OOM/EP: Crisis in the Galactic City

[adestinyforeseen]

Coruscant offers an endless series of dangers and a few temporary victories.



[[ Ten months writing it, new record of procrastination?]]



The door opens and a bone-weary Jedi walks in, actually making it five steps into the room before he realizes this is not a part of the Senate Tower.

Barely breaking stride, he makes his way to the Bar to order a large mug of caf.

Comments

[last_kallig]

"You look like you could use some caff, and a good meal," Ibani offers with a sympathetic expression from the Bar.

A Jedi being 'mothered' by a Sith, what's next?

[adestinyforeseen]

He does, no doubts about it; there are stains of suspicious colors in spattered patterns on his clothes, along with singes and holes from blaster fire, and maybe a few bruises too. "Indeed, I do." His Force is turbulent, restless, like someone who just came out of battle.

Likely because that's exactly what happened.

[last_kallig]

Ibani can feel the turbulence, the restlessness, and she can see the signs of battle on him.

"My treat, then," she says with a small smile. "Just tell Bar what you'd like."

He doesn't feel like he's badly injured and she's not smelling a lot of blood either. Good.

[adestinyforeseen]

Benefits of being a peerless duelist who studied with the best of the Order. "Just caf, large." Idilan eases himself into a seat.

"How have you been?"

[last_kallig]

Ibani raises an eyebrow, but doesn't quibble with his choice.

"Busy, but in good health. I would guess that you've been much the same?"

[adestinyforeseen]

He likes his caf without any extras, the savage. "Mostly, yes." Faintly amused, while taking off his gloves. "Rather busy, but it is expected when you are defending peace and order."

[last_kallig]

"Which particular piece of peace and order were you defending this time?" she asks, faintly amused herself.

[adestinyforeseen]

"Coruscant." If she did not hear about Darth Angral, she will, soon. "A sith tried to kill a few billion people. The Empire says he is a rogue."

And sure, he believes that like he believes Uxibeasts drop aurodium pellets from their posteriors.

[last_kallig]

Ibani smiles bitterly. "Of course they did, just like the Republic claims they haven't been funding the Balmorran Resistance when they're blowing up Imperials and their fellow citizens."

She sighs. "Bloody idiots on both sides wanting to start a war in earnest."

Beat. "I'm glad you stopped him, whoever he was."

[adestinyforeseen]

"Darth Angral. He sent his son, Lord Tarnis, to activate a weapon prototype in Coruscant." He does not need to say that Tarnis is very much dead, Force-sensitives can feel those things without need for words. "And now I apparently earned the eternal enmity of a Darth and should be completely terrified and trying to hide in a panic."

Angral and his theatrical rambling really failed to impress him.

[last_kallig]

Ibani smirks at that last. "Chewed the scenery, did he? Melodrama and outfits with enormous shoulders seem to be oddly attractive to high ranking Sith."

Her expression turns serious. "Hiding in a panic would be foolish, but don't write him off either, Idilan. A Darth is a dangerous enemy to have, even for a Jedi."

[adestinyforeseen]

"But he is much less dangerous than he would like to believe himself to be; if Tarnis had proper support, his plans would not have failed, but it seemed that the attack was some kind of test." Not a good idea to mix war and probationary challenges.

[last_kallig]

"Most likely," Ibani agrees. "Of the Republic's ability to protect itself and of Tarnis' ability."

Beat. "And perhaps a test for Angral as well, or a plot by a rival to weaken him."

[jedi_interrupted]

A togruta happens to be sitting at Bar when he stumbles up, catching her attention.

"Some food might help that go down easier and make it more effective." She says politely and with a smile. She dressed in burgundies and browns, and is wearing no lightsabers, though she has a strong presence within the Force. If Idilan is in the habit of checking such things.

[adestinyforeseen]

He gives a smile back, clearly joking "Depends on what you would consider food to be?" Togruta are, after all, carnivores (and according to some, venomous). "I had a long, draining day and hunting for a meal is not exactly an appealing thought."

Perhaps interesting enough, he also knows Togruta are natural hunters.

Idilan is dressed in not an usual jedi attire; there are stains of suspicious colors in spattered patterns on his clothes, along with singes and holes from blaster fire, and maybe a few bruises too.

The Jedi takes off his gloves before picking up the large mug and quaffing deeply (but not actually slurping, he has manners).

[jedi_interrupted]

"That's the nice thing about Bar, you can get whatever you'd like," she replies with a grin. "Even if it is something gross like vegetables or grains."

[adestinyforeseen]

He ponders a moment. "Come to think of it, I do feel like I could eat a whole uxibeast in one sitting, no matter how much it would shock the Masters."

"No, I do not actually want a whole Uxibeast, thank you" he says to Bar.

"But, first things first" he bows to Ahsoka, one hand to his chest. "Knight Idilan Arael of the Jedi Order" the Hero of Tython, if she has an interest in tales from the times of the Old Republic.

[jedi_interrupted]

Alas, history is not a thing Ahsoka does.

"As if an over-full stomach could interfere with the Force," she replies with an eye roll. She turns serious and her smile fades as she offers a bow as a padawan to a knight. "I am Ahsoka Tano, once padawan but I am no longer of the Order."

[adestinyforeseen]

The Knight tilts head a bit, regarding Ahsoka for a long moment, then bows deeper. "I will not ask, but I am truly sorry." It's more than words; both of them force-users, Tano likely can tell he means it in the best way possible.

He is not judging her, and he is not making assumptions, just reacting to her obvious sadness.

[jedi_interrupted]

She smiles in gratitude, her relief plain through the Force. The wound is still raw enough she prefers not probe it too much. Still...

"I do plan to return. I just need to walk my own path for now."

"Are you coming from a fight or a battle?If it isn't too rude to ask."

[adestinyforeseen]

"A Sith Lord stole a weapon prototype and tried to activate it on Coruscant" her reply is acknowledged, and Idilan does not mind a change in subject. "I chased him across a few sectors and finally stopped him."

A long, long day of aggressive negotiations. "I think the power cell in my saber needs a full recharge. Or maybe replacing."

[jedi_interrupted]

"Maybe Bar can help you out with that as well, if you have the credits," Ahsoka muses. "Wait, do you mean to say you fought all day? That is impressive. I can't think of any lightsaber duels that lasted long enough to drain the power cell."

[adestinyforeseen]

"Not one single fight that lasted one full day" the Jedi actually chuckles a bit, and rubs his eyes. "I shuttled down from the Esseles early morning; before noon I had defeated Guild mercenaries and their main enforcer, while at the same time uncovering proof of briber and corruption in the Senate."

"Early afternoon was taken by fighting my way into the headquarters of the largest criminal organization in the galactic city, and after that I opened a path through hostile militia, before facing down Lord Tarnis and his acolytes."

[jedi_interrupted]

"Oh, that makes more sense. Wait, Lord Tarnis? I know that name from the history holos. I think we're from very different times. Tarnis was from what I would call the Old Republic, which was thousands of years or so ago, give or take a century."

"You might be happy to know the Republic still stands, though we are in a war right now."

Ill-fated words there, Ahsoka.

[adestinyforeseen]

"Lord Tarnis, son of Darth Angral" he nods. "It's now [whateber year would it be 3643 BBY by the republic's calendar]; the Treaty of Coruscant was signed ten years ago, ending the last war between the Republic and the Empire, and it seems the Sith are eager to restart hostilities."

"Of course, the Empire disavows Angral and Tarnis" like anyone believes that.