Brave New World - Closed

[Jessica Cloud]

​

Prologue

War. War never changes.

The Dawn of the Republic was a burning dawn that had bathed the edge of the galaxy in fire. Already a state of emergency had been declared on Chandrila, the heart of the Galactic Republic, and the Grand Army of Republic was assembled. Even now new alliances were being born. The Border Alliance and the Jedi Knights of Ilum are already working together near the borders of Yavin, Phindar, and New Holstice. Waging a new war against the Old Enemy. A new war for a new era. A new era to fight against the oldest adversaries. The dark and the black.

The Sith.

As this upheaval of fire reaches it's burning grip across the galaxy, a lone and tired Jedi is returning home. Jessica Cloud returns to the heart of Chandrila for a much needed return to her family, and to the oft awaited distraction of a job well done. Tired and distracted. The Disaster of Tython has left her Order weak and her own mind muddled. Now is the time for her to return to a life of structure and thankless police work too. Alas. Her return is hard felt. For she finds that this state of emergency has reached out and touched her own life as well. The Ministry of Public Security has terminated her employment as a Jedi liaison and peace officer of the Republic. Effectively cutting her off from over seven years of police work and from a lifetime of good friends. Ending a lifetime of service to the civilization that has given her everything a girl could want and more.

She stands now over the barren desk of her once proud office at the Ministry of Public Security. Looking out a very familiar skytower window, onto a very unfamiliar world.

This is were our story begins.

.....

Office of the Watchmen
Ministry of Public Security, Chandrila

They called them Watchmen because they were sent to protect this world. To use the Force were it was most needed. To guard against the Dark. To preach peace and faith to the soul. Yet now? Even that same brilliant white office was dark and the faith of a Jedi had been shaken. Seven years she and Lynn had taken up residence here. Working alongside the police forces of the Republic capital world to bring civilization and true light into the hearts of many. Yet today that all changed. War had come to the Republic and with it, new priorities. Who needs Watchmen anymore when the enemy is no longer secret. Who needs guardians when the walls are already breached.

"Miss Cloud? Excuse the interruption but Ambassador Harding is waiting for you in the conference room. Downstairs. Mark 201."

A woman's voice that spoke from the open door. Probably one of Wheeler's assistants. Breaking Jessica's meager train of thought and pulling her eyes away from the tall windows of the city. Bending her sense back into the present.

"Ah. Of course. Thank you. I'll be right there."

The other woman nodded and left Cloud to her thoughts once again. Mm. An empty Jedi in an empty room.

An end to all things familiar.

.....

World Conference Room
Ground Level, Chandrila

Downstairs, Jessica stepped off the security elevator into the lobby area of the World Conference Room. The WCR. A wide balcony expanse that spoke of the power and the wealth of a galaxy spanning empire. It had only taken three minutes to travel from the Ministry Offices upstairs down to the local area of the WCR. She could almost see the street signs of the highway from here. Grounded. Almost. It didn't feel like leaving either. It felt like she was coming home.

Jessica moved across the wide hallways of the balcony with a small cardboard box in her hands. The last remains of her office upstairs. A small box. For the Jedi carry little with them. Yet it was all she had now to remember her many years of service to this people. In a way, she now carried her whole life in her hands. Walking down the common area towards conference room 201 and towards the awaiting Republic Ambassador to Tython. Now, probably to Ilum too. Alas. Such was war and the changes it brings.

Yet war. War never changes. So Jessica stopped just outside the glass abode that was her exit from public life and turned to lean on the railing's edge. Feeling completely and utterly destroyed. Just like the burning Temple grounds from whence she had recently come. Her soul was as shifting as Tython's coastal sands.

"Well Lynn." She murdered to herself and to the spirit of her Jedi companion, Lynn Petra, "...Mm. Where do we go from here?"

...

The light of the afternoon shown in easily across the balcony of the WCR. Casting a shadow over the darkly clad woman and her memories of the future. Letting the hustle and bustle of the stately crowd wash over her. Hoping that this new warm light that held her shadow so, could be the herald of some great new dawn. A dawn of war. A dawn of peace. Nay. A dawn of the Republic.

A brave new world.

.....

*ooc: (open story arc. republic types welcome. cheers.)
*ooc: (now closed.)​

 

[Jessica Cloud]

*cutscene: (press (x) to skip to post #3.)
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.....

Jess leaned against the railing and let the world slip by. Snapping out of her trance only as the wide glass door of the room 201 opened hastily behind her. Ambassador Harding leaned out with a wave in her direction,

"...Jess! Hey. Over here. ...Get in here girl. Haha. What are you doing over there?"

"Oh! Sorry. Coming."

Harding smiled as Jess rushed to grab her box. Sweeping herself into the glass box of a conference room. There were two assistants she noticed and two men she didn't recognize. Harding excused the two strangers with a smile and wave,

"Okay. And again. If you have any questions? Do let my office know. Thank you gentlemen. Bon voyage!"

Jess placed her box on the long conference table and waited until the glass door closed behind them.

"Was that Muller from Section F?" She asked.

"What?... Oh. No. Guildsmen from Yardalla. People are getting moved around this week and they wanted to come by and express their concern over the personnel changes. I'm sure you've noticed but... This state of emergency has a lot of people worried. Lots of change. Lots of paperwork. That's all."

"Of course. Well. You wanted to see me before I left the city, I assume?"

"Indeed I did. Here... Sit down. I've got something for you."

Ambassador Harding was a gentle fine human. Tall and robust. Clothed in a silver gray suit to match the coloring of his hair. Once he was a military man who wanted to make a difference in the world. After the Navy he became political. Then he became ever more. Now he spent his days handling 'people problems' for the Ministry of Foreign Relations. He was the human you sent when you needed a human to solve the problem. Cloud herself wasn't exactly sure why he was called to be the Ambassador to Tython. But given that he held no superstitions nor wildly violent fascinations about the Jedi Order? That was probably reason enough, in-and-of itself.

Jess sat down and Harding took a seat at the edge of the table. One of his twin assistants brought over a suitcase and placed it next to her box of office supplies. She hesitated with a look to Harding. He simply waved her forward,

"Go ahead. Open it!"

Cloud shrugged and ran her fingers along the edges of the suitcase. Found the clamps and flipped them open. Allowing the springs in the lid to open the case itself. Then she gasped in surprise at what she beheld inside. Was that!..

"Well." Harding smiled, "...What do you think, eh? Not bad for an old war dog huh?"

"Oh my!"

Inside the case was a singular silver tube. Not much larger than the length of her palm. She knew what it was immediately. A God-Matrix Dialithim Battery Cell. One of only a hundred in the Deep Core. A battery with the power output and sustainability of a small sun! Wow. It must have cost a fortune! She didn't know what to say.

"Ambassador! This is..."

"Amazing? Haha. ...I know right. Picked it up from Judge Thresher's personal collection myself. You know. After we threw him in jail and all that."

"Wow. I didn't realize Thresher had such a fine taste in ancient F-cells? Is this... Is this even legal to give to me?"

"Well?" He smiled a deviant smile. "I mean... You're leaving the planet right? Heading out into Jedi territory where even Ting's Mafia can't hound you? Ha. I'd say you're good for it."

She smiled. I guess outside of Jedi Lightsabers the only other thing you could use this battery for was for making Break Bombs. Huge megaton weapons of mass destruction. Or planet cracking. Which ever suited your fancy for explosions.

"It's amazing. I'll show the Jedi Lords at once! Won't they be jealous. Hehe."

She closed the case and let the clamps hiss to a shut. Only now did she notice the military design of the bronze case. It was a clever disguise for a very clever man. Harding smiled and clasped his hands together. Bringing an end to their fine meeting.

"Well." He began to stand up. "...I guess that's it then. Lynn is already off-planet and I suppose you'll be joining her soon too. Man. I'm going to miss you guys. ...We all are."

"Awww. Thanks Jim. We'll miss you too."

Cloud stoop up and gave him a polite bow. Placing the suitcase beneath her cardboard box and lifting them both up together. Smiling and nodding to the other scribes still present.

"Welp. Thank you again Ambassador. The Jedi Order of Ilum appreciates all that you do."

"So the Jedi Lords never tell me. Ha. ...Enjoy your trip Inquisitor. Chandrila's GAR will take the baton from here. May the Force be with you."

"May the Force be with us all."

Cloud gave another nod and then slowly moved to leave the conference room. One of the Ambassador's aids grabbed the door and smiled as she took her leave. Out from the WCR and down towards the street level from whence to catch a taxi.

After all. This wasn't her office anymore. And as far as the Watchman Initiative went? Yeah,

I suppose this was goodbye to the capital too.

.....

 

[Jessica Cloud]

Terminal 01
CAX Capital Starport, Chandrila

Jess was sitting alone in the airport's sports bar having herself a goodbye beer. Her luggage was checked-in and her gun belt was already on board the aircraft. The public transportation would take her as far as Breaker Point and then she'd meet up with Lynn and the Jedi Corvette that would take them the rest of the way home.

Home. Man. It sure didn't feel that way, did it.

She licked her teeth and set her beer back down on the wooden bar. Glancing up only seldomly to follow the flashing lights on the sport's screens. There was a game on the holo right about now too. Alas. She didn't follow Spaceball. It was all just lights and numbers to her. Kinda like the world outside this starport right now. Just numbers and lights. Lights and numbers. She wondered were the war was taking place right about now. Wondering if that's all there was next for her too.

Cloud shook her swimming head and with a wave of her magic hand, she dispensed with the mood. Summoning up a wave of the Force to purge her blood of the alcohol she'd been enjoying. It could dull the pain. Not wash it away. She was just musing now. Trying to forget the future was only one step away from her.

The brunette swiveled on her stool and looked out now at the passing crowds in the terminal's hallways. Watching all the happy families coming and going. Going and coming. Reminding herself why she hated starports too. Gods... Even in here it still smelled like cig sweat and jet fuel. Bleh. Airports and their stinky sports bars. Gross.

She took another swing of her beer and let herself drown in the brown fizzy flavor. Man... Only two more hours until take off. Ugh,

A girl should never drink alone.

...