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Post by Silas Sedgewick on Apr 18, 2013 23:00:40 GMT -5
* A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . . .
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Post by Silas Sedgewick on Apr 18, 2013 23:00:59 GMT -5
STAR WARS SAGA
Episode I
SUM OF TRUTH
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Post by Silas Sedgewick on Apr 18, 2013 23:06:34 GMT -5
Two years after the TREATY OF CORUSCANT, and the galaxy remains just as strained as ever. The EMPIRE and REPUBLIC continue their shaky peace while elsewhere in the far reaches of space, sinister forces lie in wait for the time to strike. The cold war threatens to erupt at any moment, and the weight of the JEDI ORDER has all but gone away.
Deep within the Outer Rim Territories, on the Jedi homeworld of TYTHON, NESUNE AL'SAAR receives a distress call from her master, VARIN KELL. Despite her pleas to the JEDI COUNCIL, they have refused her a ship to DANTOOINE. Fearing the worst may come to her master, the pragmatic Jedi Knight has gathered her possessions and Padawan, KALIENDRA AIRADALE, and boarded a shuttle to the REPUBLIC FLEET.
They are to arrive at CARRICK STATION within the hour, where they might seek the aid of a smuggler or starship captain, one brave enough to travel into Imperial Space. . . .
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Post by Silas Sedgewick on Apr 18, 2013 23:25:41 GMT -5
Arc I
GHOSTS OF DANTOOINE The shuttle ride had been, as most were, quiet. Few shuttles besides simple cargo transports made their way to Tython. Rare was the shuttle carrying a new batch of recruits, and even rarer still would Jedi leave aboard these ships, though they were never denied access to them, especially not someone like Nesune al'Saar, a Jedi Knight. Questions were never asked of the pair, and they had the entire craft to themselves, besides the pilot, to wait out the trip.
Three days was the flight, and weeks remained from Dantooine. If they were lucky in finding a captain, they might reach the planet sixteen days after the original distress went out. Luckier still, and Varin Kell might still be alive, given the nature of his distress (whatever that may be).
"Approaching Carrick Station," chimed the automated voice of the shuttle's nav computer. "Estimated wait time until docking . . . forty five minutes."
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Post by Keani Evans-Pritchard on Apr 19, 2013 0:18:06 GMT -5
The robed figure stirred from her meditation as the navcom chirped to life. With a practiced flick of her hands, the hood dropped from the woman's head. Braids of fiery red intertwined with silver fell down over her shoulders, some cascading down to cover her blue eyes. The hint of a smile flickered over her lips as she fingered the cuff of her robe, a small pattern of ivy vines circling her wrist.
"Carrick Station," Nesune mused, glancing toward the viewing port in the hull. "I remember my first time arriving here from Coruscant. It seemed so... pedestrian." Her eyes flickered to the woman across the cabin. "I keep hoping I live up to Varin's performance, Kali. I don't want to disappoint you... or him."
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Post by Cate Baxter on Apr 19, 2013 0:36:36 GMT -5
The plump redhead looked up from the datapad she'd been reviewing for the past hour. "When have you ever disappointed me Master?" A smile crossed her lips as she powered down the datapad and pocketed it. Rising to her feet, she crossed over to the viewport.
"It's been awhile since we were last here... Don't suppose we'll be staying long either." She peeled her gaze from the viewport, looking at Nesune with a thoughtful frown on her face. "...Do you have any plans for how we're going to get from here to Dantooine yet? You've been cryptic about it all trip."
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Post by Keani Evans-Pritchard on Apr 19, 2013 2:10:22 GMT -5
Nesune shook her head, folding her hands together within the cuffs of her robes. "Not too long, no. I want to see what information we can find on some of the Outer Rim systems. Reports from there have been sketchy since the Treaty." She frowned, looking out the viewport. "I know I've been more reserved with this exercise than usual. It's only that..." She turned to face Kali, leaning back against the bulkhead. "The Council hasn't exactly... sanctioned this visit. This is something I need to do, my young friend."
She made a gesture, closing her eyes as she spoke. "What do you know of Varin Kell, aside from what I've shared with you already?"
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Post by Cate Baxter on Apr 19, 2013 8:29:03 GMT -5
Kali nods, her gaze returning to the viewport as she listened. "I know only what you've told me of him. That he was your teacher and that something happened to him on Dantooine..." She trails off, turning back to Nes. "I don't even know what he was doing out there."
She stares up at her master, "Is there anything else you can tell me about him before we dock?" Her voice was hopeful, she clearly did not like being this in the dark.
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Post by Keani Evans-Pritchard on Apr 19, 2013 9:50:38 GMT -5
Nesune looked down to the cuffs of her robes, her eyes tracing over the ivy vine embroidery. She didn't reply immediately to Kali's question, choosing instead to remain silent as she looked out the viewport. The gentle huffs of her breath blended with the hum of the machinery through the shuttle's bulkhead, steady as a heartbeat.
"Varin..." she started, turning to gaze at Kali. "I was newly-raised to knighthood at the tail-end of the War. It still feels rushed, even now. But that's what happens when our noble brothers and sisters in the Order are felled in their prime. There must needs be more to take their places." She let out a derisive snort, though the corners of her mouth hinted at a smile. "My parents were spice-traders from Corellia. I was younger than you when Varin saw my gifts, and brought me to the Temple as a Padawan. He's... cared for me. As a father, almost. He was my mentor, and he showed me how to deal with the horrors of war."
Nesune's words died for the moment, her eyes half-closed as she leaned back against the bulkhead. "Honorable, dutiful. Not... not indulging, perhaps, but... knowing what's best. And the drive to see it through to completion." She shook her head, giving Kali a more visible smile. "Forgive an old woman's rambling. It's been difficult trying to understand what I've been given recently."
The Jedi reached into the left sleeve of her robes, pulling out a small datapad. "Varin was withdrawn when the Treaty was signed after the Sack. He spent much of his time in meditation, looking for some answer or another. He believed that some of those answers lie on Dantooine, and went to the Council for permission to depart. Needless to say since it is now nominally under Imperial control, they denied it."
Nesune's eyes fluttered open as she handed the datapad to Kali. "But Varin Kell was never a man to be denied. I would have gone with him, but..." Her eyes twinkled as she looked over the Padawan. "I had my responsibilities. At least... at least until I heard some days ago that he needed my help. What choice would I have in that matter, my young Padawan?"
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Post by Cate Baxter on Apr 19, 2013 12:34:09 GMT -5
Kali nodded along as she listened to the tale. "Just as they denied us. You." Shaking her head, she takes the datapad curiously. "He sounds like a good teacher... Though I'm pretty happy with mine." She shot Nes a smile before powering on the datapad.
"I don't much remember my family... The war took them I think. I was... small. I was barely a child when I ended up at the Temple. The Order is my family." Shrugging, she finally turned her attention to the information on the screen.
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Post by Silas Sedgewick on Apr 19, 2013 12:55:45 GMT -5
With a small bit of turbulence, the shuttle began whining as it grew closer and closer to the space station. Automated docking procedures were obviously engaged, and a few moments after the turbulence, the ship's captain stepped out from the sliding door of the cockpit. "Looks like this is your lucky day," he started, nodding for one of the port windows. Off to the side, a massive frigate appeared to be pulling away from the station. "We were in line behind that one―busy day on the station and all―but it seems they've received new orders. You'll be free to go in the next couple of minutes."
With that, the shuttle's pilot returned to the cockpit, leaving the two Jedi to their own devices, to gather their things and prepare for Carrick Station.
Although it had been awhile since the two had boarded the station before, it had hardly changed much, except for perhaps the amount of traffic it saw, which was nearly twice as much more than when the station was new. Off in the distance, near the elevators at the far end of the hanger, stood a GG-series hospitality droid, easily noted by its purple chasis and exterior, blue sensors and visible wiring, and obvious feminine figure.
Upon approaching the elevators, the droid would chime happily to life, offering a curtsy to the two Jedi. "Good evening, master Jedi. I am GG-74, your friendly hospitality assistant―but you may call me Gigi. Records state you have recently arrived from the planet Tython! I trust your trip was a satisfactory one? Might I assist you in finding your way on Carrick Station? There are many shops and cantinas to offer here, and it would be a great honour for me to be able to aid you in any way possible," the droid chimes, the synthetic voice oddly feminine in tone, but lacking in a high quality vocabulator to make it sound as gracious and warm as it could be.
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Post by Keani Evans-Pritchard on Apr 19, 2013 19:03:50 GMT -5
Nesune nodded, gesturing to the datapad. It spoke of Varin Kell's work during the War, and his and his Padawan's assignments against Sith installations. When the Empire sued for peace, he and Nesune were given places as the honor guard for the Senate attache at Alderaan's peace conference. They were forced to stand by and watch Coruscant was sacked under the false peace offer. Afterwards they could only continue with the Order on its relocation to Tython.
"Varin would not simply risk everything on nothing more than intuition," Nesune mused, stepping away from the bulkhead. "He believed he could find the answers he sought on Dantooine. The Force guides our hands in this endeavour, young one."
As the captain's chime comes through the comm, the Jedi gestured to Kali. "We can remain on Tython, if you preferred. Or elsewhere, with less... risk."
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Post by Cate Baxter on Apr 19, 2013 23:42:40 GMT -5
Kali scanned the information onscreen, skimming more than reading. “I'd forgotten he was at the conference... I didn't have a chance to see him before he left...” She mused before handing it back to Nesune. “I believe you... If you say he has reasons for going there then... he has reasons for going there...”
After receiving the message from the captain she'd move to pack what few things she'd brought. Jedi tended to travel light, especially a padawan. “If I wanted to stay on Tython I'd still be there... And I get the feeling you'd still be here. I'm your padawan. That means I follow you. You've yet to lead me astray... As you said... The Force is with us in this.”
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Post by Keani Evans-Pritchard on Apr 20, 2013 0:24:13 GMT -5
Nesune gestured to the hatch, nodding at Kali. "Thank you, for that. I didn't want to doubt how things would go." She stepped through, making her way down to the docking platform. She paused at the sight of the protocol droid, bowing her head to the automaton. "We welcome your assistance, Geegee-74. I am Nesune al'Saar, and this..." She gestured back to Kali, "...is my companion, Kaliendra Airadale. We're looking for directions to one of your cantinas, if you could assist us. Something not too busy, if possible. I've a mind for a quiet supper now that we've arrived."
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Post by Silas Sedgewick on Apr 20, 2013 0:36:36 GMT -5
Humming thoughtfully, the droid seemed to weigh Nesune's words, before nodding almost eagerly and gesturing to the elevator. "It would be a great honour to assist the master Jedi and her companion," it started, moving as it spoke, leading the way into the elevator proper and pressing in a command key for a specific floor. The droid seemed to miss the memo that Jedi were less than honourable these days. "I shall show you to one of the less frequented―yet still highly rated!―cantinas here on Carrick Station," it explained, before turning towards silence unless otherwise bothered.
Leading the way with gentle turns and suggestions, the trip would be rather short. Not far from where the three exited from the elevators would be a large, neon sign, bearing the words "The Sleepy Sullustan" in Aurebesh just above the open doors.
Once the droid had done its duty, having brought the two Jedi to the cantina, it bowed respectfully and made its way back to the hanger, where it was scheduled to meet more guests.
The atmosphere within the Cantina was . . . just as Nesune had wanted it. Quiet. Still, there were less than reputable looking folks in the various booths, along with what appeared to be off-duty soldiers. Several seats remained open at the bar, as well as a few booths scattered around the room.
*
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