Registration Day

Registration Day
Date of Scene:	08 December 2024
Location:
Synopsis:	Navi and Cayde meet some of the colonists joining the Tenoo Initiative.
Cast of Characters:	159, Navi, Cayde Alexis

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Athena (159) has posed:
It's a lovely afternoon in the Holy City - and down by the Temple of the Kyber, there appears to be some kind of bustling event. There's signs with arrows pointing "This way to registration" or "That way to parking" and yet others that say, "Have your Republic ID ready". Above the main entrance to the Temple of the Kyber hangs the biggest sign of all - a banner with the Republic's insignia and the words big and bold, "THE REPUBLIC'S TENOO INITIATIVE." Below this big banner, a line of people has formed. It stretches all the way down the steps and around the block. Some of the folk look bored, others impatient, and some either anxious, angry or both.

A Toydarian street vendor is selling ice pops to those standing in line, and is aggressively advertising to anyone passing by. It is a hot day, after all...

Navi has posed:
"They're really pushing this Tendo colony initiative, aren't they?" Navi murmurs, staring up at the banner, then at the assembled crowd. "Bet they're not saying much about the risks." She approaches the vendor, palming a few of her credits from her satchel. "One, please. Quite a crowd, isn't it? How long has this been going on?" she asks.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde doesn't get offworld all that often. But given that he spent most of his life stuck on Coruscant, he really should get out more. And since he was visiting Jedha, he might as well see Navi.

    It really did seem that the Tenoo colony was popular. They all had a sense of wanderlust...a desire to adventure, in spite of the risks. In fact, what is an adventure without any risks, right? He eyes the cold treat for sale, although finds himself somewhat wary of it. Though it is hot, and the weather here never was very kind to him or his complexion.

Athena (159) has posed:
"I'm havin' a bogo!" the Toydarian babbles, "so get two! Looks like your friend could use one too, ha ha.."

But before Navi can even give the vendor his credits a protocol droid approaches. "The end of the line is two blocks down," it says to them. "Please make sure to have all your documentation ready when you arrive at the booth." A pause, "but since you two are already here, I may as well get you started on the scheduling process for the medical checkups and decontamination protocols."

Navi has posed:
Navi glances at Cayde as the Toydarian vendor calls attention to him. "It's hot. He probably could at that," she murmurs.

The protocol droid speaks up then, startling her. "Um, I haven't made up my mind yet whether this initiative is of interest to me. Is there someone I could talk to about all this? Someone in charge? No offense, Mr. Protocol Droid, but I don't know if you've been provided with all the information about this venture. Do you know who that might be, and how I could go about speaking to them?"

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    But Cayde shakes his head. No, no he didn't want her to buy one for him. After all, he hasn't had anything like that before and he might not like it. Then a protocol droid starts talking to them. He doesn't think they need that, though, given the Chancellor himself had already apparently hand-selected them to join the venture...however, Navi also seems to have the right idea.

Athena (159) has posed:
The protocol droid is about to answer Navi when the young Sephi girl will get unceremonious interrupted.

"Navi, Navi!!" All of a sudden, her legs are being squashed by four furry little arms!

Since Navi has become somewhat... preoccupied, the droid turns to Cayde. It studies him, frowning. "You look familiar," it says.

Navi has posed:
"Geez! If I didn't know you four on sight, I'd swear I was being mobbed!" Navi cries, giggling, and hugs each of the Chadra Fans in turn. "What are you all doing out here? Awfully hot for gallavanting around the city, isn't it?"

She glances sidelong at Cayde, shrugging at his refusal, and glancing at the droid, then back at Cayde. "You haven't worked on Coruscant or around the Temple of the Kyber, have you?" she asks the droid.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    [Hello] Cayde signs to the droid when it turns to him more specifically. He looks down at the Chadra-Fans who apparently know Navi. He hasn't seen many of those before...

Athena (159) has posed:
"Yeah well, being mobbed is fun, right? It means you're popular..." The smallest of them says. Navi may be pleased and relieved to see it's Peeka. She seems to have been returned safely, though there's a scar on her eyebrow.

Her brothers peer at Navi. "You're going, right? How come you're not in line?"

The droid turns back to Navi. "I'm employed by the Republic," it says politely. "And all these good citizens are joining the Tenoo initiative. Our primary funders, the Grafs, along with the San Tekkas, are hoping for an overwhelming turn out of at least two -thousand- colonists! Ah..."

Navi has posed:
"I'd like you all to meet Padawan Cayde Alexis, my friend from Coruscant. Cayde, these are my friends. I call them the Fan Four. Sadly, their mother doesn't much like me... she seems to think I'm a bad influence. I swear, you get framed for two murders and suddenly your social credit is nonexistent," Navi replies to the organics around her, shaking her head as she remembers the horrifying week spent hunting for the real murderer.

"The Grafs /and/ the San Tekkas? Wow. Who else is funding all this?" she asks the droid. "And why do they want so many colonists? Is recruitment going on in other star systems, too?"

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Being mobbed definitely isn't fun, which is why being popular is also not fun...

    Anyway, Cayde nods and bows slightly toward those Navi had introduced as the 'Fan Four'. [But they have names] he signs, arching a brow at her. Right? As in, actual individual names.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Are you Navi's newest boyfriend?" The youngest Chadra Fan girl says to Cayde. "I hope you know. She leaves a trail of broken hearts behind her," she says, putting her hands on her hips and not even bothering to greet the young padawan. "Did you know? You're her third boo thing."

The other Chadra Fans wave to Cayde awkwardly. "Uh, it's nice to meet you, I guess," the eldest says. "So, have you guys kissed yet?"

But the youngest boy seems impatient, for some reason. "Navi! You didn't even answer our question. You're -going-, right?"

The droid pulls out a datapad. "Sure! I can pull up a full list of sponsors for the Tenoo initiative!" While it's doing that, it says to Navi, "why, you're aware, aren't you, that the intention was for the colony to become a town, and perhaps one day, a thriving metropolis fully supported and sourced by the natural resources on Tenoo! Two thousand's barely a family by town standards, honestly. But in time! It will grow, and thrive..."

Navi has posed:
"He's /not/ my boyfriend. I don't think he's even interested," Navi says, shaking her head. "And the other two individuals weren't boyfriends, either. One was a private investigator who was trying to get me un-framed for two murders, and the other was a creepy stalker-type I still don't know a great deal about. I only hope he's okay. I share a strange connection to him through the Force, but I don't understand why. Maybe I never will."

She looks at the youngest boy. "I've been solicited to go along, as an assistant to a doctor. I'm still making up my mind about going, though. I've been to the Outer Rim, and it wasn't a good time at all."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    They don't seem that happy to meet him, do they? Cayde gives Navi a look. Was it true? She'd had two boyfriends recently? But then it seems the children have an...exaggerated view of the circumstances.

    When one of them asks if they've kissed yet though, he shifts somewhat uncomfortably and momentarily averts his gaze in attempt to hide the fact that he's flushing. Well...that--it was complicated, wasn't it? Hopefully, he doesn't press the issue since Navi didn't answer the question.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Yeah right," Peeka says, glancing over at Cayde. "Look at his face! He's not even answering about the kissing thing. I bet you guys did kiss. He's obviously interested. You're such a bad liar!" she tells Navi. "Anyway, you're not allowed to not go. Like, if you don't go, then who's gonna--" Her elder brother elbows her suddenly, and a passing look of fear flickers in his expression for a moment. "It's fine. You don't have to. It would just be nice," he says, "if you did." But he averts his gaze. His siblings also, for whatever reason, suddenly seem slightly unsettled and anxious.

Speaking of romance in Navi's life, the young Sephi may suddenly notice yet another two familiar faces. The Dathomirian girls - Mal, and her older sister, Gael, are in line too. Mal looks utterly distraught and seems to be fighting back tears, while Gael seems angry and ready to tear someone's throat out...

Navi has posed:
Navi sighs. "No, Peeka... he's a Jedi. Dating's one of the things Jedi just don't do. Same with kissing. If I didn't know you better, I'd swear you were a holo-gossip columnist, looking for scandals everywhere you go." She softens this with a hug for Peeka. "You're such a rascal."

She looks between the four Chadra Fan children. "I'm still thinking about it. I think your mother wouldn't want me to go, since she thinks I'm such a bad influence on you. I've no idea why she feels that way. But knowing you're going? Well, someone's got to protect you. I don't even like to think about all the possible ways you all could get lost on an alien world."

"Um... pardon me a moment. There's someone there I need to talk to," she adds to Cayde and the Fan Four, starting toward Gael and Mal.

"Hello again, sweet sisters," she says, by way of greeting, waving to Mal and Gael. "What's wrong?"

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    The more Peeka protests, the more Cayde just looks uncomfortable, and the more his face reddens. He's glad when Navi excuses herself after spotting Gael and Mal.

    [A pleasure meeting you] he signs to the Chadra Fan children, then hurries after her.

Athena (159) has posed:
"So? Not like he can just -stop- feeling if he was interested anyway. -Also-, dumpster diving and pick pocketing rich people are also things people say is against the law and you shouldn't do, but do we do it anyway? Duh, -of course-! Just don't get caught. I don't even see his Master around."

"We're not worried about getting lost," the eldest Chadra Fan says, "It's... nevermind." He sighs, as Navi goes off to greet Mal and Gael.

Gael scowls at Navi, clearly not in the mood for a chat. "Since when was it your business? Move along," she says icily.

Mal seems relieved to see Cayde and Navi, though. She wipes her eyes. "Hello again," she says. "I've... I'm sure we've met... but I've forgotten your names..."

Navi has posed:
"Because you helped us once. Besides, I remember you both fondly, and I wanted to at least say hello," Navi replies gently to Gael. To Mal she adds, "We have. I'm Navi, and this is Cayde. Are you two joining the colony initiative?"

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde had always wondered how the two Nightsisters were getting along now that the threat at the Temple of Kyber had been neutralized. It seemed they were doing well, other than the emotional distress, that is. Well anyway at least Mal seemed to be lucid...

    He bows politely in greeting toward them when Navi re-introduces him.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Yeah, well," Gael says, averting her gaze. "Don't concern yourself with our affairs. We'll be fine."

Mal seems to grow emotional again when Navi asks her if they're joining the initiative. Tears start in her eyes, but Gael shoots her an icy look. "What does it look like?" she snaps at Navi.

It's odd, both of them don't seem happy at all to join the colony. But they're in line, so it must have been their choice... right?

"Oh. Navi. That's a nice name. You're very pretty too, you know," she says, pushing a strand of hair out of Navi's face, trying to change the subject.

Then she turns to Cayde. "Cayde..." she stares at him, her pale eyed gaze piercing. <Why do I feel like I've known you my whole life? I've just met you...>

Navi has posed:
"It's just... everyone seems happy to be going. But you don't. Is someone forcing you to join?" Navi asks gently. "I've been asked to join the initiative, too, but I'm not sure I actually want to go along. I'm not sure why, but I have a bad feeling about this venture. I've been to the Outer Rim before, and I didn't really have any desire to go back."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    <We have met> Cayde replies to Mal's projections. Although he isn't surprised she doesn't remember. Well, she doesn't need to. That time wouldn't be a pleasant memory, he'd guess.

    Then he switches back to sign, glancing between the two sisters. [Is something wrong]

Athena (159) has posed:
Gael scoffs at Navi. "If you've got any kind of backbone, you'll survive the Outer Rim." She avoids Navi's question about being forced to go. "Look, if you don't want to go, then don't go. Simple as that," she says, shrugging.

"I'm alright," Mal says, smiling through her tears. "I think... I'll just miss Jedha, that's all," she says.

Then she projects to Cayde, <Were we good friends? I'm so sorry I don't remember you. I hope we were. You seem lovely.> She reaches out and toys with Cayde's padawan braid.

Navi has posed:
"I do, actually. Courage isn't always enough. Mal could tell you what happened if she touched me, maybe, but I don't want to subject her to the memories of what I went through," Navi replies to Gael. "I'll just say that a lot of good people were killed, and leave it at that."

She notes Mal toying with Cayde's Padawan braid and smirks faintly. "I think she likes you, Cayde. You could do a LOT worse than Mal." /Like me/, she thinks, but doesn't say it.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    When Mal starts toying with his hair, Cayde flushes again. Then he gently pushes her hand back. He arches a brow at Navi with that comment. A lot worse? But why would she say that? However, he can't seem to find the answer in her mind as much as he tries.

    [We were...allies] he answers Mal's question, even though no one else may be aware she asked anything.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Then -don't- go," Gael says, an angry edge creeping into her tone of voice. Then she turns away, folding her arms.

Cayde and Navi won't really need the Force to sense that something's... off. Gael was never the friendliest sort or one for small talk, but she's acting pretty set on -discouraging- Navi from going. Which is strange, assuming she'd chosen to go...

Mal suddenly reaches forward and grabs Cayde's hand. <They said that several Jedi are coming on the trip. You don't happen to be one of them, do you? I...please come. Please...> Tears start forming in her eyes.

Navi has posed:
"You don't /want/ me to go along, do you?" Navi asks Gael, directly but not impolitely. "Why? Forgive me if I don't understand, but... I don't. I'm sorry. We've always tried to be friendly to you and yours. Or is it just me you don't want coming along?"

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde stares down at her hand suddenly gripping his, his face still red. She seemed so desperate. <Maybe.....> He hadn't discussed it with his Master yet.

    A brow goes up at Gael's antagonistic behavior. [But why] he asks.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Look, I don't want to talk about this," she snaps. "Just know that it's not personal, and has nothing to do with you, specifically." A pause, and she glares at Cayde too. "Now get lost. This conversation is done." She turns away again, folding her arms.

Mal smiles through her tears, wiping her eyes. <I hope.. I hope you decide to come> she says, squeezing his hand gently.

Navi might want to further interrogate her, but then suddenly a familiar voice will call out her name. "Navi?! What the hell? What are you doing over here?" If she turns around, she'll see that it's the Zeltron private investigator, Vons.

Navi has posed:
"If that's what you want. Though I have a feeling I won't be able to sleep at night if I /don't/ go. You're going to need friends there, and other people I know are going. People I care about. Staying away is just more not-knowing than I think I can handle," Navi replies.

Before she can say more, another voice startles her, and she whirls. "Vons? Don't tell me /you're/ going on this venture, too. I'm beginning to think everyone I know outside of the Jedi is going to be on those colony ships."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    [The Chancellor wants me to] Cayde answers, even if it might not be an actual answer to Mal's question.

    Although Navi is startled, Cayde doesn't appear to be at all, although that probably just par for the course. Oh, was this one of those 'other boyfriends' the kids were talking about?

Athena (159) has posed:
Gael's expression softens. "Be careful," she says softly in parting, as Navi turns to away to address Vons.

"Yeah, uh," he says, glancing over at two very familiar CSF officers standing a distance away. "I had to get out of my parent's place."

Navi will recognize the two cops -- they worked for the UCSF and Black was likely their boss. Why are -they- here? And they seem to be watching Vons very closely and skeptically.

The Zeltron man gives Navi an easy smile. "So, no 'hey, hello, it's nice to see you?'" he says. He reaches towards her like he's going to embrace her, but then seems to think better of it and pats her on the forearm instead. "What've you been up to? It's been a hot minute."

Mal suddenly embraces Cayde tightly. <I hope he convinces you to go. Oh, I really hope you come> For some reason, she seems scared...

Navi has posed:
"Sorry. It /is/ nice to see you again. I guess I'm just preoccupied with this colony thing. I have a bad feeling about it. Not least because someone high up in the Republic nominated me to go along as a medical assistant and never even asked me first. And that's only the beginning of what feels wrong about it all," Navi replies, blushing faintly. "The Grafs and the San Tekkas are the two primary sponsors, too. I don't know if that's a bad thing or not, but I'm not sure they have the colonists' best interests at heart."

She glances back at Gael and Mal, more specifically at the unexpected show of emotion from them. "Maybe I'd better give Mal another robe. She may need something comforting for this trip," she muses.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    When Mal hugs him, Cayde flushes even more deeply and tries to make the embrace a quick one without seeming too cold. She didn't even know him really since she didn't remember, and plus they didn't even interact that much before. She was probably just afraid of the unknown...frankly, he was also a bit nervous about it. Even though he knows it'd probably be good for him.

    Then he turns to Vons, then glances at Navi.

    [It is the other...friend...they mentioned]

    It was intended to be a question, although that might not be fully clear to everyone.

Athena (159) has posed:
Vons chuckles. "Now that's more like it." He pauses. "You should ... come," he says. "If there's something off about this whole initiative, I'm sure we'll figure it out. Together. Just like last time, remember? And I promise I'll actually take care of you this time. No more surprise illegal pit fighting." He grins at her.

Mal seems reluctant to let him go, but she finally releases him and goes back to her place in line next to Gael, staring longingly after Cayde.

Vons doesn't seem to notice Cayde. He's too busy watching Navi fondly. Either that, or he's just ignoring the young padawan.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Sure, sure, Cayde is used to getting ignored, anyway...he sighs and stares at the ground.

Navi has posed:
"Given how many people I know that are going, I'm becoming more and more sure that I'm going to have to go on this thing. Otherwise I'd spend all my time worrying about everyone who went away," Navi observes, with a wry smile. "Vons, I'd like you to meet Padawan Cayde Alexis. Cayde, this is Vons, a private investigator who really saved my neck a while back. He's the one I was telling you about," she adds.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde looks back up again and smiles politely, offering a handshake to the Zeltron man. [Hello Vons] he signs.

Athena (159) has posed:
"You sure seem to have a strong fear of missing out," Vons says. "And well I guess it's the only way to keep your worries at bay." He winks at the young Sephi girl. "It won't be so bad. I promise," he says.

When Navi introduces Cayde to Vons, the Zeltron man seems to have clear disinterest in meeting the young padawan. "Uh, hey. Nice to meet you, Cayde." His gaze flicks back to Navi, and he waves a hand dismissively at her. "Ah, come on, it wasn't all me. The constabulary helped out, too."

But just then, the two UCSF cops who had been watching Vons this entire time give the private investigator a hard look, and Vons glances over at them, looking slightly annoyed. "Hey, listen. It was really great seeing you again, Navi. We'll talk again soon, yeah? I'll be at the debriefing on Coruscant later." Then he turns to go join the cops...

Navi has posed:
"Debriefing? What for?" Navi asks, blinking and studying the two UCSF cops worriedly. "Be safe, Vons. I'll be there. Even if I'm not really sure what it's for."

She looks to Cayde. "The more I look into this whole colony mess, the less I'm convinced that it's a good idea. But, like a fool, I'm going anyway. But only if the Republic is willing to finance me 5,000 credits minimum on a new wardrobe. Robes just won't cut it on the frontier. Please tell me 'I told me so,' if my worst fears come to pass, okay?"

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde seems disappointed when Vons also doesn't seem very happy about meeting him. That seemed to be a common denominator today, didn't it? He sighs and shrugs. Maybe he should've left Navi alone...