"Otherwise, if the Empire wishes military aid from us, it will be granted."

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...and had been totally fair in his dealings with Shawn, for that matter. "I think you misjudge Mr. Tarnus's intentions," he finally said, his greeny-blue eyes still directed towards the other Jedi. "i might not agree with everything that has been done to bring this Empire back into power...

...but I've yet to see it do a thing aside from establishing blockades to prevent bloody uprisings. And Mr. Tarnus has already stated that the Empire will back off Tatooine to allow her peoples to establish their own government, so I'd presume the same goes for any other planets in the known galaxy."

With nothing more than that, Shawn then fell silent, turning his greeny-blue gaze forward once more.

--------------------

I picked up my glass and raised it in a toast to the Jedi Master in appreciation for his calm ability to cut quickly and easily to the chase and point out the same answer to Arakeen which I had been forming in my own mind. Although a smile graced my lips, my eyes were dark and flat, and inwardly I was beginning to heat up with something a bit more intense than mere anger.

How absolutely impertinent of this Arakeen! I mused as I took another drink. First he presents the Empire with a request of such magnitude to be laughable under any other circumstances, that we hand over a planet so he can re-establish the Jedi foothold in the galaxy once again. Then in the next breath he oh so graciously grants that same Empire, who indeed would have been the causal factor in the re-establishment of said Jedi foothold, the assistance of his happy little troop when and if it would be necessary.

And during that little about-face he so stubbornly refuses to see that which is indeed being acted out throughout the galaxy, right beneath his very nose. Insurrections indeed...!

Enough was enough. This was not something to bring to solution in such short order.

"The Empire will consider what you have asked, Mr. Arakeen," I finally said, finishing my drink and setting the glass down upon the desk. "In the meantime, won't you and your party stay as our guests; I will have your quarters shown to you now."

With that I nodded toward the Reborn, who bowed slightly in returning salute, then formed the same honor guard about the party as they had in bringing them. They were in the process of leaving when I halted them once more.

"Please, Mr. Petrolu, I would appreciate it if you stayed a bit longer to... chat."

The Reborn promptly opened their "box" and allowed the Jedi Master egress from their midst. Then they quickly and efficiently marched Paul Arakeen and the Twi'lek off to one of the opulent guest rooms here in CCHQ, coming across the wandering Lumbia in the process and taking him as well to guest quarters with the others.

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[ 04-17-2003 11:28 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shawn Petrolu ]

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"I must admit my curiosity as to how you've managed to cross paths with this Paul Arakeen," I began without preamble. "I am also curious as to how long you have travelled with him, and the others, and would appreciate any insights you might provide me concerning them. Your observations of them, your past history and so on; anything at all, Shawn.

"For what he is requesting is no light matter; of course you surely appreciate in turn the Empire's desire to be fully informed of the widest extent of all variables concerning the possible granting of his request."

I paused briefly, then went on.

"Has he indicated any such leanings to you, specifically the re-establishment of the Jedi Praxeum? And if so, to what purpose?"

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The flock was in hush by the presence of the Reborn, who had been escorting them to their quaters. Kai'ra had already been lead into her chambers and it was only Lumbia and Paul alone. Two force-users, silent and very calm, though in the presence of such powerful guards.

"What went on in there?" Lumbia finally began, his whisper catching the observant eyes of the Reborn. "I sensed a disturbance in the force from the room when I was wandering the halls. Did it come from you." He asked.

The young force-user turned his head, drawing his vanilla white robe closer to his body, as he began to close his eye in meditation. He searched for an answer from the Jedi Knight before it could come out his lips, but it was clouded in the man's thought by Sobern.

It was clear the man was intimidating, but no real Jedi Knight would hold fear in their life. The very idea would bring them closer to the dark side, as it did Lumbia when he was an innocent child. Held as a pawn to a Dark Jedi..

"The Worst Era of my life." He recalled saying in silence when reminsicing the past times. Lumbia was just a boy in that time of his life, and he was filled with so much hate, crave and frear. The perfect target for any Dark Jedi..

Beep!

The sound of a Reborn's finger clicking against the key code at the quarters awoke him from his meditation. The young black haired man eyes open to be filled with suprise. When heading into the chambers, he glanced over his shoulder at Paul.

[ 04-19-2003 11:51 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by LumbiaSith ]

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For a moment, Shawn hesitated, if only for a moment. “...turned to the Darkside, or so it would seem. After finding him, for him to then only to run, I crossed paths with Arrakeen by chance. He told him of his mission for the Empire, and we traded our concerns about the strange attackers on Tatooine as well. In exchange for my assisting him with his mission, Arrakeen was to help me with dealing with my wayward and possibly now dark Padawan. And, actually, I share Arrakeen’s desire to bring the Jedi back to some semblance of order and was the first to mention it to him. That order will help us deal more adequately with any dark users, and will most certainly help us deal better with the status of our padawans. Paul and I haven’t specifically spoken regarding an actual Praxeum...

...but the unity we’ve discussed can only happen via a Praxeum and a council or some body of leaders to guide learners.”

Shawn paused then, pursing his lips thoughtfully for a moment, then continuing. “What I know of Paul is pieced together from a dozen conversations. I’m uncertain as to what transpired between he and his padawan, but I don’t believe he was killed in cold blood, but because Arrakeen had no choice. I sense the incident rather rocked Paul; in fact, having to kill his padawan, if if for a justifiable reason, may be why he is so hesitant to face assisting you in any battles which may end in civilian casualties. Jedi Masters tend to grow very close to their padawans, so losing one to the darkside, let alone having to fight one only to then kill him, would be a very tramautic experience...we see as much in that relationship between the famed Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker. Having to do such a thing has a permanant impact, and it takes some time to deal with it. I’m not so certain Paul has done just that yet, and it may be affecting his vision here.”

Shawn paused for another moment to let these words sink in, then went on with, “The dark-haired Force-user I only met in Grakko’s palace on Tatooine. He came in rather abruptly, assisted there, then travelled from Tatooine to here with us. He’s a cocky, uses his Force-abilities arbuitrarily, and definitely has not established emotional control...

...but that’s all I can tell you of him thusfar. The Twi’lek is a dancing girl who has little self-esteem so far as I can tell, and likewise has little trust in anyone. That probably comes from her being Grakko’s personal slave; Hutts don’t respect their living “property” very much, after all. She’s quiet and hesitant and very uneasy...

...and I think she hasn’t a clue what she’s doing here now that she’s free of Grakko.”

With all this said, Shawn quieted once more and leaned back in his seat, waiting to see just how Tarnus would respond to all he had spoken.

[ 04-17-2003 07:49 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shawn Petrolu ]

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I rose from my chair, and extended a hand to Shawn.

"Thank you for your honesty, and when you see Mr. Arakeen please extend my thanks for his as well. I will certainly keep all you have said here under consideration while I decide how to conclude this little matter.

"But now, if any resolution is to come of all this, I need to attend to it. I hope you enjoy your stay here as guests of the Empire; I will contact all of you when I have come to a decision."

Nodding again to Shawn, I indicated the door. A Reborn entered from the corridor without, stiffened to attention, and waited in silence to escort the Jedi Master away.

When this was accomplished I regained my seat, there to mull over what had been spoken of, and in the process finding myself wondering as to the progress of the hunter I had set out to bring back the computer files stolen from the Empire by the traitor we had had in our midst at that time.

[ 04-17-2003 09:49 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Sorben Tarnus ]

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Then he quietly thought across a link with the other jedi: I want to talk with you about the Sith...later.

Then he let his gaze sweep the room. "Shall we find something to eat?" he queried. "I have heard that Coruscant has some of the widest varieties of galactic food of any planet in the galaxy..."

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The Imperial shuttle exited hyperspace, along with about a dozen other vessels from different parts of the galaxy, some military and some trading. The usual procedure occured: pilot talks to an officer on one of the guard ships, he talks back, gives access codes, blah blah blah, we're clear to dock, land, submerge or whatever.

Romanus didn't pay attention, and didn't really give a damn. He was busy trying to wipe off the remaining dried blood on his neck with his hand, thinking aboutthat one Jedi back on Sullust.

Dammit, who was he? I've never seen him in my life...but it was like I knew him years ago...

"Sir."

"Hmm?" Romanus looked up slightly at the pilot's call.

"Should we make arrangements for you to receive medical assistance?" he asked. Romanus shook his head.

"No, just take me to your HQ so I can speak to General Tarnus."

There was no reply from the pilot, but again, Romanus did not put much thought into it. Roughly fifteen minutes later, the shuttle had already passed through Coruscant's atmosphere and heading for one of its many spaceports.

Soon, Romanus was being escorted to the General's ready room. Along the way, he spotted a couple of people wearing robes and sensed the Force within them.

Great. More Jedi. Bloody hell, this is one of the strangest days of my life...

Finally, he passed through the doorway into the office, and tossed the data chip onto the desk in front of General Tarnus.

"Traitor's dead, and the data's back. Time for your half of the deal..." Romanus said, again swiping at more dried blood at the back of his neck.

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"May I come with you on your eating trip?" The young black haired force-user began, his tone soft and timid.

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And perhaps here lies a beginning to that order of Jedi...

Nodding his head then to Lumbia, Shawn answered in the affirmative. "Certainly, though we won't be going far," he said even as he nodded. Then he turned to regard the Twi'lek, who was being distant and very aloof. "And would you like to accompany us as well?"

[ 04-19-2003 01:06 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shawn Petrolu ]

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A Twi'lek girl, scantily clad, going out to dinner with three jedi...?

A part of her couldn't help but withdraw from the very idea, though another part was trying to point out the fact that these guys were seeing more than her outward appearance. Still, she'd been raised to believe her worth lay not in who she was, but what she was and how she looked.

She turned her indigo eyes to the shorter of the three jedi, never quite directly meeting his gaze. "No, I think I'll just take a stroll around here on my own," she said, standing and heading for the door of the guest suites.

She had alot of thinking to do, and she'd much rather do it alone, than in the presence of a trio of Jedi...

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"Uh..." he finally turned to Lumbia, then to Shawn, and a smile crossed his face. It had been a long time since one appeared.

"I'm sure the guards won't mind if we find a diner with at least a few windows..."

It would be nice to see the city outside these claustrophobic walls...

There was a slight grunt from a nearby Reborn guard, but Paul took it as a yes. "Shall we go then?"

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Placing on his robe over his garment, he headed forward, turning back in await for the others.

"I'm prepared to go." He said in a smooth, sly and soothing tone as he placed his hood over his black hair.

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Names and serial numbers of every trooper in the Alpha and Omega fleets, going back fifteen years showing who had been assigned where and how lengthy a term of service he had given.

And that was it.

Public record.

It was with a great effort that I kept my hand from shaking as I popped the data chip out and held it in my palm. My helmet tipped upward as I now directed a gaze into Romanus's eyes, a gaze which although he probably didn't see, I'm more than certain he could feel.

"This-- is it?" I asked in a low tone of voice. "I was under the impression that there was more to the stolen data then... this. Perhaps you have overlooked some of it somehow?

"Be that as it may," I continued on, now raising a gauntleted hand against the growing ire I was seeing in this hunter's eyes. "The death of the traitor is worth something to the Empire... and the fact that you did indeed bring this to our attention is as well. You will find an additional two thousand placed in your account; I'm afraid that, as the information on this data chip is a matter of public record, it is really quite worthless and could have just as well been pitched into the nearest garbage chute you might have found along the way."

I rose to my feet, nodding to the Reborn who came to a stiff attention on either side of the hunter.

"If you will pardon me now, there is a matter of business I need attend to. Please do not keep your availability from us; I may be calling upon your services again in the near future."

Sitting down, I placed my hands atop my desk, and watched in silence as the Reborn began to escort Romanus from my ready room.

--------------------

That was close...too close.

A second passed before a smirk appeared. He slapped the Reborn that escorted him out of the room on the back of his shoulder.

"Right, soldier! Think you're relieved of your duty now."

The excuse for a Jedi glared at Romanus, but decided to let the offense go and return to staring at the wall.

Romanus straightened up and saluted him, then turned away to walk down the hall.

Well its not much, but those credits should keep from being evicted for a couple of years. And if I left a good impression, there might be work for me with the Empire after all!

He was only about to take his first step when he spotted a greenskinned Twi'lek, wearing a bikini-style outfit of gold, disappear through another doorway. A mere glimpse of her had frozen Romanus in place, his foot still only a few inches up from the ground.

Wow...this day might actually be my lucky one after all...

A laugh escaped him as he completed the movement and continued walking down the hall...heading for the door the beautiful creature had gone through...

[ 04-22-2003 03:43 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Romanus ]

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...a return to her home planet of Rhyloth. Though she hadn't seen her family--

--who had probably disowned her by this point anyway--

--for years, Kia'ra didn't think she could face them with the occupation she now held. She couldn't face them...

...and she couldn't deal with the fact that she had no other skills to speak of, and would have to return to the dancing-girl's life whether on Rhyloth or not. And it would be far more difficult to be a dancing-girl who earned her living in the darker side of the night on her home planet rather than on a planet where no one knew her...

Kia'ra's indigo eyes darkened as this realization hit home, and it was only then that she broke from her thoughts long enough to realize that there were footsteps behind her...

...close behind her.

So she whirled, her dancing outfit sparkling and her indigo eyes ablaze as they fell upon a man dressed in a trenchcoat, his head completely shaven, and his eyes positively glued to her trim and taught form. Suddenly sure that perhaps this was more than the man whom she could earn a credit or two with by "pleasing him"...

...she could tell by the look in his eyes that she had seen all-too-many times before...

...every muscle in Kia'ra's body tensed. Feeling absolutely cornered, she did the one thing she could think of to do.

"Somebody...help!" she cried even as the clean-shaven stranger seemed to drink her in with his eyes as she then proceeded to turn and begin to run. Might not get her far but...

...she was a dancing girl living on the darker side of life...

...but that didn't mean she liked being taken advantage of any more...

[ 04-21-2003 08:53 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Kiara ]

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...a female who was considered a guest of the Empire and thus under the auspices of its protection.

Thus it was they turned into that particular hallway in one smooth and synchronized motion, and soon came to the room from which the cry had issued. They didn't pause to even knock but entered with all the authority they knew they possessed.

A clean-shaven and trenchcoated man whirled from where he had been approaching the dancing girl.

"May we be of some assistance to you, Miss?" the senior Reborn asked genteelly enough, his dark eyes never leaving those of the hunter even as his companions moved to place themselves eqidistant from him.

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Only on this particular day, the contracting wasn't so quiet.

Her indigo eyes grew even more vague. All she could see was the battered and bloodied body of the superior Imperial officer...

...and the wide and furious eyes of his attacker...

...whose own eyes were now boring into her own, seeming to see through her. Kia'ra's lekku twitched, and she shuddered.

She wasn't mistaken. It was him...

Unconsciously beginning to back away even though the Reborn had her trenchcoat-clad pursuer surrounded, Kia'ra didn't stop til she was forced to a halt by the wall behind her. She wrenched her eyes away from those of that mysterious stranger, and directed them towards the Reborn guard. She was trembling. "He...he...

...was following me..."

Still trembling, she trailed, her eyes again turning and staring wide into Romanus's once more...

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"I have sent for some back-up to escort you to your guest quarters, Miss," he said calmly, although his eyes were once again affixed upon those of Romanus. He then remained still as stone for the indeterminant amount of time it took his ordered troops to arrive. Arrive they did, however, coming up and saluting smartly.

"See that this lady is escorted to her quarters, or wherever else it is she may wish to go. And see that you remain with her at all times; the Lt. General would be most displeased to discover that any ill had come upon his guests."

He remained solid as a rock while behind him his orders were succinctly carried out.

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The Twi'lek gone now, he decided to head back to his hotel and pretty much sleep for the rest of the day.

As he sidestepped past the guard to continue walking down the hall, the Reborn didn't make a move. The slap of his boots upon on the solid floor echoed throughout the corridor, until Romanus left only silence behind.

This isn't over...

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Perhaps he was a bit unnerved at that... but it was not as so readily assumed by Romanus. It was instead merely an acknowledgment of the darkness that flowed within the trenchcoated man so greatly, and recognition of the fact that instead of standing in unspoken brotherhood with another dark one, he appeared to be seeking some sort of conflict with the Reborn instead. That sense had flowed out from the dark hunter in a degree even a baby could feel; the Reborn merely blinked and lifted his comm-link to his lips to report this entire event to Lt. Gen. Tarnus.

Then with a nod and a wave of one hand, he led his small squad onward, to follow in the footsteps Romanus had taken.

Meanwhile, elsewhere....

The Reborn squad sent to assist K'iara moved with smooth efficiency down the corridor, not heading for any place in particular, just keeping her moving and keeping their eyes alert for any possible danger to their charge. Their lightsabers hung within easy reach, as did the blasters which they used in a pinch. At the moment, however, no such weaponry was necessary; their presence was enough to send those non-Reborn Imperials who they chanced upon in their trek into a hurried exit from them, at least those who may have had the audacity to raise appraising eyes in the Twi'lek's direction during such a brief encounter.

At length one of the Reborn spoke, never varying his pace.

"Is there somewhere you wish to go, Miss?" he asked her, then fell silent, waiting.

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"What happened in there? What did you talk about aftered I fell unconscious?" He asked in a curious, but very soft voice.

His eyes drifted to the buttons, clicking one that beckoned the lift to reach their levels. When it did come as requested by the dark brown haired man, the three entered after the sound of the quickly opening door. The two elders seem to still wander for an answer to the question of the youngling, for the silence had been broken by the boy seemed to meld itself back together.

Lumbia clicked the button once again, taking them to the hangar where they'd take speed-cab.

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