attention to him upon first meeting him, unless it was their job to do so. They usually would rather spend their time doing something else or interacting with someone else...easier.     He shrugs and sighs, although he doesn't leave but draws his knees up against his chest. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He places a gentle hand on Cayde's shoulder and removes the red x on the drawing of himself leaving, and then draws an arrow pointing to it. Then he draws a question mark next to it, and gestures at the stairs again, his expression still inquisitive. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde watches him change the drawing. Was he asking if he wanted him to leave? Well...     He shakes his head, shrugging again. If the stranger wanted to stick around, it wasn't a bother. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue man smiles faintly again, clearly pleased. He bumps Cayde's shoulder with his, very gently. Then he hands him the stylus and the datapad again, gesturing for him to continue drawing. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde takes the stylus again and holds it over the datapad as he tries to come up with something less disturbing to show him. But somehow, there's just no inspiration for anything of the sort.,,     So he just starts drawing a likeness of the strange blue man. It's actually quite accurate. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue man seems surprised but mildly pleased. He offers Cayde another faint smile. When the drawing is finished, he points at Cayde, then points at the datapad and the stylus. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Again, he seems kind of reluctant, but with a sigh he starts the requested self-portrait. The drawing depicts the padawan as quite alone though, with shadows around him and an expression that does not show much emotion but carries a subtle, melancholy tone. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue man offers another faint smile and takes the datapad and stylus again. He draws himself in the image next to Cayde. The picture is rudimentary, but hopefully the young padawan will get the idea. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     The final drawing is a bit odd looking, given the rudimentary nature of the man's representation of himself within Cayde's more detailed imagery. He smirks ever so slightly, and starts trying to make it fit in better by adding more details and shading. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' This seems to please the tall blue man, and he watches Cayde quietly and intentionally, observing his methods in making the drawing better and more detailed. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     It's...moderately okay. It's kind of difficult to blend those stick person lines. But for some reason he doesn't seem to want to erase them. After a few minutes he puts the datapad down.     [Thank you] he signs. Did the blue stranger remember that one? He'd shown him the other day, right after he'd awakened. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' /No, thank you/ the tall blue stranger signs back to Cayde, his execution flawless. Cayde might be surprised. It'd only been a day or two. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Indeed, he is a bit surprised. But clearly, this man is of considerable intellect. He still wonders why he's decided to pay so much attention to him. It was so strange, not being able to enter his mind...but maybe it was possible, with a little more work.     But in the meantime, he takes out the datapad again and draws a big green checkmark next to the figure of the blue man. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He offers Cayde another faint smile and pats him on the shoulder gently, seeming pleased. Then he gets up and heads out of the engineering bay, back towards the upper decks. 
}}

Stopover On Jedha

2025-07-01T20:43:45Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-03-16 |Synopsis=The group makes a pitstop on Jedha. |Cast of Characters=159, 381, 143, 261, 325 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The trip to Jedha will be blissfully short, sweet, and uneventful, thankfully. Their guests, surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly, are shockingly well behaved (despite the smaller one being rather picky about which ration bars they ate). As for the two myst..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-03-16
|Synopsis=The group makes a pitstop on Jedha.
|Cast of Characters=159, 381, 143, 261, 325
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The trip to Jedha will be blissfully short, sweet, and uneventful, thankfully. Their guests, surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly, are shockingly well behaved (despite the smaller one being rather picky about which ration bars they ate). As for the two mysterious blue skinned males with untouchable minds and scarlet eyes, the one who had been at death's door remained unconscious for the entirety of their trip to the Holy City. Why, at this moment, will remain a question no one can answer - his vitals are stable, and physically, he seems just fine. Now, the other, a few observations could be made about him in the several days long trip. Age and maturity wise, he must have been about Ann's age, while his companion was younger, likely around Navi's age and maturity, give or take a year or two. He was extraordinarily intelligent - within seventy two hours, he'd picked up a few phrases in Basic and seemed to understand about a quarter of their conversations, which was remarkable progress, given he couldn't speak a word of it when they'd first met him. Yet he is withdrawn as he is smart -- he seemed to wear a demure expression most of the time, unreadable as his mind, though from time to time he'd smile faintly or show weariness. Despite his quiet demeanor, he wasn't inattentive or reclusive. His scarlet eyes seemed to observe everything, but what it all meant to him, of course, would remain a mystery for now. When they land in the hangar at the Temple of the Kyber, he immediately ventures into the cargo hold. He returns with Cayde's bag slung over his left shoulder, and Ann's modest duffel in his right hand. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike is sitting with the comatose blue being when the shuttle lands. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     For the bulk of the trip, Cayde had been mostly hiding in the cargo bay, or in the engineering bays, or somewhere away from everyone. Truthfully, he wasn't very much looking forward to coming here, as it reminded him of the entire ordeal with Tomi.     What did they need to do here, anyway? Other than repair the ship? Hopefully, it wouldn't take very long. He goes to fetch the few things he'd brought with him on this little excursion and quickly head to wherever they'd be staying, but finds that it isn't where he'd left it.     Frowning, he looks around and finds the blue stranger had taken both his and Ann's luggage. Almost reflexively, he tries to enter the young man's mind to discern intentions, only to find it closed off to him again. He's never going to get used to that... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "We must seem awfully dumb to him," Navi observes softly as she watches the tall alien enter the cargo hold. "I think he's learned more in a few days than I did in a whole year's worth of teaching." She had alternated her time between helping Master Windu attend to the still-slumbering blue man and assisting with accomodating the more lively one, and what she saw impressed her. "I wish I was half as smart, or as disciplined." She smiles when he returns. "That is /so sweet/ of him! Anne, Cayde? You should be flattered. Now if he'd get /my/ bag, too, life would be perfect," she observes, giggling softly. 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "Could just be a talent for language specifically," reminds Ann, head shaking a little. She takes the duffel with a fairly neutral expression- at no point in the trip did she come to fully sit comfortably with the passengers, so much as simply accept their presence.     With that she steps out of the ship, clicking her tongue as she looks about the hangar. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' After handing Anne her bag, the tall blue alien returns to the cargo bay and, yes, shoulders Pike and Navi's bags next. But then he immediately goes to Pike's side, gazing at his younger companion for a long moment before giving the older Master an expectant look. One thing would have become abundantly clear to everyone over the past several days - he cared very much for his companion. Like clockwork, as soon as they'd left Ilum, he would check up on him every 8 hours, not a minute before, and not a minute late. Jahni and Yvon follow Anne out of the ship, and follow her example of looking around. "Huh," Yvon says, with a note of disappointment. "Looks... busy." And it is indeed busy. It looks like several Vectors and a Longbeam have returned from... somewhere, some mission, and not in good shape, either. Technicians are rushing to and fro, trying to patch up the badly damaged starships. "Marshal," Jahni says after a moment, "Master Yutelli says we should be just fine to stay here at least a few days. The Temple will accommodate us, and I'll need to run a diagnostic on the shuttle, take care of that special part we were looking for, and stock up on supplies." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde turns to Navi. Oh...right. She has a point about that. He probably just wants to be of some help, after all they'd done for him. Hopefully...     As they step out into the busy hangar, he rubs his forehead as there is a sudden onslaught of voices from the crowded port. He'd forgotten how loud these unfamiliar cities were, after having been away from them for a while. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike looks at the elder blue and frowns.     "No change, I'm afraid. I'll stay here until a stretcher comes." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Possibly. But he seems to have figured out some of the more complicated aspects of our routines aboard the ship, too. And remember, he started from the ground up on language," Navi replies to Anne. "He even figured out we were leaving the ship, at least briefly." She gratefully accepts her bag from the tall alien, with a smile and a soft, "Thank you." She almost hugs him, but remembers his demure expressions throughout, and thinks, probably rightly, that that might be pushing it. She pauses to check on the unconscious alien, nodding to Master Pike. "The tall one seemed to want him to sleep as much as possible. To get well, I suppose. I wonder if they're related? Maybe brothers? I wish I was more familiar with their kind... I can't tell yet if there's any family resemblance." "Do you want anything from the Temple, Master?" she asks Pike. "I just need time to drop my stuff off in our guest quarters. It might be communal, but I wouldn't say no to private accomodations, no matter how small." 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     Ann shrugs- she's likely largely biased by lack of desire to trust the alien strangers, despite having rescued them. Never quite sure where they might have come from, and all that.     Still, she just makes her way further down the ramp for now. "Thank you, Jahni. I'm going to go see what's actually going on here," she says of the apparent recent skirmish as she approaches the workers. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He sighs, and that look of weariness returns for a brief second. He nods when Navi thanks him for taking her bag, and hands it to her, just as Master Yutelli, a healer, and a couple of nurse droids arrive with a hover stretcher. "Master Windu," one of the droids intonates. "We hope your journey was smooth. We will do our best to do what we can for hostages you've rescued. They then begin loading him onto the hover berth carefully. The other blue alien watches, his brows furrowed slightly. He seems fascinated by the droids - as if he'd perhaps never seen one before. Once they've situated his companion on the hover berth and begin to take him away to the infirmary, presumably, he disembarks after them. Then he jogs after Anne, coming to stand in front of her, holding up a hand, his brows furrowed. He seems to want to ask her something, but of course, at this point, he doesn't know how. He begins to search for the smaller robed alien, but that one seems to have disembarked early and disappeared to... only light knows where. However, before Anne even needs to start problem solving, a protocol droid approaches. "Hello, Marshal," it greets her. "I've come to show you all to your quarters.." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike shoulders his spacebag as he watches the blue float away. Glad to be relieved of that burden, the Jedi Master disembarks with Master Yutelli. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Finally, the headache fades to a dull drone, although it doesn't go away completely. Cayde just waits for the droid to show them where they'd be staying. Hopefully somewhere a bit quieter.. 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "And what's caused all this damage to these ships?" Ann questions as she falls in behind the droid, frowning a little. "Don't like not knowing if there's space combat in the area if we're to be flying back out." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Master Yutelli falls in next to Pike. She smiles faintly at the older master. "Thank you, Master Windu. I hope the healers and the droids will be able to do something about those we rescued. Too bad we can't communicate with them." A pasue. "I was hoping to speak to you about... Cayde. I think he's still feeling rather guilty about what happened to you back on Ilum..." The droid shakes its head at Ann. "Oh no, these were transfers from a temple in the Mid Rim. They didn't have capacity, so the Vectors and Longbeam were sent here. Believe it was some kind of criminal syndicate uprising. It's all been taken care of now, but not without losses... unfortunately." "Anyway!" the perky protocol droid says, "this way to your quarters..." And it begins to hobble off, assuming they're following. Since it seems that Anne is preoccupied with asking the droid about the matters in the hangar bay, the tall blue alien reaches out and places a hand on her shoulder, firmly, but gently. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde hurries after the droid and the others, trailing behind Ann. He really doesn't prefer to hang around out here. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike shakes his head in frustration. "The Padawan does not seem to be progressing. At all. He must learn control." 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "Your injured friend or the little one?" asks Ann simply, nodding towards the leaving stretcher with the first and gesturing downwards with the second. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Master Yutelli seems partially surprised by Pike's harsh words. "Certainly he was better than he was as a youngling," she says, "and you cannot blame the padawan. If you believe his progress to be stymied, why don't you mention it to his Master?" "Little one," he says, but then he shakes his head. "Comm relay," he says, in a thick accent that doesn't sound like any accent Anne would have heard before. It would appear the protocol droid is coming back now, though, noticing that Anne and the tall blue humanoid seem to have stopped following him momenarily. It toddles over. "Is everything alright, Marshal?" it asks. Oh, right. The droid could translate. That would make things easier. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike shakes his head again. "I do not fault Cayde. My disagreement is with the Order. I will take your for it that he is better now than before. But I do not see any progress now. He can't be a Padawan forever. And I fear he will be knighted for the same reasons he was made an apprentice." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Pike's words fall like a hammer, and the Master's frustration is palpable. It was true, wasn't it? Cayde hadn't gotten much better over the past year. At least not compared to the progress he'd made before. He stares at the ground, then rubs his head again as he feels the headache coming back again.     ...Maybe he should wait for everyone outside the port. He starts toward an exit. 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "Speak your languge to the droid," says Ann, glancing over. "See if it's in the databanks."     She reaches out, steering Cayde back into the group. "Hold on now. At least get your things squared away. We're here a few days, there'll be time to catch a breather." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi had fallen in more or less behind Anne and the taller of the two aliens that were up and about. "Come to think of it, did anyone see where the little one got off to? He was with us when we came down the ramp, I think, but after that I didn't see where he went," she inquires softly, looking around for the small alien. She notes Anne corralling Cayde and sighs an inward sigh of relief. One missing person is quite enough for one day. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     [Yes Master...sorry...] Cayde signs when Ann steers him back, his gaze still directed downward. He tries to ignore the splitting headache, going to slump onto a bench nearby. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Master Yutelli seems to be in disbelief. "You don't believe they should have ..." But she trails off, shaking her head. "No. Annelia might not have been a perfect match, but she's better suited than most." She shakes her head. The tall blue alien's confusion is visible and mild, but the droid at least, seems to have gotten the gist. It tries Pantoran first, and when that fails to seem to clear the fog, it tries Meese Caulf, which seems to strike a chord. After a moment of conversing, the droid hobbles back over the Annelia, just as she's corralling Cayde. "Oh my," the droid says, "your friend is, ah, rather exotic. Where did you find him? He speaks Meese Caulf fluently, but I do not think that's his native tongue." A pause. "He's wondering about using the comm relay here at the Temple to reach his contacts and send them a data packet through an encrypted frequency. A tall order, and luckily, the comm relay here is the only one that I know of that does long range encrypted, high data volume transmissions. However, he will need to borrow your access codes or be supervised, as we do not allow just anyone to use the comm relay." Navi won't find the small alien anywhere in sight. However, she may sense or suspect that they're actually just not in the Temple anymore, and hadn't been since they'd disembarked much earlier than everyone else. When Cayde slumps onto a nearby bench, the tall blue humanoid's attention is diverted. He glances over at Anne, then watches the young padawan for a moment before sliding onto the next to him. He offers the young padawan a faint smile and takes out the datapad they'd used that first time he'd tried to communicate with Cayde. He holds it in front of the young padawan, showing him that he'd saved the images that Cayde had drawn. "Thank you," he says softly, in that strange accent of his. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike shrugs his shoulders. "When I brought my concerns before the the High Council some time ago, the best reason I was given for Cayde's apprenticeship was that he had been cooped up in the Temple for too long. What am I supposed to believe?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "The same Council that was pondering shipping Cayde off to the Outer Rim when political pressure was being put on the Order to allow tours of the Temple and other strange and unreasonable concessions," Navi points out, keeping her tone level, but not low. "With all due respect and more besides, Master Yutelli, I may not be a Jedi, but I know a pattern of shaky decisions when I see it. Cayde can't be kept locked away in the Temple all his life, but I do wish he wasn't so impulsive. And there must be some way he can learn how to insulate his mind from everyone around him. He can't learn anything if he's surrounded by half the intrusive thoughts in the galaxy." Catching Cayde moving to a bench behind her out of the corner of her eye, she watches the tall blue alien seat himself beside Cayde, smiling faintly as he speaks to Cayde in his heavily-accented broken Basic. "Maybe they're good for each other," she muses. 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "... There are two Masters not ten meters away, in a temple full of higher ranking members of the order, and you're asking me?" Ann questions of the droid incredulously. "It's not my comm relay. I swear, the way people behave sometimes you'd think I'd been made master and nobody told me. Windu knows he is one, right?"     With that she turns back to Cayde- only to pause, giving the pair a nod to carry on as they might for the moment. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh...he'd kept the drawings, it seems. Cayde's brows go up in surprise, then flushes a bit when he shows them to him. Really, they weren't all that good. He tries to ignore the fact that once again, others are arguing about him. This sort of thing happened all the time, shouldn't he be used to it by now?     [You are welcome] he signs back to the words of gratitude, although he still doesn't look happy at all. The padawan slumps forward, resting his head on his hands. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "She's right," Yutelli agrees, nodding quickly. "Give it time, Master Windu. I understand your frustration, and concern, and honestly, share it. But he's only been on the frontier for a few weeks, we cannot expect him to improve so quickly. I'm sure we'll see some progress... a year from now." The droid seems dumbstruck. "Why, Marshal, you're absolutely right! My apologies. You are the Marshal of the Tenoo colony, therefore I assumed..." but then it trails off, as the blue alien is asking for the droid to translate for him again. The droid then turns to the group, hesitating. "Your friend would like it to be made known that he believes Cayde's ah... emotional well being is a priority for the moment, and since there's no need to rush to see the accommodations. He's wondering if--" And then it hobbles to turn to Cayde. "You would like to show him the Jedi archives here, for he'd like very much to learn everything he can about the history of the Jedi. And he'd be pleased if all of you joined, as well." A beat. "He'd also like to add that you may call him Thaarin. It's a... a nickname of sorts." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     "Master, you wished to speak of Cayde and his well-being. I apologize that I took the opportunity to ... vent." 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "This is an unknown alien species which, while peaceful so far, I think warrants some go-aheads for higher-up people than me. We're not on Tenoo, and more than just the jedi use this world's comms and such. Not my decision to make unilaterally."     Ann sighs slightly, then turns back to Thaarin and Cayde. "Yeah, sure- let's stop by the archives. That part should be relatively harmless and open for a stranger. Jedi history is fairly public knowledge." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "We all need to sometimes, Master. Even Jedi Masters," Navi replies sympathetically to Master Windu, trying to keep an eye on Cayde and the tall blue alien and on Masters Windu and Yutelli at more or less the same time. "I seem to need to more than most, but that's a personal problem. I'll get a grip on it someday. Maybe." She smiles faintly as the droid speaks up for, "Thaarin? Thaarin... it's good to finally know his name. Thanks, Mr. Droid. I hope you'll come with us. I'd love to be able to talk to Thaarin without so much arm-waving and head-shaking." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Thaarin...well, that kind of sounded like the impossibly long name he'd given earlier. Sort of? Cayde frowns pensively, trying to guess at how this might be spelled with Basic letters. T..h...a..r...e? ...n? Something like that? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Oona seems tired, but not angry with Pike. "It's alright," she says, "I admit, I lost control of my own emotions just now, as well, and became angry with you. The young padawan is a ... complicated matter," she says softly. "But we must have patience. The Force will reveal all things in time." The droid chuckles nervously. "Ah... right, then," it says, "I'll ah, go about inquiring the right parties for, uh, the correct permissions..." The protocol droid could translate, but it doesn't seem to be good for much else... "Of course," the droid says to Navi, "... I don't think it'd be advisable for this charming young man to go anywhere without me..." Once the group starts heading in the general direction of the archives, Thaarin falls in step with Annelia, motioning the droid over. A moment later, it begins to translate, "He has noticed that your padawan, Cayde, is it? Has been quite reclusive and in a dour mood for the entire week he's known him. He's curious if you could shed any insight as to why?" Thaarin is watching Cayde sign to himself, his expression still demure but there's sincerity and mild amusement there. He does seem to care about the young padawan, perhaps in a way similiar to how he'd cared for his injured companion they'd sent to the infirmary. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike is still troubled. "I should not complain if I cannot master myself first. If you will excuse me, I must be alone with my thoughts." 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     Annelia exhales slowly, shaking her head. "That, Thaarin, is likely a conversation for more private climes. I think Cayde's had thoroughly enough of having his personal matters broadcasted for the galaxy to see for one lifetime. We all deserve a little privacy, right?"     A faint smile, with that, and a nod to Cayde. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Ann will feel a measure of appreciation wash over her, and immediately be able to sense that Cayde was grateful that she'd been aware of that plight of his. <Thank you Master>     He notces Thaarin watching him, and flushes a bit as he is unsure if it's correct. But then again, how would the young man know himself, since he doesn't really know Basic very well anyway. So perhaps it doesn't matter. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "If that's how you feel, Master," Navi replies softly to Pike's back. "May the Force be with you." She looks back to the droid, and also Thaarin and Cayde, blushing faintly at Thaarin's translated question. "Cayde is a complicated subject, since he's a complicated person," she explains softly. "And Anne is right. We should talk about that in private. Let's just say that he's troubled at times, at least for now. Thank you for staying with him. I hope he's helped you in adjusting to life aboard the ship. He tries to be helpful, and usually succeeds." She slides her hand into her pants pocket at that last, crossing her fingers as subtly as she can... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Master Yutelli nods softly, and tells Master Windu softly. "May the Force be with you. Hopefully we'll see you at the archives later," she says. Thaarin, for the first time, seems mildly shocked and incredulous. His brows furrow deeply, and he suddenly seems quite concerned for Cayde. "Yes," he says, in his accented Basic, and the tone in which he says it heavily denotes the seriousness and sincerity of his reply. Thaarin offers a faint smile at Cayde, and noticing his embarrassment, says, "It's alright." A pause as he carefully considers his next words, "Thank you. For trying." 
}}

Ding Dong! Dresda is Dead

2025-07-01T20:39:39Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-03-11 |Synopsis=Syra discovers that while she played hooky, an accident has happened and someone's now dead... |Cast of Characters=195, 431 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' When Syra reaches for her datapad and gets ready to respond to the text transmission on it, his brows suddenly furrow. "Syra?" he asks softly, "Is everything alright?" :'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-03-11
|Synopsis=Syra discovers that while she played hooky, an accident has happened and someone's now dead...
|Cast of Characters=195, 431
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' When Syra reaches for her datapad and gets ready to respond to the text transmission on it, his brows suddenly furrow. "Syra?" he asks softly, "Is everything alright?" 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Sira throws up her hands as she looks at the Datapad and then lets out a WHINE of noise. The sound building in a way that an engine might, or perhaps a low flying craft as she looks back to the speeder and points at it. "Fast. We gotta go fast, and I'm absolutely going to need your help. Probably. Maybe. Almost certainly. Because... Things, not good." She stuffs the datapad back into her jacket pocket this time as she's jogging her way back to the speeder.      "Cave in! You can lift heavy rocks, right? You look strong like Fathier! Right? Or... Something?!" Of all the days! WHY! WHY WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT TO EAT!      Okay, so maybe the fruit and bread didn't look great. BUT STILL! 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' His brows furrow deeper, and he stands, quickly starting to pack the meal he'd just taken out. "If you can get to the speeder," he says, "I'll finish putting everything here away." When she mentions lifting heavy rocks, he arches a brow at her. "I'm no Jedi," he says. Then he pulls a piece of jerky from his pocket and hands it to her. "I figured you may want some meat," he offers, before turning around to pack up the rest of the small picnic. And she'd been having such a nice time...! 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra sort of waves her hands, her hand grabbing the jerky and shoving it in her mouth in the least delicate way one can. She sort of waves her hands in a 'whatever' sort of gesture as she points back and forth between it all. Then the hands get thrown up! And she makes her way off toward the speeder at a jog.      SHE WAS! And she was trying to make it a BETTER time until it became a -worse- time. This is not the way impromptu dates are supposed to go! She was done with that when she left that Merc group. Right? RIGHT?! NOT TODAY! And so she picks up the pace as best she can to the speeder while chewing on the dried meat with a vengeance of missed opportunities. 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' The Tholothian man might not have said he could move heavy rocks, but he's certainly quick. By the time she's mounted the speeder and started up the engine, he's come around the corner with the bag slung across his shoulder. He takes the driver's seat, and with a faint smile, moves her arms around his waist before gunning the thrusters. Then they'll zoom away from the lake, back towards the colony site... 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Still chewing away on the jerky in her mouth as she ducks her head behind his back, she does wrap her arms about him. Okay... So maybe not a total loss for the day. And holding him a bit tighter than necessary as she cudd- tucks in close. For, uh, safety.     Yes.     Safety.      She does spare a glance now and again to check their progress and just about finishes off the jerky by the time that they would be arriving. 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' He makes the trip back feel shorter, somehow. Now, whether that's good or bad, in Syra's opinion... But when they pull up to where the comms center is going under construction, well, its the opposite of a sight for sore eyes. Half of hole they'd dug for the foundation of it is collapsed. The catwalk destroyed, and there are loose bits and pieces of rock everywhere. Jac is hysterical, while a couple of the engineers look either dismayed, distressed, or both. Vons' lips are pressed into a thin line. He scowls when he sees her. "The hell you've been? Ten minutes, my ass!" 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      "I messaged you!" Syra says back to Vons, then squints for a moment before rolling her eyes and getting off the speeder. "Yeah, fine, I deserved that. But later, and I'll buy you a bottle of something. Or... whatever. I would say a night with the N-person, but I'm not supposed to ~say~ that name, we'll just imagine I'm meaning the Bantha." She says this all while moving her way over toward Jac.      As she reaches the woman, her hands go out and her hands grab gently at her shoulders. Then a squeeze, "Breathe. Breathe. Remember. Crisis is just in the moment, we can deal with the rest after. Okay? Will not be any better if we worry about tomorrow, today." She turns and looks toward the foundation. Taking a deep breath herself as her eyes move over the area to try and assess. 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' The Zeltron man just arches both his brows, folding his arms. "Too little, too late, much?" he comments. He waves a hand dismissively when she says she'll buy him a bottle of something later. "I don't want that. Okay, the drinks, yes, but the rest...?" "My wife... my baby..." Jac sobs. "She's down there..." But it seems her comforting appears to have soothed her some. She wipes her eyes, and nods. "Just keep me posted, okay?" she calls after the tall Echani woman. It doesn't look... good. The hole is -deep-, and the catwalk is broken clean in half. Whoever was down there, they must have fallen when the catwalk broke. And now, with the hole half caved in, it's really difficult to see who, or what, exactly is down there. They're gonna need a grappling hook. 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra is already on the move as she starts toward the hole, looking around and grabbing some rope. They would need it no matter what. A couple bundles of it really considering. She turns to look around, pointing at one of the engineers, "You. Tie this rope off." And she tosses one of the bundles to him while she looks for something sturdy. Turning her head again to look at Vons as she goes.      "Vons, get medical here, tell them the situation. Collapse and people hurt. Call it in and then start directing them here."      Then to Jac, "I need you to organize some of the others. Clear an area for us to bring up wounded and get them help. Okay? We need space to help them."      And then finally, the Tholothian, what was his name? NO MATTER! "And I need you to go down first. You're a natural climber. I'll set up another rope while you descend." 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' Jac wipes her nose, and nods shakily. The other engineers obey her after a moment, still looking somewhat traumatized. "Theyre already on the way," he says, arms folded, "your favorite doc..." Just then, Mondrian and Veena appear. They look unhappy. "What the hell?" The Tholothian surveys the hole, and then immediately starts to climb down. But he pauses before he gets too far down. "Will I be compensated?" he asks, looking down into the hole. "For risking my life? I don't think I'll be able to leave for Jedha tomorrow morning as planned." He looks up at her, indigo eyes pleading. 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      "We'll work something out." Sira says to the man, giving a bit of a half smile as she moves over to tie off another rope - this time for herself. She looks back at Mondirn and Veena as she rolls her eyes, "Hopefully not, hell can come later, so help out or get the hell out of the way."      Sira grabs the rope, giving it a quick loop about herself in an attempt to get some sort of ability to descend more easily, and heads on down. Because, lets face it, the top side should be under control now. Down below...? It's anyone's guess. 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' His eyes light up. "Thank you," he says, "very much." And he then he descends quickly disappearing into the dark and out of sight. "Be careful!" Jac calls after them. Syra will likely follow in his footsteps soon after, hopefully with a headlamp of sorts. Its... really dark, and cold. And sort of wet. 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Headlamp? No.      Chemlight and glowstick? Yes.      Fumbling around in her belt for a second she takes one out, cracking it against a thigh and giving it a shake before dropping one, then a second before continuing the rest of her way down. Getting close to the bottom she does her best not to /step/ on anyone, while also pulling out the glowstick for some added visibility. Preparing herself for the worst, but hoping for the best. 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' She won't be able to see much at first, the cavern she's landed in is expansive, and precarious. She'll see that she's standing next to some kind of massive dugout right underneath where the rocks had slid inward and collapsed. The varying rock sizes down here is... shocking, to be honest. Some of them had apparently been large enough to obstruct others from reaching the bottom, creating a kind of shoddy, unstable, ceiling made of boulders which looks like it might collapse any moment. The Tholothian man is nowhere in sight, however, she'll see that this vast, subterranean area she's found herself in has darkened recesses she can't see into for the moment. Looks like she's gonna have to go digging to find the survivors, if there were any down here. But then, she'll be able to hear Mondrian and Veena descending down into the hole after her. Looks like she's gonna have company. 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra gets down to the bottom and she glances around for the Tholothian man, "Be careful and search for survivors!" She glances up to see if any of the others are coming down. After all, she did tell them - get the hell out of the way or help. One or the other.      But then she's off to start moving around some of the rubble while looking, "If you can, call out! We're here to help. But it'll help if you can tell us where you are. Try not to move. Just call. We'll come get you." Her eyes falling on Mondrian and she rolls her eyes, motioning around.      "I'm sure I don't need to tell you what to do, oh great one." Syra rolls her eyes and continues her careful search while listening for people. 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' Mondrian sneers at her but makes no comment. She'll notice Vons is with him and Veena, too. The three of them will wander off, calling out just as she did. She'll get no response from the Tholothian man, but then, all of a sudden, she'll feel someone's hand close around her upper arm..! "This way," a familiar soft voice whispers. 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra doesn't pay them any mind as she's more interested in finding the people than any petty things Mondrian or Veena might be up to. Then she feels a hand on her arm, and she pulls back to punch whoever it is before checking... and then a nod as she follows after to see where exactly she was being led to. 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' Its the Tholothian man! At some point she may realize he'd never told her his name... He's holding a glowrod above his head as he leads her towards a dark recess towards the back of the cavern. There's a soft groaning she'll be able to hear now, but just ahead is a massive crevasse, too wide to cross with a leap... 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      "How... in the world?!" Syra says with a bit of a shake of her head as she looks at the crevasse. Then turning to look back before looking down into it, then back across. She moves her light around to try and get a look at who might be on the other side. Her brow furrowing before she looks at the Tholothian man. To his ~eyes~- NOT RIGHT NOW SYRA!      RIGHT! "Right! So, any ideas how we can get over there to help them." She turns her head to look again, then starts checking what she might have in her pockets and on her belt. Surely... Something, right? 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' The Tholothian man's burning indigo gaze fixates on her for a moment before turning upward. He points at a massive stalactite like structure above them. "If we can collapse it, I think we can create a bridge," he observes. A beat. "How is your shooting?" 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Sya gives a half smile to the man and gives a bit of a shrug, "I'm not too bad. Just so long as I can see what I'm aiming at. Think you can hold the light up for me?" Syra gives another look across, then up. She hopes this is the right way, if not...      Best not to think about that.      Syra draws in a breath, then lets it out with a sigh as she pulls out the blaster pistol that she keeps tucked away in the jacket. There was a reason why she wore it as often as she does after all... 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' Syra's strikes the stalactite structure on the side, and it partially crumbles, but not entirely. A hairline fissure forms. the Tholothian man reaches into the small reaches into small backpack he'd brought, and taking out a small crossbow, aims it at the structure above them. His arrow strikes the hairline fissure and with a loud rumble it falls, forming a rudimentary bridge over the crevasse. He then dashes across, ahead of Syra. 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra is much more cautious on her way across. Picking her way across carefully as she makes sure that it seems stable. She adds to that by cracking her last chemlight and dropping it a bit off the center of the way across to help illuminate the makeshift 'bridge' more. Last thing she would want to deal with is someone falling into the crevice on their way over or back.      Well... Maybe Mondrain, that would be okay. Maybe she could kick it under his foot while he was crossing - if he came this way. That could solve some problems.     WAIT NO... The hot guy was here, he probably wouldn't be okay with that. With a sigh, she gets rid of the tempting idea as she finishes crossing over to check for people on the other side. 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' The soft groaning is coming just north of her, about thirty degrees from directly ahead of the Echani woman. The Tholothian man has already made his way over to a looming rock structure there, and is kneeling, holding his glowrod up so she can see where he is. If she comes up next to him, she'll see that it's Harrah. She's injured -- it looks like she'd been harnessed in, but the rope had snapped when she fell. She's also caught under some debris... yeah, that's gonna be a problem. 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra does make her way over, and she comes to a bit of a stop. Then another few quick steps and she moves over toward Harrah. Kneeling down next to her, her eyes look her over, trying to get a sense of what she can do. Okay... Rubble. Injury. Ugh, why couldn't she think of a good thing to do right now? Closing her eyes, she reopened them and looks down to Harrah. Reaching out, she gently touches her head, sweeping back a bit of hair and says gently, "You're going to make me do so much paperwork... So stay alive, or I'll make Jac do it all. And you don't want her doing that."      I mean, she wasn't /really/ serious, but it was the first thing that came to mind. You think of a better thing to say! Pah!      Standing back up she starts to look around, eyes flicking about for anything she can use as a lever. Finding a bit of mangled metal that looked straight enough, she tries to ease it into position. Looking at the Tholothian man (and avoiding his eyes) as she says as gently as possible, "We have to try and get the rubble off of her. Can you try to keep her calm or - barring that - help me move it? I don't know what sort of-" and she wiggles her fingers, "-mystical things you can do and all." 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' "...Syra?" Harrah says, barely conscious. "... is Jac..." but she trails off. The Tholothian man frowns. "I told you," He says, "I'm not a Jedi." He moves to help Syra with the mangled bit of metal that's she's attempting to use as a lever to lift the rubble off of Harrah. Well, it's pretty heavy. But what could she have expected?? It is, after all, a pile of debris and soil... 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      "I get you're not. But, I mean... With the robes and stuff, and some of that talk. I figured you could use the Force or whatever." Syra says with a bit of a heavy sigh, she looks back down to Harrah, giving a half smile, "Jac is okay. So don't make her do paperwork, right? /No-o-o-o paperwork/."      And then Syralana hauls down on the makeshift lever. With a grunt and a groan, and a whole lot of "NNNnnnNNNGGGHHHHUFF!" Syra hauls down on the end along with the Tholothian man, and what starts as a slow lift, turns into a much bigger one as the rock is lifted, and then thumps hard away from Harrah and freeing her.      "Okay. Okay. Now we gotta get her back and up and out. As fast and gently as we can. Don't take the harness off, it looks intact enough that we can hook her up on the rope and have her be pulled up." She's moving around Harrah, trying to get the best idea of how to carry her with the man together. 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' "No!" The Tholothian man says. He holds up a hand, studying Harrah. "Can you move your legs?" he asks her softly. Harrah gasps, suddenly more awake than before. "No. I can't.. I can't feel them..." She turns to Syra. "I--" She swallows. "Let me be the one to tell Jac..." The Tholothian man shakes his head. "She must have some kind of spinal injury. We'll need something flat to carry her on." But while he's talking, Syra might notice another lump nearby, unmoving but familiar... 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra is on her way to look for something flat when she sees the other lump. Moving in that direction she murmurs, "Ohhh no." She holds off on the worry that it's someone that's dead and that /definitely/ means paperwork. And a funeral. Right, can't forget the funeral, that's more important, right? Kneeling down she tries to look over what (or who) the lump might be that's unmoving. 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' It's Dresda. And he's dead. He's definitely dead, and has been dead for a hour or so at least. His body doesn't feel very warm, and his fingers are already showing signs of rigor mortis. "Syra?" Harrah calls softly. "We're... we're gonna need your help over here..." 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra starts to look around once more as she sighs heavily under her breath. Looking around again, she finally finds a bit of detritis which looks long and flat enough... and wide enough for that matter. Not like it's a 2x4 or something like that! That'd be silly! Which is why she had tossed away the first piece she picked up and picked up a second one. Moving back over to Harrah, she sets it down next to her and looks back up to the Tholothian man.      "Alright, we're going to have to move her slowly onto it without jostling her as much as possible." A look back to Harrah, "Don't worry, Harrah. Worries can happen later, right now, we need to focus on living and getting you out of here, okay? Say it with me now-" She moves around to get into position to move Harrah with the man smoothly.      "One... Two... No-o-o-o Paperwork." And on that long drawn out version of three, she helps move Harrah onto the piece of debris that would serve as her stretcher. 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' The Tholothian man wordlessly helps Syra with Harrah and the flat piece of detritus and hoisting the Twi'lek woman onto it. He glances in Dresda's direction, frowning. "He's dead, isn't he?" he says to Syra. He shakes his head, then the two of them begin to hoist the injured Harrah back across the rudimentary bridge, and then back towards the area with the grappling hook. 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra is looking up to the man and then back down to Harrah, she murmurs, "We'll worry about it later. What's important right now is the living, yeah?" She helps hoist her back up and carrying the injured woman back. With several lines running down now, it at least seems like a distinct possibility that they can lift her back up without causing further injury. Syra calling up in advance.      "Possibly spinal injury, said she couldn't feel her legs. We strapped her to a board to try and keep her as still as possible. Smooth on the way up! Don't you dare jostle her!" Then Syra is looking back to the the Tholothian man. She does her best to refrain from rolling her eyes, because she's a bit... annoyed. Not at him, how could she be upset at /him/? More that there's Dresda, back int he other area, and the Tholothian man ~had~ to bring him up.      "Let's keep looking for survivors. There may be more down here." 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' He arches a brow at her. "Your companion," he asks, "how many did they say are trapped down here?" But just before Syra can respond, Mondrian, Veena, and Vons run up. "We found the Dug," Vons says, brows furrowed. "He's okay. Fractured leg, but otherwise just fine." He narrows his eyes at the Tholothian man, but doesn't comment. From above, a voice calls down. "Sorry for the delay! Medevac equipment is being transferred down now." And if Syra looks up, she'll see a hoverberth with several medical satchels on it descending slowly. Mondrian growls. "This whole thing stinks of a conspiracy," he says, "We examined the area and it looks like there was some kind of explosion. But pretty much all of the equipment have been engineered with failsafes to keep stuff like this from happening." "And then coincidentally, all of the medevac equipment -not- in storage was strangely spirited away to only light knows where? Further delaying extraction? Feels like sabotage." 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra shoots a look toward the Tholothian man and then just about responds when - there's Mondrian. With Heckle and Jeckle in toe, at least Jeckle these days was a bit more fun. Maybe she really should get him that giant Bantha Plushie? He could cuddle with it, and lets face it - soft and fuzzy things are great. Her mouth pulling off to the side. "Seriously? The Dug is fine? Well that's a thing."      Syra lets out a longer sigh, reaching up to pinch at the bridge of her nose, then a look to the Tholothian, than the others. "Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised at this point. We have one injured and one DOA. Dres- something. Looks like he's been gone a while though." Her mouth pulls off to the side and she begins to tap her foot. Eyes squinting as she crosses her arms a bit tighter.      "I don't like this. How did they even end up over there?" She glances back in the direction she found the two - one injured and one dead. Then off in the direction she saw Mondrian come from - guess that's where the Dug is. "Its like they're scattered about more than I would expect. It's all... strange." 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' "Shit," Mondrian curses. "Dresda's dead?" He mutters some more inaudible curses under his breath and shakes his head. "Let's get Harrah and Weniscio topside first," Vons says with a frown. "Maybe the others will have some context to shed on the situation." "Yeah, you do that," Mondrian says with a disdainful nod. "Veena and I will stay down here and continue inspecting the debris and burn marks down here. You'll hear from us when we're ready." And with that, they start heading towards another darkened crater not too far away. 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra motions with her hand toward Harrah who's already heading up as far as she knows as Vons says it. Giving him a flat look, then off toward Mondrian, another squint of her eyes and she plants her hands on her hips, with a shake of her head and a roll of her eyes, "By the stars that guide us and all that we abide by. I swear, give me strength." She closes her eyes, takes a breath, and lets it out slowly.      All you gotta do Syra is NOT shoot Mondrian. Just... Don't shoot him. So simple, right? Just don't do it. You can just leave and....      "Don't break an ankle, or if you do, please do it next to a crevice!" She says it very upbeat with a wave of her hand as she smiles and turns to look at the Tholothian man. "SO! Should we keep looking for people or -- should we discuss how I make it worth your while to be a day late?" 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' He pauses, looking around, his expression pensive. "I don't think there's anyone else down here," He says, as he watches Vons help a whimpering Wensicio onto a second hoverberth. He turns back to her. "Will you pay for my way to Jedha, then? As a Disciple of the Whill, we rely mainly on the charity of others for our needs and expenses." He starts heading back towards the rope they'd used to rapple down here. 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra pauses to look back at the man, her eyebrows going up and her eyes wide as she looks about for a moment. Her mouth opening and closing a few times as she tilts her head. "I..." Another furrow of her brows and she just. She just shakes her head. Syra was thwarted by someone who seems to completely miss her approach.      She could wave off. She could try again. She could do any number of this, instead she reaches up with a hand and pinches the bridge of her nose. She lets out a whining noise that sound like she's an engine slowly winding down on a speeder that has just been on a really rough ride around the track.      But then with another slow breath, she puts on a smile and looks back to him, "Oh, sure. Why not. I guess that's all that matters right? Let's toss some credits at problems! To Jedha it is. Of course, I'll get it expedited, since you were a big help in rescuing some of our engineers today. It's the least we can do." 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' He pauses when he reaches the rope, noticing her clear frustration. "Is everything alright?" he asks. Then he looks up, frowning, before glancing back towards Syra. "Your companion," he says, "I think he's waiting for you," he says, gesturing with his head towards the top. He then offers her a hand, as the rope dangles over a small mound of rocky debris. "Shall we?" 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra reaches out and takes his hand to help her get to one of the ropes, looking at him with a bit of a half-smile and a shrug of her shoulders. "Yeah. Yeah. I'm... Alright. But you are definitely a bit dense." She pats his arm, "You know, like muscularature wise." A half smile to him as she grabs for one of the ropes as she looks up toward the top.      "Yeah... I'm sure one of a number of companions will be waiting for me." She glances at him again, another smile that's half there, and then up they start - to her chagrin. 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' He frowns. "No, I'm not," he says, his brows furrowing deeply. "Have you seen a Mandalorian?" He still seems to not understand what she's trying to say, at all. "Thank you," he says after a moment. "Your contribution to the Guardians of the Whill is greatly appreciated." They start climbing back up, and eventually, they reach the top. The handsome young Tholothian man might not have been the brightest socially, but he's at least aware enough to realize he might have struck a wrong chord with Syra, somewhere. "Are you sure everything is alright? Did I ... offend you? If so, I'm sorry." 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra on getting to the top with a bit of a moment to catch her breath, stands back up and stretches her back. Arms up over her head as she pulls her body one direction and then the other. A swing of her arms around as she stays out of the way of the medical personnel. She casts a look back to the Tholothian and her mouth pulls off to the side. Eyes dancing around for a moment, they settle back upon him.      "Mmm. Offend me?" She squints, looks up and away, then back down at him as she tilts her head, "Probably just my pride." A crack of a smile, "But that's just because, well, I wouldn't think I would be classified as /un/-attractive, and /yet/." She chuckles and shakes her head. "Look, if you're just all about 'getting back home' then sure. Whatever, I'll make sure you get your life. Otherwise? Why don't you take me out somewhere after we finish up and clean up." She looks around...      She could totally push the paperwork to tomorrow, right? 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' His expression is hard to read. Those indigo eyes conceal a lot, and Syra won't be able to tell if he's about to tell her he had the worst time on their date and never wants to see her again, or if he's about to cave and take her into Kublop Springs to go try the famous chilled calitog root soup right across from the spaceport. She'll never get to know, because at that moment, Jac runs up and embraces her in a bear hug that will nearly squeeze the life out of her. "Thank the light! Harrah's alive. Thank you, thank you, thank you... " A pause. "Did she say anything about what happened..." Vons is right behind her, arching a brow. His expression seems to indicate that he'd had a suspicion about her wanting to... run off again. 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      She wasn't meaning right NOW. He had all night now, right? He was talking about leaving in the ~morning~. And it's- She looks up -yeah it's still a ways off. Of course, all of this was interrupted by "OOF!" And then some squeaked words s she pats at Jac as best she can. Though with Syra's arms pinned to her sides by the bear hug that seems intent on making her become a memory of the living force, she can only wheeze out, "Air."      Then a gasp and she sighs, giving Jacs a bit more of an abbreviated hug as she reaches up and mimes pinching her cheek. "Just gotta remember. One step at a time, but no. She didn't say much." A quick look to Vons, then back to Jac, "She was pretty out of it though, it looks like the harness probably saved her life." 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' Jac wipes at her eyes. "You're probably going to hate me for this," she says, with a gulp. "But we.. none of actually saw what happened. And by the time we came around to the front, it had... already happened. We were running the equipment and wearing noise cancelling headgear, so that's why we didn't hear anything. I've no idea how much time elapsed between when it actually occurred, and when we discovered the accident." She starts choking up again. "Is.. Is Dresda really dead... oh gods... I..." 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra places a hand lightly on Jac's head, her head tilting to the side as she gives a half smile. "No way would I hate you for that. I can always see if there's maybe some security footage or something else. Even then, that might not have all the answers. This investigation could take weeks to fully workout out what happened." Syra gives another gent pat to her shoulder, her eyes dancing away to the building, the construction site, then back toward the woman in front of her.      "Yes, it looks like he is. But that's not your fault either. Accidents happen and we're far from the core worlds. For now?" She gives a little shrug, "We'll just have to keep going. I'll see about arranging a funeral as per his wishes and what not. But we just have to keep going, that's what it means to be a colonizer ya know." 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' Jac nods slightly, wiping her eyes again. "I have no idea about his next of kin," she says, "...I..." "Look," Vons offers, "we'll figure it out, alright? Don't worry about it, Jac. Why don't you go check on Harrah, she's likely stabilized and at medical now. And if you see the doctor... tell security and the primary comms officer want to talk to him, stat." Jac nods, and wanders off, looking tired and unmoored. As soon as Jac has wandered off, Vons approaches Syra. "Apparently the Arkanians and the doc just... up and disappeared. No one knows where they went, and all attempts to contact them keep turning up failed message delivery notices." A pause. "Look, I don't know if this was staged or not. But the fact that no one else on the engineering team was around when it happened, and that it happened within a couple hours after you left..." he shakes his head. "Listen, I know you like that Tholothian guy. But I think the weird blond kid is right to be suspicious of him. This isn't the first time I've run into him, either." 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      So you know how there are some looks that give the impression of sounds? Like, there's those times that you can arch your eyebrows so hard that they can HEAR the "Really?" Or there's the sort of slow tilt of the head that ends with a sort of drop, with the tight pull of the mouth in the straight line that gives the impression you just said something ~really~ dumb. The mimed little clap or the playing of the smallest violin, perhaps even just that eyeroll that you can hear the "Bad-dum, TSHHH" right along with it.      As Vons tells her about missing Arkanians, she gives him one of those looks. The pregnant pause, the slight lift of the eyebrows, the look that is the perfect accompaniment to the sound of ~crickets~.      "Right, well-" She shoots a look off to the Tholothian guy, then back to Vons, "If I can help it, I will keep an eye on him all night. Because my interest is purely physical." She reaches out and rests a hand on Vons' shoulder. Staring him dead in the eye as she says with the tone as bereft of emotion as she can make it. "Wish me luck... I will take this one for the team." 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' Vons rolls his eyes at her. "Don't patronize me, okay? We -cannot- afford to be making any assumptions right now. Even if this whole thing feels like a set up that we don't totally understand currently, we can't jump to that conclusion because whoever staged it might actually want us to assume that. It's too obvious, and feels like a trap." He waves a hand dismissively at her when she says her interest in him is purely physical. "Sure, sure. How do you know that isn't exactly what he -wants- you to do? He distracted you," he says. "Enough to completely just ditch work for a few hours, and then a catastrophe happened. Whatever. I'm gonna go around and see if any of the other colonists saw, or know anything, later tonight. You in, or out?" But before Syra can respond, her comm buzzes. It's Mondrian. He actually has something useful to tell her. "We found the remains of one of the industrial welders -- there definitely was some kind of sabotage going on. Not entirely sure what kind, but I'm sure one of the engineers could tell us." 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra lets out a ~sigh~ as she looks skyward, then her eyes dance back down to Vons. She gives a half-smile, her head tilting to the side. "Look, Vons. I never said you were wrong, or make any assumptions at all. All I /did/ say-not-say had to do with the whoever the Arkanians are. Not even sure if I met them." She gives a little flick of her hand off ot the side, dismissing the thought for a second before she glance at the site once more.      "And sure, maybe it's all a distraction. Maybe- Ooop, sec." Sira pats down her side, then the other, and finally fishes her comm out of her inside pocket opposite where she remembered putting her comm in before. Or maybe it wasn't? Meh!      "Go for Syra." And she nods her head, and yanks her comm away from her head as she looked askanced at it. Checking who it was, then holding it up, listening, checking the number again. "You know you called Syra, right? Not like, Chuckles?" She holds the comm back, checking, yep. Yep. It's Mondrian, then back to her ear.      "Because if you /are/ trying to talk to me, then that definitely soinds interesting." Her eyes dance aroind, trying to remember what Engineer would be best to ask. 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, well you have a funny habit of only sort of listening to the things I say," he says, "and calling me a damn intern." He folds his arms. Vons looks annoyed, but listens when Mondrian reports that they'd discovered some kind of sabotage on the remains of the equipment. "We can talk to the Chadra Fan," he says to Syra. "I'll track him down later. Also, you never answered my question. Are you going to do your damn job, or do I have do it for you again, while you run off with the Tholothian under the excuse that you need to keep an eye on him?" 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra looks at Vons. Looks at him with the eyebrows slowly arching higher, "You mean... When you bumbled your way around and everyone was sure that you were a plant. So instead I said you were an intern so they would all just nod their head, roll their eyes, and be like ''Ahh, damn rich kids''? That intern one? You know? When you were walking around and might as well be humming your own spy theme song you stuck out so much?"      And then she crosses her arms and tilts her head, "Or, do you mean, like... When I actively kept an eye on that Dug when you told me about them? That time when I wasn't listening? Or when I /stopped/ bringing up the /N/-word when you whined that you are trying to not think about them? I even canceled the personalization on the Bantha, Vons!" She throws up her arms. "Do you have an idea how much it costs to cancel that?! They were just about to ship it! Now they gotta /un-pack it/ and remove all that stitching."      Syra scoffs and rolls her eyes as she starts walking off her arms thrown up again, "All the things I do and listen to you about, and you /still/ complain. I swear." She stuffs her comm back into one of her many pockets. Heading to the Tholothian man. She smiles to him, tilting her head, "Hey, I gotta work for a bit, but - um - if you wanna drop by my place later tonight? You said you weren't going to be able to leave till morning, right?" 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' "Kriffing light," he grumbles. "It would have been fine." he starts to walk away, but not before he gestures obscenely at her, rolling his eyes. "You still didn't answer my question..." The Tholothian man has wandered off quite a ways, and Syra will actually have to wander around for five to ten minutes before she finds him sitting near a bubbling brook, watching the fish swim in circles. He looks up when she comes over. He looks confused. "Tomorrow evening, now," he says, "I must pack and attend to a few matters before I leave," he says. "but why do you want me to visit you...?" 

:'''{{#var:431|Syralana (431)}} has posed:'''      Syra stares at him. Just... Just stares. How can /anyone/ be this dense. She is not sure if duracrete would be more dense. Perhaps transparisteel? Mandalorian Iron? Surely, one of these must be more dense than this man, but she is at an absolute loss to determine which.      Staring at him a moment longer, her face squishes up as she takes a breath, then lets it out slowly. A smile spreading across her lips, "Okay. Or not, you know. I did promise that I was going to make it worth your time! I thought some company might accomplish that." She reaches out and stiff-armed pats his shoulder before turning around and walking back toward the work site.      "Your choice!" She calls to him again, and then tries to track down Vons before he whines himself into another tizzy. 

:'''{{#var:195|Amarik (195)}} has posed:''' "Oh," he says, realization dawning on him when she says thinks that some company could accomplish making it seem worth his while. A pause. "I don't mind," he says. "I'll come by later tonight, then." Syra will probably eventually catch up with Vons, as he'd headed back towards the main colony site. But will she get to him before he complains himself off a cliff...? Who knows. 
}}

Unknown Aliens

2025-07-01T20:36:19Z

Sindt: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025-03-09 |Synopsis=The group attempts to communicate with and heal the strange aliens they've rescued. |Cast of Characters=159, 261, 381, 143, 325 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Upon boarding the shuttle once again, Jahni and Pike will find that Cayde, Yvon and Oona had taken care of matters within the ship. With the repulsorlift unjammed and the stabilizer once again firmly in place, those who h..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-03-09
|Synopsis=The group attempts to communicate with and heal the strange aliens they've rescued.
|Cast of Characters=159, 261, 381, 143, 325
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Upon boarding the shuttle once again, Jahni and Pike will find that Cayde, Yvon and Oona had taken care of matters within the ship. With the repulsorlift unjammed and the stabilizer once again firmly in place, those who had stayed behind with the shuttle will find themselves under much more ideal circumstances for flying. The storm, interestingly enough, has died down enough for the radar and scanning modules to make more sense of their surroundings, and be able to quickly locate where Anne and Navi have positioned themselves for pickup. Meanwhile, the fiery headed young Jedi Knight and the blonde Sephi girl may find themselves on a vast expanse of porcelain white -- perhaps at one point it had been a field, an icy beach, or even part of the mysterious ocean the alien vessel had sank into. But with the layers of snow piled on, all features of the flat vicinity had been erased from their immediate line of vision. All they'll be able distinguish currently are the shuttle's bow lights in the distance, approaching to pick them up sooner rather than later. It's freezing, but one curious effect Navi and Anne may notice is that the bodies of the aliens they've rescued are... warm, and serve almost like a thermal blanket against the miserable cold... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I know you're technically in charge, Anne, but I'll recommend you stay close to the alien crew," Navi suggests. "The envirosuit should keep me warm enough to function in this cold." "Yeah, /should/," she murmurs, taking a flare from a thigh pocket and holding it aloft, to give the shuttle a visible beacon of sorts. Brave words or not, she's still shivering a little by now. The worn survival suit's thermal elements are doing their best, but they weren't built with this degree of cold in mind. Hopefully, in a few minutes that won't matter. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike stands behind the pilots' seats. He watches in silence as the shuttle homes in on the life signs. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde is on the shuttle as well.     Somewhere.     However, everyone else currently has much more important matters to attend to... 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     Ann shakes her head- her teeth are gritted, certainly, but she'll hold out with the cold. Besides, she's still -carrying- two of the aliens as the pair wait. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The small alien clinging to Anne's neck seems a bit incredulous at her. How she was standing, despite carrying them, and the other unconscious fellow. Anne may sense a notion in the Force, about the minute creature's shock at the color of her hair. Clearly, they'd never seen a human or humanoid before. They pluck at her locks curiously, studying a strand dubiously, before they're interrupted by the sound of the shuttle arriving and setting down on the ice. The gangplank lowers, and Jahni and Yvon loom in the entry way. Yvon gestures aggressively at them. "Thank the light you're alive! Quick, get inside before you freeze!" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Don't wait for me, Anne!" Navi cries, dropping the flare and gathering up her own alien burden. "I'll be five steps behind you!" she adds, though her voice is a bit more strained under the weight of the muscular humanoid, as she trudges toward the shuttle gangplank. She suppresses a smile as she notices the diminutive alien plucking at Anne's hair. "I think he likes you, Anne!" she teases gently. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike waits just inside the hatch. Under each arm is a warm blanket. The healer's eyes are closed as he marshals his powers. 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     Ann approaches the ramp as quickly as one can in all this snow- handing off the aliens first before turning back to help Navi along as well- keeping her focus off small things like hair for the time being as she tries to hurry the process along. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Oona rushes over to help Pike, Navi, and Anne. With the four of them helping, they're able to get the two unconscious aliens onto ... flat surfaces, at least, and under covers. The shuttle is no medevac, and their capability for anything medical is ... limited at best. The elderly Mirialan turns to Pike, her brows furrowed. "What do you think?" she says. "They don't look... well," she says. Then she glances over Anne. "You may want to go looking for Cayde," she suggests. "He disappeared about an hour ago into the bowels of the shuttle, and I haven't seen him since. Something seems to be bothering him." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     After the beings are situated, Pike quickly assesses their conditions. Leaving the the other two to Navi, Pike focuses his will one the third. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Thank you, Masters. That one's pretty badly hurt," Navi advises, with a soft groan as she assists with placing the heaviest of the three aliens onto a long jump couch, securing him in place with the safety straps after he's covered up properly. She draws on the Force, tweaking the flow through the wounded aliens. She's not familiar with their physiology, but the Force does the real heavy lifting, supplementing her lack of knowledge with sheer regenerative raw power. "I think he's stable, but he barely survived being taken off of the ship. I don't know how long he'll last without real medical care," she advises. And then she hears Master Yutelli's advice to Anne about Cayde. "Oh, brother..." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     True that Cayde isn't on any of the upper decks, but anyone at the controls could see that he's on the engineering deck in Bay 4. So, at least he's not completely missing or anything... 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "I mean, what else would I expect," mumbles Ann as she situates the rescuees. She stands back up, dusting herself off from the snow a moment before making her way for the other decks. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Pike and Navi's joint effort in the Force to heal the wounded survivors mostly does the trick, but neither of the humanoids wake up immediately. Their physical wounds have been healed, though, so hopefully they'll regain consciousness soon. Yet... Navi and Pike may sense that there's something... somewhat off about the humanoid aliens. However, they'll have to probe more deeply into the Force to investigate. As Anne starts making her way towards the lower decks, the third, small and less humanoid alien follows from a distance, carefully. The Marshal may or may not notice. Then a few minutes later, Anne's commlin will crackle. "Marshal," Jahni grunts. "The storm's cleared. I think we should head back towards Tenoo. The ship's mostly functional, but it's missing a specialized part that the technicians at the Ilum temple don't have. Oona says she thinks they'll likely have one at one of the more central temples like Jedha, and we'll likely be able to make it there in good time. Permission to proceed as recommended?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I think this one will live. Their physiology's too unfamiliar to me to say for sure, but the Force does good work when it comes to bandages and sutures," Navi observes softly, straightening from her meditation. "Master, is yours doing any better?" she asks Pike, as she begins to struggle out of the environmental suit. Intrigued by a sense of 'offness' about the two humanoids, she opens her mind to the Force, touching their minds. She blinks in surprise at what she finds. "Master, their minds are... /blank/. It's like looking at a holoscreen when the feed's been cut out. And I think that might be /normal/ for them." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     At least in this circumstance, there isn't anywhere for him to really get lost, given the ship isn't that large. That, and the fact that as she nears his location, she'll be able to feel a palpable disturbance in the Force. As such, she will be able to find him fairly quickly. It seems he has either passed out or fallen asleep on the floor in front of the reactor housing. 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "Anybody figured out how to talk to these guests, first off?" Ann answers back on the comms after... a brief sigh, admittedly. "Don't know about you, but I'd be just a little alarmed if I was surprise-extradited to another planet."     As she reaches the housing, she hoists Cayde up and turns on her heel to head back, nodding to the diminuitive follower to keep following and not linger down here. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I'm slightly torn on this one, I'll admit," Navi adds over her own comlink earpiece. "On the one hand, I'm with Anne. It's awkward to be taken away from the last place you remember crashing. On the other, we have no idea where they're from in the first place. I'll try to see if I can communicate telepathically with the little guy, but these other two are still unconscious, and their minds feel like blank slates anyway. It's odd." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "Uh..." Jahni trails off. The Ugnaught is probably even less charismatic than Ann, and her question has caught him off guard. But Yvon chimes in. "Frankly, no. I was just relieved that we hadn't lost the marshal of our colony." A beat. "I.. I'm assuming they don't speak Basic. So, in that case. I can speak a little Minnsiat and a tiny bit of Meese Caulf. But, uh. Other than that, no other trade languages. Sorry." And speaking of figuring out how to speak to the guests, the smaller robed alien is watching Anne as she hoists Cayde up, utterly fascinated, and perhaps slightly mortified. But they hurry after her, and try to sign something to her, but it's not Basic sign, and she likely will have no idea what they're trying to say. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike slumps after the healing, still weak from his own ordeal.     "These are strange beings. Definitely." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     When Ann simply picks up her padawan, there is an immediate sense of fear...even panic just before he suddenly thrashes out of her grasp, shoving her perhaps a bit too roughly. However given her own level of physical prowess, she likely manages not to be ruffled all that much.     Cayde on the other hand, looked about to draw his lightsaber, but stopped himself upon seeing he wasn't actually in any danger. 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     "Take a breath, Cayde," Ann says simply- shaking her head. "You're fine, just passed out in an awkward spot."     She pauses, looking over at the small alien a moment. "And don't mind the guest... I think. Been following me around after fidgeting with my hair. Once you're settled I might ask you to try 'talking' to one of them before we set back off for Tenoo." 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "How long will it take us to get to Jedha?" Navi asks, once more via comlink earpiece. "We've got no idea what these guys eat or drink, and we don't want them to pass away from hunger or thirst after we worked so hard to save them. Even a few weeks in hyperspace might be too long for them. And we still don't know if we can communicate with them, but I'm working on that. I'll let you know what I find out. If anything." She reaches out through the Force, trying to touch the thoughts of the diminutive alien following Anne. <<Can you understand me?>> she asks. <> 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The small alien seems slightly dismayed by the mild struggle that's broken out between Anne and Cayde, and they sheepishly squirrel themselves away behind a bulkhead, peeking only the top of their head, and the eye holes on their mask, out from behind it. "Jedha's close," Yvon says, "Few days in hyperspace. Think they'll make it?" "Either way," Jahni grunts, "Oona seems to think the medical here at the temple isn't any better. We either risk it, or we don't, and both our shuttle and the rescues are kriffed." The small alien stares at Navi. It will become clear to her they do not understand an ounce of Basic. They do, however, seem to understand that she's apologized, and is trying to communicate with them. They glance over at Anne, then back over to Navi, and both of them will get a notion in the Force that includes a question about why they're even here. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde glances around a few times, then back at Ann as she assures him nothing is amiss. He flushes a bit, suddenly feeling somewhat embarrassed. <Sorry master...>     Then he notices the...strange little masked creature she's talking about. Immediately curious, he tries to learn about it. Who and what are they, what they were doing here, and how they'd managed to land themselves on a ship sinking into a frozen ocean on Ilum. He tries to show it the reason for their presence, although it may be difficult to interpret as it will only see images of an unfamiliar place on the icy planet they'd just left. A place it or its companions likely had never heard of or seen. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike recovers. The Jedi Master reaches out with the Force, trying to touch the minds of the creatures. 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:''' As the better telepaths busy themselves trying to communicate, Ann takes the opportunity to finally remove the thermal jacket and get things put away properly- it may be shielded, but walking right up to a reactor is always a solid way to warm back up. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The little masked alien seems to only partially understand what Cayde is trying to portray. They don't seem overwhelmed, at least, at the prospect of Tenoo, despite how unfamiliar it is. Cayde may understand a feeling of wanting to go there, wherever 'there' is. However, they do seem somewhat confused about the reason why they'd come to this planet. However, they don't seem overly concerned about why Ann and the others are here, they're quickly moving onto why they were here, on this planet. Both Pike and Cayde will be able to sense that they'd just come from a very hostile hostage situation, most of which had been solitary confinement. The other two aliens had also been hostages, for longer than they had, and kept separate from them. And then that's when the narrative gets a bit confusing. It would appear that the other two aliens had figured out how to escape, and freed themselves, and them. Yet, how that had happened, and exactly what had occurred after they'd been freed, is... blurry, at best. The small alien is projecting a series of images and memories that had been rather traumatic for them -- there's a great deal of blood, death, beating at the hands of their captors, and a jump to hyperspace with an overwhelming sense of waywardness. Crashing on Ilum had been an accident, or so it would seem. Regarding the other two aliens, they know very little about them. They're rare, even on this side of the galaxy, apparently. They're dangerous, but perhaps not to them, according to the small alien. However, there's a strong air of warning in the small alien's impression in the Force. Even Ann will feel it. "Uh.. so uh, Marshal?" Yvon finally pipes up. "We heading back towards Tenoo with a pitstop at Jedha?" he asks anxiously. He seems to be eager to leave. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Well, I won't say no to Master Yutelli. The Temple of the Kyber probably has better facilities than the temple here, and at the very least we can patch up the ship and hopefully get to know our new passengers," Navi replies via comlink. "I'm having trouble keeping in good telepathic contact with them. I'm hoping Cayde and Master Windu are having better luck." She stows the envirosuit carefully, with a mental well-wish to the garment for keeping her alive, then moves to assist Master Windu as best she may. If the two aliens awaken, he may need help with caring for them. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike glances at Navi. "These beings need care. But I am sensing a great deal of violence in their pasts. We need to monitor them." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns as he finds...something, even if not all of it is completely clear. But he does his best to relay whatever he finds to everyone else. But he also tries to dig deeper. All right it doesn't know much about the others, but about itself? Who is this individual, exactly? Why had they been captured? 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     Ann studies Cayde's face as he relays the information, then glances towards the cockpit. "Take us out of atmo, Yvon. Sounds like we'll be on the hunt for where these three come from either way. Let's make sure we're in shape for it." 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Upon returning to the other two humanoid aliens, Pike and Navi may make some other observations about them. They were so strikingly humanoid - other than having blue skin, and untouchable minds. Or so it seems. They're both uniformed, wearing identical patches and badges, but one of them has more squares on his. It may become obvious to the two of them that they're clearly part of some kind of official navy or militia, but which one, of course will remain a complete mystery. They're also both armed, but the blasters they're carrying are completely foreign looking. Cayde will discover that the strange little alien didn't know much about why they'd been taken hostage, but it's clear to Cayde that it will have to do with their skillset -- they're in the same trade as Yvon - they're a navigator. They scurry over to Anne, and tug on her robe urgently. She'll get a strong impression in the Force about leaving this planet, and going... far away. No place in particular, but it's abundantly clear that the small alien is afraid and wants to leave, very badly. Then they'll prod her saber curiously. They wanted to look at it. "... right," Yvon says, the anxiety in his tone of voice clear. Then the shuttle will lurch forward and angle upward as they head out of Ilum's atmosphere. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "We'll monitor them as best we can, Master. Going by what Cayde is sending us, they were taken captive by other aliens. Anne and I found a number of bodies on the ship, so that part seems to be true. And going by their uniforms, these two are part of some kind of military force. We may want to secure those weapons of theirs, just in case they wake up not knowing where they are," Navi suggests, reaching for one of the unfamiliar blasters. "I just wish we could speak their language. It's hard to say, "Don't shoot, we're friends," when there's a giant language gap." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike takes a closer look, examining the humanoids. He nods and takes the other blaster.     "I've spent years on the Rim and never seen anything like them." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde continues to relay everything he's found to everyone else, but he frowns more deeply when there are still no details about just who this person is. Not even a name or what species it is. That in and of itself causes him to become a bit more suspicious, as he tries to prod deeper. So who is this person, anyway? Hopefully, it has not been a mistake to bring them all here...     <Careful Master> he warns Ann when the creature tries to touch her lightsaber. <Don't trust them...yet> 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     Ann looks down at the small creature, eyebrow raising. "Yes yes, little guy, we're travelling interstellar in just a moment."     At the interest in her saber she's rather less 'open', instead taking it in her own hand before it ends up removed from her belt by it- though she does flick the blade on for a moment, demonstratively. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The small alien is no alien species that Cayde knows. They're from a remote world, and Cayde may be surprised to find that they're... different, like him, with genetic defects. They're deaf, and dwarfed, an outcast, a wanderer who would take contract jobs as a navigator in the Unknown Regions. There were no known hyperspace lanes here (how strange!), so this individual was part of a guild that used their Force ability to navigate the stars. They do not have a name that translates into Basic, or any language that Cayde is remotely familiar with, so that aspect of this creature will still remain a question. Cayde will also be able to ascertain that they're afraid because they're convinced that their captors are possibly close by, looking for them, and might bring ruin upon all of them if they don't leave quickly. When Anne starts speaking to them, they stare blankly at her for a moment before stumbling backwards suddenly when she flicks the blade on demonstratively. They stare at it, then her, then they look over at Cayde. The young padawan will get the notion that they want to know very much what he, Anne, and the others are. From the cockpit, Yvon nervously says into the comm, "If you don't mind, I'm putting in the coordinates for Jedha, Marshal. Gonna jump to hyperspace in a few minutes here, unless you've got plans for us to stay here... or go somewhere else." 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike finds a seat near the two humanoids and straps in for the jump to lightspeed. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "I'm pretty sure she said you're good to jump for Jedha whenever you're ready, so you should be good to go," Navi replies to Yvon via comlink earpiece. She takes a seat next to Master Windu and straps in for the jump into hyperspace, still cradling the strange blaster one of the aliens had been wearing. "I've never seen anything like them, either," she replies to Master Windu. "I wonder where they came from, and who it was that captured them." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     It seems it means no harm...at least for now. However, if this creature has power of the mind as he does, it's also possible that it's hiding things from him, so he doesn't fully trust it yet. However, he tries to soothe its fears by...well, showing off a bit. Not physically, but by showing it just a few of the things that he and his are capable of. Power over the mind, over the body, over others' minds and bodies...the ability to see everything--past, present, and future. And of course, being rather formidable fighters.     Which is why, so long as it remained under their protection and it did not give them a reason to turn against it, it shouldn't fear its captors. Okay, he isn't as confident about that as he wants it to believe, but he tries to hide that.     As it seems to be time to make the jump, he starts back up to the cabin, hoping that the diminutive new passenger will understand the idea that they are about to leave orbit. 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     Ann takes a seat in turn, stowing her saber again as she straps into one of the seats- beckoning the smaller alien to do similar in an unoccupied one. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "O-Oh. Right," Yvon says. "Okay then." A beat. "Hyperspace in three, two... one." And then the ship lurches forward suddenly with that all too familiar feeling of jumping to lightspeed. The small alien seems fascinated and perhaps somewhat intimidated by all that Cayde is showing them. With droid like monotony, they move to sit down and strap in, not taking their eyes off of Cayde. Once they come out of their reverie, they find themselves sitting next to Anne, and startle slightly, still not entirely used to being so close to such strange, powerful aliens. A few hours pass, uneventfully. But right around the four hour mark, Pike and Navi will notice one of the aliens starting to stir - the one with more squares on his badge. Within seconds, he's sat up, and they will observe his most unnerving and least human like feature - scarlet eyes that burned and glowed like the bled saber of a Sith. His brows furrow as he examines himself, then he stands - a good head or more taller than Navi. He surveys them, his expression unreadable. 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike looks at Navi. Then, he too stands and makes a show of disarming himself before holding up his hands in the gesture of peace.     "Do you understand Basic?" 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi smiles at the diminutive alien as it straps in near Cayde. "At least they understand the concept of hyperspace travel and safety," she observes softly. "Hello, small friend," she says, first in Basic, then in Arkanian, Bocce, Sluissi, and Togrutan, hoping one of them triggers a response other than confusion. At the same time she takes a leaf from Cayde and conveys a series of telepathic images to the little alien, of the collision, the crash of their starship and the shuttle, and the perilous rescue, right up until they'd been picked up by the shuttle. A few hours later, when the taller of the two blue aliens regains consciousness, she finds herself looking up... and up... and /up/ into his impassive face. She swallows, then asks, "Can you understand me?" in Basic, then switches to Arkanian, Bocce, Sluissi, and Togrutan, hoping he understands one of them. She tries to communicate telepathically, but finds his mind as unreadable as before. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde stares at them, confused as to how it was that he couldn't read them at all. He has never encountered anyone whose mind was -completely- obscured. Could they be...very realistic looking droids? They seemed so emotionless, despite having just awoken in a strange place after a near death experience.     Once they have reached hyperspace, he gets up and tries to pinch the one that is still unconscious in the arm. Not hard enough to cause any real injury, but enough that if they aren't droids it should wake him up... 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     Ann looks over the apparently-military alien, sizing him up a moment. Cayde's confusion does give her pause a moment- but then she takes the pragmatic approach to showing she means no harm, and simply offers over a canteen of water- presumably one ought to need something to drink after that long unconscious, injured, and imprisoned. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue stranger is familiar yet so foreign. His face is unreadable as he studies Pike, as if trying to discern meaning by simply looking at him. And when Navi starts trying to communicate to him in various languages, he steps closer to her, watching her with those luminous scarlet eyes. He's extraordinarily handsome, in a somewhat terrifying way - his gaze was powerful and seems to have the ability to make one feel very small or as if they were the only being in the galaxy, depending on how he loomed. His penetrating gaze scrutinizes Navi, as if attempting to learn about her simply by observing her movements, demeanor, and tone. However, whether he'd gleaned anything of importance in doing so will remain a mystery, he makes no comment. Instead, he moves over to Anne, and addresses her in Minnisiat. She'll understand one word - Jedi. Then he turns to the smaller alien, and begins to sign to them. The smaller alien hesitates a moment, then glances over at Anne. They scratch their head, and she'll get a vague impression in the Force regarding a question about her lightsaber, her garb, and the insignia that both she and Cayde wore. The term Jedi is apparently very foreign to the smaller alien, but not to the taller blue one. He was asking her if she was a Jedi. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The other blue alien, still unconscious, doesn't respond when Cayde pinches him. And if Cayde reaches into the Force, he won't be able to discern anything about the alien himself, but may get a strange, foreboding feeling... 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' "Well... /this/ is going to be awkward..." Navi murmurs, watching the tall alien worriedly. His towering presence makes him seem even taller, and that puts her on an awkward footing indeed, being the shortest person on the ship besides their two Ugnaught pilots! But her attention is piqued instantly when the tall alien speaks the word, 'Jedi'. "They know about Jedi? I guess that's something to start with!" 

:'''{{#var:381|Pike Windu (381)}} has posed:'''     Pike watches the blue being closely. After the creature finishes speaking, the master calls his lightsaber with the Force and activates it.     "Jedi." 

:'''{{#var:325|Annelia Belask (325)}} has posed:'''     Ann, meanwhile, has just two responses to the question. The first is to nod her affirmation.     The second is to shake that ignored water canister slightly. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde frowns...he doesn't like that feeling. <Master...> Ann will get that foreboding feeling as well. He doesn't think they should trust these people. The small creature seemed to think they were dangerous, which wasn't a good sign. They should just...drop them off on Jedha. It was a populated enough place, and they seemed capable enough to find their own way home from there, right? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' His attention is momentarily diverted when Pike activates his lightsaber. He studies the kyber crystal powered weapon with continued impassiveness, saying nothing, and indicating no sign of either comprehension or confusion. But when Anne nods and shakes the water canister at him, he turns back to her and then takes it. And then he actually smiles faintly at her, bowing respectfully. However, Cayde pinching his apparent comrade catches his eye, and he frowns. He moves over to examine the other blue alien lying down, and gives Cayde a look of mild disapproval. Then he opens a drawer, rifles through it briefly, finds a bottle of sedative, then turns to the group. He holds it up, and gestures at his comrade. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi takes a guess. "Better let him rest, Cayde. At least, I think that's what he means," she says. At least the tall blue alien has some idea of how to communicate, because she's very much at a loss. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde stares at him. But...he was already asleep? He shrugs then, and instead tries to pinch the awake one. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue alien hands Navi the bottle of sedative, then points at his comrade again. He glances over at the smaller alien and signs something to them, who conveys to Navi that apparently, he wanted to make sure his comrade stayed asleep. For how long, though, remains a mystery. And then suddenly Cayde tries to pinch him. He moves away from the young padawan, and for the first time, appears perplexed. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi accepts the bottle cautiously, nodding, though she's a little confused. She conveys her understanding to the smaller alien, and then an idea of the sleeping one awakening and attacking her, to try to clarify a reason why he should remain asleep. And then Cayde pinches the tall alien, and she can't help rolling her eyes. "I hope he doesn't get the idea that's a greeting," she observes. "I'm sore enough as it is." 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh, well, if he thought the drugs would work, then maybe they aren't droids. But Cayde still doesn't feel comfortable around them. For some reason, he has a bad feeling about all this, and Navi can probably feel it too... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' This time the smaller alien doesn't even sign to the tall blue one. They just nod vigorously at Navi, and she'll get a brief memory projected to her regarding the one that's still supine and unconscious. The image is of him gunning down their captors, a wild look in his eyes. The other tall blue alien, who'd made contact with them already, is somewhere in the background, appearing ragged and concerned. The tall blue alien then fixes Navi with that scarlet gaze again, gesturing at the sedative again, and turning to look at his comrade. 

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:''' Navi nods, fills a hypospray with the sedative, and administers a standard dose to the sleeping alien. "That should let him sleep peacefully for at least a few more hours," she says softly, passing the hypospray and sedative to Cayde. "Give these to Master Windu. I'm going to take a nap before I pass out. I can't begin to recommend frozen lake rescues as a hobby. It's just too hard on you." Conveying an image of herself asleep in her bunk to the smaller alien, she turns to exit the passenger seating area, her mind on sleeping. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods and takes the drugs, eying the too aliens a bit suspiciously for a few moments. Then he shrugs and turns to leave, his posture slumped. For whatever reason, he can't seem to get his mind off of what happened earlier... 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' Once Navi has gone, the tall blue alien reaches over and places a hand gently on Cayde's shoulder, seeming to not want him to leave. At least not yet. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde turns around, surprised at this. He arches a brow at the stranger. What did he want? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He gestures at himself. "Mitth'aari'noroeras," he says slowly. The name is impossibly long, and contains intonations that a human (if Cayde could, anyway) would be unable to speak. The taller blue man then tilts his head to one side inquisitively. He wanted to know Cayde's name, apparently. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde just stares blankly at that name. There was no way he even remotely knows how to get started with trying to spell out that name in Basic sign or whatever letters sounded closest to it.     The stranger now seems to want to know his name, but he isn't sure if it would mean anything to him, given he doesn't know any Basic. But he shrugs and spells it out in Basic letter sign anyway. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The blue skinned stranger smiles faintly at Cayde, and the young padawan may observe that his demeanor has changed some. Instead of seeming so impassive , now his eyes seem tired and grieved, yet still acutely keen in observing Cayde. Then with surprising adeptness, he signs Cayde's name in Basic, then looks to the young padawan to confirm whether he'd done it correctly or not. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde nods, confirming he had done it correctly. For the most part, anyway. It was a simple enough name. But why the sudden change of heart? 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' This will remain a mystery to the young padawan for now. He then turns towards the nearest viewport, gesturing to the dizzying blue vortex of hyperspace around the ship. Then he looks to Cayde inquisitively. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde looks out the port, then back at the stranger, unsure of what he wanted to know. It was so strange...and frustrating not being able to see into his mind like he can for all the others. He slumps a bit, feeling useless again. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The tall blue stranger doesn't seem discouraged, though. He gets up and gestures for Cayde to follow him as he starts heading for the cockpit. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde hesitates for a moment, then follows a bit apprehensively. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' He comes over to the navigation console, towering over Yvon, who startles when the blue stranger enters the cockpit suddenly and silently. "A-ah!" he quavers, reddening. "Uh.. " then he trails off, at a loss for words. The tall blue stranger stares at Yvon, his brows furrowing slightly, his scarlet eyes narrowing. He looks over at the empty pilot seat - Jahni, like Navi, had gone into the cabins for some much needed rest. Finally, he looks to Cayde and gestures at the navigation console, pointing specifically at the coordinates Yvon had entered earlier for Jedha. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde looks at the console. Perhaps...he wanted to know where they were taking him? But without telepathy, the padawan has no idea how to tell him about it. He was from such a foreign place, so he doubts he would know it by the same name. But maybe...     He moves over to a different terminal near the center of the control room, and brings up some pictures of Jedha from an archive aboard the ship. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' As soon as Cayde moves over to the terminal and brings up some pictures of Jedha, the tall blue stranger comes over to view them. He glances at Cayde and nods. He seems pleased, in that oddly muted way of his. Yvon taps Cayde on the shoulder. "Cayde, I-- what does he want? Wh=why'd he look at me like that? Who are these people? Why is he so..." the Ugnaught trails off, but turns bright pink. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde puts a reassuring hand on Yvon's shoulder. <Don't worry> He tells him, trying to instill some calm into the Ugnaught, as before. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "What??" Yvon says. "That doesn't --" But then for some reason he feels calm. "..." "Can't you like, read his mind or whatever?" The tall blue alien is looking at the pictures of Jedha, his brow furrowed slightly. Once he's finished viewing the pictures, he pauses for a moment, seeming pensive. Then he gestures for Cayde to follow him again, back towards lounge area that they'd repurposed into a makeshift medbay. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Yvon's question doesn't get an answer, as Cayde simply gives his shoulder another reassuring squeeze before letting go and following the strange blue alien again into the makeshift infirmary. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "...!" But Yvon doesn't follow them, and that is perhaps for the best. When Cayde arrives back in the makeshift medbay, the tall blue stranger has found a datapad with drawing capability and a stylus. He closes the door to the room, then sits down at the table, giving Cayde another faint, tired smile. He starts to draw on the datapad. If the young padawan looks over his shoulder at the datapad, he'll see that he's drawing a very rudimentary image of either Yvon or Jahni. The visual representation is horribly lacking, but the blue stranger doesn't seem terribly concerned with details or artistic appeal. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde watches the sketch but arches a brow at it. The drawing barely resembles the Ugnaughts. At some point, he starts using the Force to move the stylus in the man's hand in such a way that it fixes the drawing and makes it look much more accurate.     Then he points at it and signs the word for Ugnaught in Basic. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' If the blue skinned alien was surprised by Cayde's guidance, he doesn't show it. However, he does seem amused and pleased by the young padawan's assistance. He also doesn't resist when Cayde uses the Force to make the drawing more accurate. He nods and mimics the sign perfectly. Then he turns back to the datapad and continues drawing. This time, he starts drawing an image of the cockpit, starting with the navigator's chair. Again, the visual representation ... isn't good. Then he pauses, looking expectantly at Cayde, the stylus still on the datapad. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     The stylus seems to move on its own, again creating a much more accurate representation of the navigator's chair and cockpit. This time, the Basic words for the various elements in the picture are written near them. Cayde then points toward each and shows him their corresponding signs. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The blue skinned alien nods, then continues with the drawing, once again not resisting Cayde's guidance. Once the representation of the cockpit is finished, he draws arrows from the image of Yvon (or Jahni) to the pilot and navigator's chairs. Then he arches a brow mildly at Cayde, giving him an inquisitive look. Oh right. Jahni hadn't been in the cockpit, and Yvon hadn't even been sitting in the navigator's chair. It would appear that he's perplexed over that. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Cayde actually still doesn't seem to understand what he's asking. He figures he must be asking if the Ugnaughts are the pilot and navigator, so he just nods. Then he writes their names above their respective chairs. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The blue skinned alien shakes his head, even though he does study their names for a moment. Then he erases part of the image, and then starts to draw Yvon and Jahni sitting in the pilot and navigator's seats. He gestures at the drawing, and nods. Then he gets up and goes back to the cockpit, taking the datapad with him. He then shows Cayde the image again, pointing at the image of Yvon and Jahni sitting in the chairs, and then turns to the cockpit, gesturing at the empty navigator and pilot's chairs. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The blue skinned alien shakes his head, even though he does study their names for a moment. Then he erases part of the image, and then starts to draw Yvon and Jahni sitting in the pilot and navigator's seats. He gestures at the drawing, and nods. Then he gets up and goes back to the cockpit, taking the datapad with him. He then shows Cayde the image again, pointing at the image of Yvon and Jahni sitting in the chairs, and then turns to the cockpit, gesturing at the empty navigator and pilot's chairs. "Oh gods," Yvon groans. "What does he want now?" 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     Oh, well it seemed he wanted them to sit in the chairs? But...why? There was no need for that at the very moment. Cayde just stares at him, perplexed.     He glances at Yvon, projecting the idea of him and Jahni sitting in the jump seats. However, he isn't sure what for. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' "What the kriff?" Yvon says, just as perplexed as Cayde. "I don't need to navigate right now. Our charted path will take us straight to Jedha. Or so your archive of hyperspace lanes out here says so..." The blue skinned man is watching Yvon pointedly, his expression pensive. Then he turns to Cayde, and points to the drawing again, this time circling the pilot's yoke. Then he gives Cayde a curious look. 

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''     When he looks back at Cayde, he'll find that the boy has suddenly fallen asleep with his head slumped over the terminal he'd been using to show him the pictures. However, his sleep seems to be very disturbed, as there are tears and perspiration on his face. 

:'''{{#var:159|Athena (159)}} has posed:''' The blue skinned stranger frowns, then gently scooping Cayde up bridal style, takes him back to the makeshift medbay, and places him on the cushioned duvet he himself had been laying on earlier, gently, so he doesn't wake the young Padawan. 
}}