"Sirona. I wanted to come talk to you about what happened out there, though if you need time I understand", Colvin states softly.
You find the quartermaster. The best he can do is provide you with a trade for some stock freighter parts - no cash.
He may be able to assist with a heavy weapon.
Alistair finds Kess meditating in her quarters. As he moves into the room, Kess' eyes snap open, seeming to pierce him with the intensity of her stare. As she comes to her senses, her eyes soften, and when they realize Alistair is there, Kess gives him a bleak smile.
"Welcome, Alistair. Thank you for coming. I had to discuss this with you, and you alone. The others...they do not touch the Force as we do, and would not understand."
Hands in his pockets, a mannerism that seems to be a habit of his, Alistair offers her a smile of his own, warm and friendly.
"May I?" The question a way of asking the woman's permission before making himself comfortable as he sits down. "You have my attention Kess. What troubles you? You seemed quite concerned earlier. And still do, for that matter."
"I do not mean to worry you. I am...disturbed by my actions during our attempted rescue of Jade." Kess stops a moment. She seems lost in thought, piecing together fragments of emotion into words.
"When I saw that man attack you, I...I thought your were dead. I was scared that I had lost the only other Jedi I had seen since the war ended. I reacted not out of duty, or defense, but out of anger, and fear. The Force sang within me like it has never done before. It was beautiful, but also...terrifying. What I felt was not the brightness of the Light, but...Darkness." Biting back tears, Kess continues on, "I'm frightened, Alistair. Is that what lies within me? The Dark side?"
"I... see," Alistair says before pausing to think for a moment.
"I now understand your concern, and in fact I suspected as much to be honest," he continues. Moving a little closer to the younger woman, he puts his hand on her shoulder reassuringly, a smile appearing on his face. "It is my belief that, under the right circumstances, all of us can experience such strong emotion; we are not immune to them Kess, simply better at not letting them hold sway over us. It is how we choose to deal with them that is more important."
"Consider how much has changed. Where there were many of us, now only few remain, and with change comes uncertainty and yes, even fear or anger when those few are threatened. These are going to be trying times for all of us left and I suspect the Dark Side and the power it offers are going to be more seductive than ever before. We should and must acknowledge its existence and the fact that we may very well catch a glimpse of such Darkness even within ourselves. That does not mean we will fall to it, Kess; if anything else, knowing it exists could very well serve to make us even more vigilant, even better equipped at refusing its promises of power and the corruption that comes with it."
"The fact that, although it did seem beautiful to you, it also terrified you instead of only enticing you is a good thing," Alistair offers after a moment's thought. "If you wish, I can remain with you so that we may meditate together if you prefer not to be alone."
"Besides," he adds in the end in an attempt to lighten the mood, "I would like to think that I am not going to be dying that easily just yet. I am not all that shabby with a lightsaber, you know."
Chuckling slightly, Kess places her hand on Alistair's. "Thank you Alistair. I am grateful for your companionship." Squeezing his hand once, Kess let a small smile onto her face as she turns toward him. "I am...I am glad to have you still with us, Alistair. I...do not know what I would have done without you." After a long moment, Kess laughs. "But come, enough deep thoughts for today." Letting go of Alistair's hand, Kess stands. "Perhaps I can find some relief in action. Might we spar?"
"Certainly," the Jedi answers. "Practice is always welcome. Just go easy on me, yes? I am, after all, a wounded man."
The wink accompanying his last remark makes it fairly evident that he is jesting.
"So I've been working on schematics for the Bantha. I think I can boost the maneuverability and shield rating of the ship fairly easily. And the Hyperdrive shouldn't be an issue to upgrade. I'm going to need some parts. I've got the list right here... Oh, were you two in the middle of.. I see, hey, don't let me stop the sex, kids!" Allerick looks up from interrupting Kess and Alistair after walking in without knocking. After making the sex comment he leers a little too long before turning around and moving toward the door.
Alistair stands there a moment or two with his mouth open after Allerick stops talking. Composing himself again, however, he calls out to the man as he is ready to leave the room.
"We should probably do something about the name as well, I think. Somehow, Bantha does not sound suitable or impressive enough for that matter."
"Sirona. I wanted to come talk to you about what happened out there, though if you need time I understand", Colvin states softly.
Sirona doesn't look up or turn around. She simply begins to speak. "We were young. We had the universe to explore at our whim. No responsibilities, nobody telling us what to do. Jade never grew out of that. Not sure how he ended up working for the Senator. Money must have been good." she beings wistfully. Bitterness creeped into the end.
"I did love him. As much as he allowed me to. I'm not sure why it hurts so much now. It was over. Over before it began in hindsight but my heart tells me otherwise."
She turns to you, tears streaking down her face. Her eyes flash the raw, emotional need she is feeling. She is still fidgeting with his things.
Colvin walks over to Sirona and embraces her gently and whispers in her ear, "I did not know him but I know he died a hero, he saved the people we just rescued. I am here for you if you need me".
Colvin says nothing else, he just holds her.
Comming back from the quartermaster Zedd goes in search of Allerick.
"The quartermaster has agreed to exchange to provisons aquired from the slain imperials for parts and equipment Allerick, you might want to see him for a list of upgrades available for use on the Bantha. Also I was hoping to use some of those funds for a heavy blaster rifle wich I was hoping you would attach this to, for me." Zedd shows the grenade launcher to Allerick. "I believe it will be quite usefull for my protection protocols."
Kess and Alistair remain together and "spar". Is that what the kids are calling it these days?
Allerick continues his delightful design process, marking up an extensive laundry list of parts and supplies needed for his vision.
IG-MDz works on logistics. The droid is resourceful, to say the least.
Colvin and Sirona take comfort in each other's arms. There is a bond, a connection, that cannot be denied. But how much will the cynical scoundrel allow anyone to get close?
Stone remains grounded and concentrates on his duty and his skills, knowing they are what makes the difference between retiring or dying.
Switch sends his frequent inquiry to each of your user accounts. The public ones, that is, that he had used previously.
Does anyone care to update him on any new developments?
Also, Allerick and the ship's crew is able to modify the grenade launcher to attack to any rifle you have. Since IG-MDz now has Heavy Weapons experience and training, he can easily attach or remove the device from any rifle easily.
The quartermaster for the Reliance sends a package to your room, IG-MDz. A little note is attached to it.
You remove the card and a little message is scribed inside.
This is a gift to you for all of the resources you aquired for the Rebellion recently. I have provided you with a replica of a license for it but bear in mind that it is a Military grade weapon and you will suffer consequences for having it in the wrong places. Give 'em heck for me and the boys in Supply!
It is signed by the young ensign you met with previously.
Once he and Kess have finished sparring, Alistair turns to the other Jedi. "That was a good duel Kess. We should do this again some time. For now, however, I believe we should perhaps examine the crystals we got from those spiders a little more thouroughly."
Once he is satisfied with his examination of said items, the Jedi goes to take care of the little matter of Switch asking for an update. "Hello Switch. Everything is well, I hope? Over here, things continue to be interesting. We managed to retrieve a ship named the Bantha that was lost in space, but only after we found ourselves in a fight not only with crystal spiders, but Imperials as well. Unfortunately, there were casualties and not everyone from the ship's crew made it."
Pausing a little, he finishes. "That is all I suppose."
Hands on her knees, Kess pants heavily. "I haven't had to work like that in a long time. I think it's obvious which one of us spends more time on their combat training." She smiles as she finishes.
Stretching her arms above her head, Kess listens to Alistair comment on the crystals. Kess blushes slightly as she says, "I had forgotten all about them! Yes, let's do that". Excitedly, Kess rushes back to her quarters to gather her crystals.
Hands on her knees, Kess pants heavily. "I haven't had to work like that in a long time. I think it's obvious which one of us spends more time on their combat training." She smiles as she finishes.
Stretching her arms above her head, Kess listens to Alistair comment on the crystals. Kess blushes slightly as she says, "I had forgotten all about them! Yes, let's do that". Excitedly, Kess rushes back to her quarters to gather her crystals.
1d20+9
Both Jedi take a comfortable seat and enter into a force-assisted meditative trance.
Alistair is reluctant to open himself fully to the crystal, cautious, as a warrior tends to be.
Kess, ever the optimist, allows the force to flow fully through her and creates a connection to the crystal. At first, she simply "feels" the object. Then, a resonance is created - like a bell being struck, only your aura is the bell and the "sound" collects into the crystal. It is not painful, only disconcerting. You break the connection fairly quickly, unsure of what was happening.
As you both break from the trance, you notice that the crystals are before you both, suspended telekinetically with the force, spinning.
The one before Alistair is amber, as you found it. The one before Kess has taken on a different hue. Although you can see the primary color is amber, there are traces of aqua-blue in it now.
Colvin spends time with Sirona the sound of his heartbeat may well be heard over the silence as he is in now unfamiliar territory.
"I need some air Sirona. I will be back", Colvin stands up and straps on his blaster. Even in this place of relative safety he is ever armed. Colvin sees a message from Switch on the holonet and responds.
"Switch. What do you know about red helmeted Imps? We ran into a few and I would like to know why. Any way you can dig up said information? Do that, show me some good faith and I will give you more of what you want".
Colvin stands up from the holonet station and walks around the ship looking for someone in charge. When he finds someone he thinks can give him answers he asks a few questions, "Where is the Admiral? I believe my companions and I have a right to know what is going on with him. Also I want to know about the last assignment Jade went on, the one he did not come back from". Colvin does his best to be diplomatic despite the urge he has to pose the question looking down the sight of his blaster.
Persuasion -
Bureaucracy -
"I am afraid I did not open myself to the Force due to a sense of caution Kess," Alistair says softly as he sees the two crystals, the one in front of him unchanged while the one hovering in front of the woman seems to show another color within its original one.
"You seem to have had greater success. Anything you can tell me about it? Perhaps now that I see it does not pose any danger I should try again? "
Wrinkling her brow in thought Kess says, "It is...very odd. I formed some sort of connection with it almost instantly, but then it began...resonating, I think. Like hitting a bell. Seen through the Force, it was drawing my aura into itself. It was such a strange feeling, Alistair. Not harmful, but certainly out of the ordinary. I don't think I've ever experienced such a feeling."
Alistair thinks on it for a moment before saying anything. "Perhaps they can be used as a focus for the Force, a sort of... repository? We connect with the crystal and it draws on our power, storing it within itself and maybe making itself eligible to be used in the construction of a lightsaber?"
The Jedi shakes his head. "I do not know. I am just voicing a thought, an idea. It is only an assumption I suppose. Your thoughts?"
Colvin sees a message from Switch on the holonet and responds.
"Switch. What do you know about red helmeted Imps? We ran into a few and I would like to know why. Any way you can dig up said information? Do that, show me some good faith and I will give you more of what you want".
Switch responds promptly to your message:
Colvin stands up from the holonet station and walks around the ship looking for someone in charge. When he finds someone he thinks can give him answers he asks a few questions, "Where is the Admiral? I believe my companions and I have a right to know what is going on with him. Also I want to know about the last assignment Jade went on, the one he did not come back from". Colvin does his best to be diplomatic despite the urge he has to pose the question looking down the sight of his blaster.
Persuasion - 1d20 +8
Bureaucracy - 1d20 +10
The person you spoke to refers your matter to an officer who tells you that he will see what he can do.
Before too long, you and your team are requested to attend a meeting with Captain Adrian Verana, the commanding officer of the Resurgence. In the notice you receive, you are informed that Captain Verana has overseen Admiral Varth’s safety and debriefing since his arrival.
The meeting is to take place over dinner in the Captain's private quarters at 1900 hours tonight. It is 1200 hours now.
mechanics
** spoiler omitted **
Switch responds that he will give the matter his attention. He will send an encrypted message to you when he gets the information you seek.
Colvin returns to Sirona's quarters. "Hey. I am meeting with Captain Verana to get to the bottom of what happened. Do you want to come along? Its not for another seven hours though".
Colvin returns to Sirona's quarters. "Hey. I am meeting with Captain Verana to get to the bottom of what happened. Do you want to come along? Its not for another seven hours though".
Sirona agrees to accompany you to the meeting. Closure is always good.
"Any ideas on what you want to do with all that free time?" Sirona asks tentatively.
Allerick knocks on the door to Sirona's cabin and walks in without waiting for an invitation. His face is buried in a datapad while his left hand punctuates his sentences with random stabs into the air.
"Sirona, I'm going to need to borrow your hyperdrive navigation and weapons targeting systems. I mean, for a few months at least, until the new parts come in. I'm relatively sure that your ship will be fine. I mean, the toaster can calculate the odds of surviving the first jump into hyperspace, but I've always thought that 20% was a reasonable rate of survival.... Oh, I walked in on something, didn't I? Jeesh, you people are like monkeys, aren't you? First the jedi, now the old "comforting the grieving widow" trick, eh? I got to remember that one when the next love interest dies... Can I install a camera in here? No? Oh well. I'll just get started on removing the navigation systems, then? Oh and the life support systems may not be functioning for a few hours. How long can you hold your breath?"
Sirona blushes slightly at the remarks and then screams at you to leave. She uses some choice words for a lady. Not that they aren't deserved, mind you.
Between the stars in the blackness of space, the Nebulon-B frigate Resurgence floats silently away from the prying eyes of the Empire.
Meanwhile, the galaxy continues to sink further into darkness. Each day, remnants of the Old Republic are crushed and a New Order is more firmly established.
Former Imperial Admiral Gilder Varth has provided Alderaanian agents with vital information on secret projects, and even now events are in motion to reveal the Empire’s misdeeds to the galaxy . . .
You arrive at the briefing room of the Resurgence to be briefed about the current plans at the request of Captain Adrian Verana, the commanding officer.
The interior is clean and white, with several benches wrapping smoothly around a holographic projector seated on a raised dais in the center of the room.
Captain Verona is there with his junior officer aide. He greets you upon entry and asks you to be seated.
Meanwhile, Allerick, inspired by recent events, begins the process to change the Bantha into the Randy Monkey-Lizard.
Zedd arives with the group but will hang back, staying in the background.
Colvin walks in arm in arm with Sirona nodding to the junior officer. Before he takes a seat he turns to Zedd. "Hey Zedd come have a seat next to me".
The heroes all arrive around the pre-designated time for the briefing with the Captain.
He greets you fondly and asks for you to sit and gets right to the point.
"I asked you here to clear a few things up. First, I have personally overseen Varth’s debriefing over the last week. Although Varth has the Senator's trust, he has yet to gain mine. I want to make it clear that no one should mention Organa’s name because the Senator cannot risk being known to be involved in case the Empire happens upon the Resurgence. Even Gilder Varth does not know for certain that it was Organa who had him rescued. That is, unless one of you told him. Can anyone recall having told him who rescued him?"
Allerick doesn't look up from entering ship specifications into his datapad. "I may have mentioned Senator Fancypants once or twice. What's the harm?"
Allerick doesn't look up from entering ship specifications into his datapad. "I may have mentioned Senator Fancypants once or twice. What's the harm?"
"The harm is that Varth was once an Imperial. What if he still is? Should they act directly against the Senator, the Rebellion will be dealt a telling blow. Our funding will be lost. Millions of lives will follow. We will try to counteract any information he may have received but I must stress that no further mention of Senator Organa be made. Agreed?"
"I would not trust the great communicator over here to keep any sort of agreement", Colvin motions to Allerick. "The best way to ensure such an agreement is to keep Varth away from us. Your concern begs the question though, if he is still an Imp and we have debriefed him why is he still breathing?"
"I would not trust the great communicator over here to keep any sort of agreement", Colvin motions to Allerick. "The best way to ensure such an agreement is to keep Varth away from us. Your concern begs the question though, if he is still an Imp and we have debriefed him why is he still breathing?"
"Thank you for the compliment, Colvin, but I can completely be trusted not to say anything. Completely trusted. Not to say a thing. What were we talking about again?"
A soft chuckle comes from Alistair's direction, indeed the first sign that the Jedi is and has been there all along during this meeting.
"Excuse me, gentlemen," he says with a smile, a sort of apology for his interrupting the proceedings such as they are. "Varth may very well be sincere about his defection from the Imperials, Colvin. However, and this is only an assumption, what Captain Verana here is saying is that it is still too early to be entirely certain. Thus, this should explain why the Imperial -or former Imperial- is still breathing, as you put it, not to mention the precautions the good Captain is asking of us."
Colvin shakes his head at Allerick but he cannot keep the grin off of his face. "Alistair is there any way that you and Kess can speak with him and maybe read him to see if he is sincere about his defection?"
"We may be able to attempt such a thing, though that lies somewhat outside my capabilities," Kess says with a quizzical look on her face. "Sensing intentions below the surface of someone's mind is difficult at best, but I am willing to attempt it."
"Alistair is exactly right. We are simply being cautious." offers the Captain.
"We have had our experts examine him and have found nothing untoward as of yet." explains the officer.
"We also discovered some useful information and need a team such as yourselves to investigate. The Admiral will be here to brief you soon but I wanted to meet with you first in case you had further questions while we are alone. Feel free to ask."
"I want to know about the crew we brought in yesterday. What was the mission they were sent on? I also want to be clear that we aren't going to risk our lives on these missions without compensation Captain".