The Past and the Present

The Past and the Present
Date of Scene:	11 June 2025
Location:
Synopsis:
Cast of Characters:	Cayde Alexis, 159

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Cayde Alexis 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...

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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..."

Cayde Alexis 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?

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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?"

Cayde Alexis 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.

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.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    <Yes...leave her alone> Cayde answers him immediately.

    He then quickly starts trying to identify just who is in pain and why.

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>

Cayde Alexis 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>

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?"

Cayde Alexis 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]

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...

Cayde Alexis 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?

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.

Cayde Alexis 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...

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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."

Cayde Alexis 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?

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.

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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."

Cayde Alexis 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.

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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.

Cayde Alexis 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...

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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.

Cayde Alexis 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...

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde sighs and nods, heading back out to his own quarters. This time, he's looking for Thaarin...

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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~"

Cayde Alexis 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.

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."

Cayde Alexis 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.

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.

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.

Cayde Alexis 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.