A smile came to hsi face, but his curiousty had only taken his snack when the lift came to a slow stop on the hangar level. The youth's eyes back to directing to the green-blue eyed Jedi.

"So, why did either of you choose to place the Jedi Praxuem on the planet of Tattonie?" The brown haired boy began, his voice as curious as ever.

"Was it that their has no rule, and it isn't going to be much population soon on it, or what?" The boy paused for a matter of seconds, his eyes drifting once more to find the question he had lost during his statement. "Also, how was Mr.Tarnus so persuaded to even give you a feel he'd think about it?"

[ 04-23-2003 10:24 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by LumbiaSith ]

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Shawn paused at that then, his greeny-blues watching Lumbia's reaction to his words with the greatest of interest. "Now tell me, what happened to you back in the Lt. General's office?"

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The youngest of the group looked around, trying to brighten his mood that had been grown by the query of the Jedi. Shawn had asked a question that deserved an answer, but the problem was if he was prepared to give him his worthy reply.

His brown eyes drifted off into space even further as he pondered what he would do. The pros and cons of the two straightforward answers known as 'no' and 'yes'. Two things he had to choose from, and after much thought in a quick time he gained his answer.

"You mean the unconscious condition I was put in." Lumbia said as if the topic had yet to be brought up. It was a stalling beginning for a well-meditated answer.

"It was an inward conflict. I don't know really how it affected my consciousness, but it did stress me. The conflict between evil and good, something that brewed on inside of me since the day I choose the path of using the force." The young one reminisince, his eyes slowly becoming slits, letting darkness consume them.

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

"You must absorb that anger. Use it as a tool to push out." The words of his Dark Master ran through the barren terrian, while the youth stood motionless with his eyes closed.

It was the item before him that caused him to meditate, and be in the motionless state. He had been attempting to move it, and penetrate it with all he had. To use the force as a weapon that could be beckoned at any time. The force was his slave, and he'd use it as he pleased.

The tool known as the Force was used fluently and currectly, witht he box like item being pushed forward along the tough surface.

"Great, Great...again!" His master screamed, with the training session continuing.

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

The young man shoke his head in despair, but he knew this negative lifestyle pushed him to do better. To grow as a man and help the universe through the work of protecting to peace, or at least trying to....

Standing in the middle of the hangar, the group watched as the speed-cab slowly came down before them. The back seat doors automatically opening for them to enter.

"Shall we?" Lumbia said, with a curtious toned smile on his attractive face. With the genorous gesture the group entered in the back seat of the topless speeder, and entered the traffic of the sky.

[ 04-24-2003 12:25 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by LumbiaSith ]

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Shawn frowned very briefly, then his manner returned to an aura of complete calm as he considered something.

A Force-user with inward conflict so obvious was not the sort to be left to his own devices, no matter how good his intentions might actually be...

"Have you considered what you shall do after this affair is over?" Shawn queried. "If the Praxeum is reestablished, you'd be more than welcome..."

Shawn quieted then, waiting to see just how Lumbia would respond...

...and wondering if Paul would add anything to the conversation.

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If he was to live alone, in the galaxy of enternal darkness and light he would learn from his own mistakes. It would be a learning expirence that would provide for his life, and he would also be in control of his own destiny. The life he would life would be hands-on control, without the supervision of a Jedi Master.

The void of silence after Shawn's statement grew longer, but was broken unexpectedly by the droid who had been driving them during this conversation.

"Excuse me, but would you like to tell me where you want me to stop."

The youngest of the group quickly blurted out, as if the long thought of the other subject seemed to be shifted at light speed to the topic of their stop.

"Yes I would like to tell you. Stop at the closest restuarant to where we are stationed as of now." The conflicted one ended, his eyes drifting back over to Shawn, with a curtious smile on his face. "I have a response to your comment." He said in such a way that another statement would come after, but their was none.

Not even an utter..

It was a weird silence that could have made the idea of seeing the air around them less akward. This silence though didn't last very long, for the youngling began once again, his tone firm but gentle.

"I know I would go the Jedi Praxuem if it was reconstructed and I was welcomed as you said." At the end of statement the speeder came to a gradual stop. When it did finally stop, the three were able to see the beautifully constructed three story high restuarant.

"The credits?" The droid said.

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He supposed this was where the guest service of the Empire was going to end. This could be a problem...

Shawn directed a greeny-blue gaze to Lumbia once more. "Might you happen to have some credits to pay for the speed-car trip? I'm afraid that, as a Jedi, I haven't anything to offer as payment..."

Then he glanced to the resturaunt in front of them.

Haven't got anything to pay for THAT either...

Glancing back to Lumbia, the waiting droid, and the very quiet Paul Arrakeen, Shawn then fell silent, hoping someone could pay for their ride...

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[ 04-26-2003 06:21 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by LumbiaSith ]

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Heading along the left rim of the car, it came to the front seat where the droid sat frantically. Barely staring down on the droid, it began with his statement after he cleared it's throat.

"Excuse me, I have a bargain for you." It's masculine voice exposd him to be a male, and his features were that only homed by a Squib. During the blue furred Squib's pause he reached into his bag, taking out a few droid parts.

"Take this and the robed men your driving can go." He paused again, giving the men in the back a genorous wink. Placing his furry hands against the car, he began once again. "So, what will it be?"

The droid at first replied with startle look as if he had just seen a Rancor. It was probably the fear of the blaster that was seen on the Squib's belt, but none the less the droid grabbed the parts and opened the doors.

"Good, now scram." He ended, taking advantage of his intimidation. Laughing as he watched the speedcar race into traffic at full speed before he took a look over the robe men that had stepped out of the car.

"So, who are you guys?" He paused for a second, before he said humorously, "Jedi?"

[ 04-26-2003 06:48 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Lanlif Berayen ]

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The question rang throughout Kia'ra's brain as she wondered precisely that. Where was she going? In all honesty...

...she simply didn't know. Not yet. But as a guest of the Empire, she had some time to actually think about this...

"Actually," she said then, her indigo eyes not quite meeting those of the Reborn, "I'd like to go somewhere to get a little something to eat and drink. Somewhere...

...quiet...

...or at least, not in the center of Coruscant social life. Is there such a place?" she queried then, waiting to see just what the Reborn gaurd would reply to her.

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If, that is, the question in mind had been preconsidered, and orders given in reply.

After a bit they jerked their heads; the squad leader turned toward K'iara with a politely cold little smile planted on his face.

"This way, Miss," he said briefly, his one hand held out stiffly to jab in the desired direction in which they now needed to travel. The Twi'lek's deep indigo eyes seemed just a touch wider as she smiled back and stepped forth, once again ensconced within a "box" of retentive Reborn guards.

They seemed to march up one corridor and down another for an hour, taking byways and walkways and lifts and once a short-range shuttle; however at length the appointments about them seemed to change from the austerely militant to the frankly opulent, and they finally came to a halt before a pair of richly gold double doors. A small placard imbedded into the wall beside them quietly proclaimed, "Red Carpet Room."

The squad leader made a short bow, then palmed a hidden switch. The double doors promptly slid open to reveal a poshly furnished dining establishment, clearly one not intended for the hoi palloi. Several mutely garbed Imperials were scattered about with their significant others, partaking of exotic foods and drink. Yet the tables were so cleverly placed that the place seemed to be entirely empty.

The squad leader merely bowed again, and waved his one hand.

"Here is the finest cuisine we have to offer our guests, Miss," he profferred unexpectedly. "The food is exquisite, the decor sublime, and you will not find anyone coming to bother you here.

"Please, as our guest, enjoy."

With that he straightened up, his eyes suddenly growing dark and robotic as he whirled in tandem with another of his group, to take a position against one side of the double set of doors. On the other side the remaining two Reborn mirrored the act, as all quietly took up sentry until their charge finished with the business of her dining pleasure.

[ 04-26-2003 08:17 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by The Empire ]

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Saying no more than that, Shawn kept his greeny-blue eyes pinned on the Squib for another moment before turning towards the resturaunt. "Unless the Empire is gonna pay for this," he commented lightly to his companions, "I think we're gonna be washing dishes after we eat..."

[ 04-26-2003 10:05 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shawn Petrolu ]

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"I mean no you won't. I'll manage to help you out, since my friend is the owner of the restuarant." The blue furred creature said, with a smile coming to his face. "I'd do anything for you Jedi."

"You know, the Jedi Order protected the Squib's world during the Clone Wars. I'm forever indebt." The Squib said as he headed toward the door. Opening it, he gestured the force users to enter before them.

When they did, he rushed ahead of them, leading the group to the lift. Clicking the coordinates needed for their reservation number into the panel beside them, they slowly were pulled up to the second story.

During their wait in ascending lift, the curious short creature began with his curious query.

"So, why are you guys on Coruscant, and where are you heading after your visit here is over?" He questioned in a smooth, unrushed tone.

[ 04-26-2003 10:17 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Lanlif Berayen ]

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They intimidated any foe that came at them when it came to bargaining and everyone knew that. Even the conductroid that was driving them to the restuarant.

Placing his hands behind his back, he gripped tightly upon them, as his eyes closed in contemplation. He wondered how he would reply to the question that the Squib had thrown out, which seemed very outlandish and one that caused the Rogue Jedi to think in more futuristic terms.

They're seemed to be no where to go after this situation, even if the Jedi Praxuem was to be reestablished. It would probably take at least a month to establish any true basis and along with that would be students. He alone couldn't satisfy all the needs of planet or keep it under peace, let alone a whole galaxy.

"Squib, I really don't know. Ask me later.." Lumbia began, but quickly came to a pause with his eyes opening after. "So, could you tell us what your name is?"

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"Oh, sorry..I normally always introduce myself." He began, "My name is Lanlif. Lanlif Berayen."

The Squib began shaking their hands, as he gave every one of them respectful nods and smiles.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. From what planet are you from?" He asked as he backed up, only to hit the door as it slowly opened. Falling forward, he nearly stummbled over his own feet, but even without that he fell flat on his back.

Slowly gaining his feet, he laughed at the humorous mistake.

"So, I ask again--From what planet are you from?" He asked again as he lead them to the table that he had reserved from the beginning of their lifting.

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"I'm from the planet of Urika."

The Rogue Jedi quickly looked over to the others, with his very eyes beckoning them to reply as well to the curious question of the Squib.

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At that he trailed, the smile fading from his face, his eyes still calm but somehow a bit distant. For a moment he stood that way, then quietly spoke once more. "Enjoy your meal, my friends" he said, "I suddenly feel the need for some quiet meditation. So I bid you a good evening."

With that, Shawn nodded politely to the Squib,then to the others who were with him. Speaking not another word then, he turned on his heel and walked back towards the guest suites they had been given, focusing on the Force to begin ascertaining whatever it might be trying to tell him...

[ 04-28-2003 09:23 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shawn Petrolu ]

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He glanced at the Squib, only giving half a smile as he answered his question.

"Ah...I'm from Corellia. Before it was taken by the Empire."

There was bit of silence after he said that, then Paul suddenly found his appetite was gone. "Excuse me."

He got up and followed the same path as Shawn to the guest rooms.

I have to keep seeing...I'm running out of time...

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"Hmm...Squib, I'd like to ask you a favor, since I can tell what buisness your in." The young Rogue began, his voice clear and procise though his face was complicated by his emotions.

The Squib only nodded, but Lumbia did not see it with his own eyes, for his back was to him. The Rogue was exiting toward the lift, yet he still knew of the nod, implying it by finally speaking.

"Meet me later at the Empire's headquaters. May the force be with you." He ended with a simple waver of his hand and Lumbia vanished along with the descending lift.

Exiting the restuarant, he drifted into the horizion.

[ 04-29-2003 05:43 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by LumbiaSith ]

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I'll give the Reborn colonel who passed the news on to me credit for his unflappable demeanor, however; it couldn't have been easy to inform the third in command of the vast Imperial domain that the trooper entrusted with his daughter's life was not only missing...

...but so was his daughter.

I bridled, letting my feelings show only with the clenching of one fist, and it was only with the greatest of efforts that I refrained from hitting something. Not only would that have proven nothing, it would have revealed me to the silent Reborn, and that was something I couldn't afford to do.

Not even if that exposure was due to the fact that my daughter seemed to have entirely disappeared from Coruscant altogether.

At long length I unclenched my fist, rose quietly from the chair in my ready room. The colonel stiffened to attention, and finally ventured, "If there is anything I can offer you, Sir. I will scour the very planet for her, and the traitor as well; should I come upon them--"

I raised my hand in seeming indifference, although my thoughts were filled with stormy ones indeed, all centered around the long demoted Private Edgar and what I had planned for him when he finally showed his face.

He'd be better off facing a herd of stampeding reeks, I mulled in low fury. Then I waved the Colonel into silence.

"Thank you for the information," I said briefly, motioning to the door. The Colonel bowed his head, turned smartly, and left, leaving me to my own thoughts.

Beneath my visor I bit my lip so hard it bled. The taste of my own blood a living entity in my mouth, I came to a conclusion. For while I knew with a certainty what I would do had I been free to follow my own devices, I could not afford myself that luxury. Thus it was I lifted my gauntlet, and quickly dialed in the connection to the hunter, Romanus.

You may have the means to earn those credits you blew after all, my friend....

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But it was good to flex out his strength in the Force into something different, even if it was as small as turning on the lights. He had spent the past hour trying to block out the prodding of the Reborn squad trailing him, and it was hell to do so while trying to remember the cash he owed the speeder cab driver.

Nonetheless, he lost them, and was finally able to get some sleep. Romanus walked over to his bed and was a fraction of a second away to collapsing on it when his terminal began beeping. The monitor switched on automatically as it received a new transmission.

Better not be another spam holo...

Tired and a little agitated, Romanus yanked out a seat under the terminal and connected to the other end of the sender...

And was greeted by a Mandalorian helmet he was very familiar with.

General...

"Tarnus?!" Romanus shook his head and quickly removed the surprise on his face. "Got another job for me already...?"

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Or could it..

The closest thing that man had ever held close to the vibrations and the emotions of tranquility where the Jedi. Lanlif knew this so and he also knew that the Jedi had done great things for his people. Protecting it from the destruction that had been caused on so many other planets during the time of the Galatic Civil War.

He as a Squib was very indebt to the Jedi and this was one more favor he was doing not only for his new aquantince, but for his ancestors. The ones that lived on Skor II during the horrible times of the galaxy. When turmoil had reached it's peak in physical, emotional and spirtual for every being, even in the Outer Rim.

The galaxy had changed, but it would never clean every scar that had been created.

He hoped.

Lanlif walked along the shadows of night to the door, two guards staring down at him, puzzled mainly by his arrival. Reaching back into his memory, he tried to capture some information on the Jedi to help him describe his reason of arrival.

"Excuse me, could you escort a black haired fairly tall Jedi out to me or tell him of my arrival." Lanlif began, his hands being placed behind his back as he waited for a response.

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The warriors growing like all men did, but it wasn't that which made the physical altercation less destructive. It was that the light had conquered the darkness. Light had taken the role of regulator of the field, darkness had become just a trival rebel group rebelling against the government. The head of all it's leaders being chopped off everytime it took a snear.

It was a nice time...a pleasant time

Disturbance!

The Jedi became alert, his body being flung up by instinct. Lumbia searched the area with his force senses, prepared to barrier his body for the reason of this oncoming disturbance.

Then it came to him suddenly, being reminded by the visions of the Squib and the conversation they had earlier that day. It became clear to him that it was a disturbance of alertm not fighting.

"So he is here.."

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But he had performed flawlessly in the other demands I had of him, and there was something that seemed to flow from him, something I seemed to connect with on a visceral level, something which said there was more to him than what he had shown me thus far. I was willing to give him another chance, knowing that this unseen yet instinctively recognized something would be what it took to bring in the bounty I was about to set him upon.

"My daughter is missing from Coruscant," I began without preamble. "She was last seen in the underworld of Imperial City in the care of Lieutenant Avid Edgar... who at the moment appears to have gone AWOL and is no longer an officer of the Empire."

I paused a moment, watching Romanus carefully, looking for the slightest change in body language which would tell me what he thought of the mission he had to know at this point I was going to demand of him. The man was good; other than the first flash of surprise at receiving my comm, he remained absolutely inscrutable.

I pressed on.

"Her safe arrival back to me is worth one hundred thousand credits, if you should like to take on this particular bounty," I finished, falling silent then in quiet expectation.

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Rescuing his daughter could open new doors for me in the Empire...

He straightened himself in his seat, easing the weariness from his body. He knew he would have to work immediately. "I'll do it. But there's three things I have to know: One, the last location your Lt. Edgar was at before he disappeared. Two, if you want him dead or alive. And three, the name of your daughter."

"Oh, and if your officer had skipped Coruscant, I'll need a ship as well."

[ 04-30-2003 07:58 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Romanus ]

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"Private Edgar was last seen at a private condominium in the underworld sector of Imperial City, a residence called Blue Asteroid Estates. He was accompanied by a squad of Reborn, whose task was to assist him in keeping my daughter safe. They are still on the site; you may wish to begin by interrogating them."

I typed a rapid succession of coordinates into my gauntlet, and pressed enter, sending the street address of the condo directly to his hard drive. He tilted his own head as the information came in, then raised it to face me squarely once more.

"I have no idea if he has left Coruscant; logic would dictate that he has not, as no vessel bearing anyone with his or my daughter's descriptions have gone off-planet. But so far searches by my Reborn have turned up nothing; as they are extremely thorough in their methodologies, I am led to believe that he has somehow slipped off-planet.

"You are a tracker, Mr. Romanus. In your profession, you must be." I paused, sending a meaningful look his way which I am certain he felt, even through the masking capabilities my visor presented.

"I can give you names of people who may be in association with her. My daughter's name is JhinDarra JhinDarr... Danner," I went on, stumbling slightly over the final surname as I fought down growing ire. "She is my daughter by Galen JhinDarr, who married Terrin Danner of Eagle Enterprises. For all I know they have kidnapped her, and have killed Private Edgar in the process."

I paused a moment longer, waiting as he noted down the information. When he looked up again, I continued, albeit with some hesitation.

"Mr. Romanus, my daughter has an aunt, a-- Jharmeen JhinDarr. She--" I paused, reflecting for a moment upon just how much more this hunter needed to know. Then the thought that Darra could somehow have been taken under her aunt's tender auspices prompted me to continue, as unbelievable as what I had to say would now seem.

"This aunt lives on a remote planetary system, the Khar Delban system. There are two planets orbiting a red dwarf sun... the sister planet is known in ancient history as K'eel Doba." I paused. "In ancient Sith history.

"Mr. Romanus, should your investigations take you there, you must be more than wary. There are strange... powers this woman wields... as well as verification that the Sith population has been returned to life in the galaxy, after being annihilated nearly four thousand years ago. Even now I have fleets massing in the vicinity, waiting to see if there should be anything... underhanded afoot in that system. But so far it seems to have remained relatively quiet.

"Of course this information is top secret, and highly confidential."

I paused again, giving Romanus the time I'm sure he needed to assimilate this incredible news. Then I continued smoothly on, as though I had not just dropped the biggest bombshell of modern times into this man's ears.

"There is a highly modified, Class-A infiltrator, the Usurper, which will be waiting for you in IHQ's private spaceport. Here are your identification and clearance codes...."

I rattled off some more numbers, then went on. "I am placing a retaining fee in the amount of ten thousand credits in your account, to be used as you need in your hunt, Mr. Romanus. Whatever you have left of this upon completion is yours in addition to the hundred thousand actual bounty. And should this task be performed not only smoothly but quickly, well... you may find yourself the owner of that infiltrator.

"And as for Pvt. Edgar... well. Suffice it to say rank can be reinstated; he is theoretically innocent until proven guilty. Thus I desire him being returned alive and as hale and whole as possible. But--"

I paused a moment longer, my eyes darkening behind my visor.

"If he gives you any trouble when you find him, don't hesitate to kill him. The safe return of Darra is the priority here, and what you must accomplish to earn your money."

I clipped off that last statement, waited a moment longer, and closed the connection. Then I sat back in my seat, utterly still save for the one hand which remained on my desk, fisting and unfisting, over and over and over....

[ 04-30-2003 10:33 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Sorben Tarnus ]

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