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Crix Aran

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Nkllon was a fairly standard planet in Crix's books - he'd seen enough of them to know that most planets tended to only really have one thing going for them. The big planets, the ones that the Galaxy pivoted around, tended to have two or three big things about them. But frontier planets were simpler places with locals with simpler immediate desires. And the One Thing for Nkllon was the mineral trade that ran through it.

There were materials on Nkllon that existed elsewhere in the Galaxy, of course, but not in the same levels of abundance. Most of the materials would have to be heavily mined in other areas of the Galaxy but here they were so plentiful that they often barely had to dig. It was a shame, then, that the people were still being worked to the bone.

Why were they being worked so damned hard on a constant basis?

So the administrator could hoard all of the material wealth of the planet within vaults built into the Nomad City. By controlling the supply, the administrator controlled every aspect of the economy on Nkllon and was doing everything they could to keep the workers from realising that all that stood between them and a stable and prosperous planetary economy was the demolition of one person's plans to hold a monopoly.

A resistance had, naturally, sprung up and Crix was there to meet with members of it alongside fellow Jedi Edaara Tonor. He'd never worked with them before but she was a young Knight so he was happy to have her covering his back. Especially as he spotted the bar across the road, the bar they were supposed to meet the resistance contacts in.

"Hide your saber better."
he warned Edaara as he eyed the bar, "That graffiti is old but its mando clan marks. Ready to go?"

Mandalorians were likely long gone from here but the marks suggested that they had once had a coven here while they were running from the Empire. Probably a great place to base the Resistance out of, actually.


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Edaara had jumped at the opportunity to help the resistance on Nkllon fight the cruel, selfish administrator. She had left her padawan behind, but knew the girl would be waiting for her return.

Edaara knew the Jedi and Mandalorians were not on good terms, so she did as Crix advised and tucked it in the back of her belt, so that her navy blue cloak hit it. She stayed close behind Crix as they walked towards the cantina. "Ready as I'll ever be," she said calmly.

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Crix Aran

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Crix gave Edaara a care-free grin over his shoulder.

"Relax... its a bar after all."
he gave her a quick wink, "Keep looking so tense and they'll think we're on a pity date... or that we're cops."

Being found out as cops in a place like the Nomad City would be a very bad thing - they wanted to get in touch with the Resistance that rebelled against those kinds of people after all. Paying the door fee to the bouncer to get in as he wasn't an attractive woman who could be plyed with drinks by other customers, Crix stepped into the bar and immediately kept moving.

Stopping to look for their contacts would only make it look like they were here for something other than leisure and they didn't need that kind of attention. Instead he moved up to the bar with Edaara and flashed some credits to the bartender.

"Two Burning Firrerreo's please."


Terrible name for a nice cocktail that used some cinnamon in his own opinion.

"I think our contact might be the Sullustian in the corner - they don't like cinnamon and he's got the same drink I just ordered us. Check him out?"



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Edaara Tonor

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Edaara followed him into the bar, raising an amused eyebrow when he told her to relax. "I am calm," she said, eyeing the occupants as they made their way to the bar. After Crix ordered drinks for them, she followed his gaze to the Sullustan with the same drinks the barkeep handed to them at that moment. She watched him without being obvious about watching him. His trademark black eyes were observing the bar as well and Edaara looked away before they could meet eyes. She picked up her drink and took a sip, immediately wrinkling her nose and putting it back down. She wasn't one for alcohol. "Should we approach him?" she replied, setting her drink down.

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Crix Aran

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There was a point to be made that calm and relaxed were different things but he wasn't going to challenge her if she thought she would be able to avoid being immediately made as a narc. He was already pushing it himself by not wearing a mask or helmet - they were in the Outer Rim though so he doubted people here would recognize him from the action figures that had been made in his likeness.

He took a sip of his drink and relished the taste - cinnamon was his favourite flavour of all goddamn time.

"Not here."
he immediately decided after taking a look around, "My Master was a Shadow - he liked to teach me tips and tricks. One of them? Never do something in a crowded room unless you absolutely have to."

He watched the Sullustian through the mirror behind the bar without making a move for a time before he noticed that the Sullustian was moving. Indeed, their supposed contact seemed to eye the door, get a little bit upset, before heading toward the back of the bar - to the bathroom.

"Time we used the men's room."
he told Edaara with a small smirk, "Try not to shriek at the indignity, alright?"

Pushing off from the bar, Crix walked toward the bathroom of the bar with purpose, pushing past a few of the patrons as though he was in a hurry to use the bathroom. No one seemed to pay him any mind even as he pushed through the door into the bathroom. Once Edaara was inside as well, however, he would lock the door.

"Check the stalls."
he whispered to her, "We might need to convince some bystanders to stand elsewhere..."


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Edaara said nothing as she listened to Crix. She thought that sometimes if a place was very crowded, doing something there would be easier to hide. Not the right place or time, she assumed. She showed no reaction when Crix said they would have to go to the men's room, except an amused smile and a raised eyebrow. Once in the men's room with the door locked, she did as he said, and gently pushed open each stall door, so they wouldn't creak. There was a male human in one of the stalls, but as soon as he opened his door and saw the green-skinned female staring at him, he left rather quickly. Edaara locked the door behind him and turned to Crix.

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Crix Aran

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With Edaara having checked most of the stalls, the one in the middle was the only one their contact could be waiting inside of. He nodded to her before moving up and opening the door with a small push of his foot - as expected it was unlocked and, also as expected, a blaster pistol was immediately right in front of his face.

Crix's smile never wavered.

"What took you so long?" the Sullustian grumbled as he holstered the pistol, "We haven't a lot of time - the convoy will be passing nearby soon and your skills are needed, Jedi."

Raising an eyebrow ridge at the Sullustian, Crix said nothing as he fell into step behind him as he led both Crix and Edaara out of the men's room and through a backdoor in the bar to head up toward the roof of the building.

"Tell us what the resistance needs from us."


The Sullustian explained as they reached the rooftop and he took out a pair of viewfinders to start scanning the area.

"The convoy consists of a BR-16 Speeder Bus, two Technicals and one fully staffed K79-S80 Troop Transport. Your job is to get hold of the chief of Internal Security - he's riding in the bus with some VIPs. Grab him and get him to reveal to us the codes we need to access his boss' living quarters."

Crix raised an eyebrow as he spotted the convoy in the distance down on the streets below - it would cross by the building they were on top of relatively soon.

"And when you've gained access to the leader's quarters?"


The Sullustian looked back at the two Jedi with a dark look.

"Then you look the other way for five minutes and this place gets its future back. Convoy's five minutes out - how you going to do this?"

Crix turned to Edaara to see if she had any thoughts on how they should ambush the convoy.


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Edaara followed Crix and the Sullustan up to the roof. The slight breeze shifted her navy blue Jedi robes, and she crossed her arms over her chest. When Crix looked at her, she spoke. "Perhaps some kind words could be shared with the chief of security?" she said, lifting a soft eyebrow, hinting that they could convince him with the Force to reveal the necessary information. It would be easier and arouse less suspicion should they be successful.

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Crix Aran

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Kind words huh?

Oh yeah they could definitely have some kind words with the chief of security but they were going to need to do something to stop the convoy. If they couldn't have a conversation with the chief then they weren't going to be able to get him to divulge the information that they needed.

So how to stop a convoy... a distraction.

"I'll cause a distraction that causes the convoy to stop in the middle of the road."
he offered, "You sneak onto the bus and convince the chief of security to give up the codes then get out of there. Tell me when you're done via the com-link and I'll clear up the distraction - then we can send the message to the resistance."

The Sullustian seemed a little bit annoyed at the proposed suggestion.

"That's it?"

Crix raised an eyebrow.

"Well, yes. What seems to be the problem?"


Their guide scowled at the both of them.

"The problem is that your plan involves letting oppressors, corrupt leaders and murderers live. They deserve what's coming to them!"

Crix raised an eyebrow and glanced at Edaara, giving her the chance to answer the Sullustian. Honestly? Crix was not a stranger to killing. It was something he liked to avoid but there were times in life when it came down to either kill or be killed... especially since they were actively at war.


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Edaara Tonor

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Edaara listened as Crix suggested a distraction. It sounded like a decent-enough plan and she was about to agree to it when the Sullustan indignantly spoke up. Edaara turned to him, tilting her head as she took him in. "Perhaps they do, but with the security codes, the resistance gains a leg up, giving them power over their oppressors," she said. She knew at the moment Jedi were not very popular and if another act of violence was associated with more Jedi, it would only cast them further into the hatred of the majority of the galaxy. She internally wished she could help these people out more, but she knew the Jedi would not be able to help as many people if she further destroyed their reputation.

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Crix Aran

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He had been around long enough to spot certain emotions in people who weren't used to needing to control them around Jedi and the Sullustian was positively radiating blood-lust at this point. It was clear to Crix what it was that the Jedi would be facilitating here - a coup and not a bloodless one by any means.

It wasn't his place to judge them.

The Jedi were nobody's idea of a judge or jury - though seemed like this guy wanted them to be their executioners at this point. Before the tension could spill over, Crix placed a hand on Edaara's shoulder.

"Well we best get moving to ground level before it passes."


The Sullustian grunted in agreement before moving to the edge of the roof again to continue observing the approaching convoy as Crix and Edaara started making their way back down to street level. As they did he scowled ever so slightly before taking both of his lightsabers and stuffing them in a bag, holding it open for Edaara.

"No sabers."
he said quietly but in a tone that brokered no argument, "Vibro weapons and blasters only. If this gets air time around the Galaxy we need to make it look like it could have been anyone because this is going to get bloody even if we don't get our hands dirty."

With that done, he reached up to his face and wrapped some spare cloth around his horned head and mouth to hide his identity a bit more.

"Lets get this over with... you ready or do you need anything before we get started?"



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Edaara Tonor

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Edaara nodded, turning back to Crix and following him off the roof. "It likely will get air time," she replied, not arguing to Crix's statement. "We must try to represent the Order well," she said. She paused as Crix wrapped his head and mouth. Probably a good idea, since he was very noticeable being a famous Jedi and all. "Ready if you are," she replied, smiling softly. She checked to make sure her saber was still well hidden, and her blaster at the ready.

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Crix Aran

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"May the Force be with us, yeah?"

With those parting words, Crix moved out into the streets as just another hooded figure amongst a sea of others. In this Galaxy? Walking around like you wrapped your face and head for the sheer fun of it was not uncommon and it allowed him to blend in even as he approached the route he knew the convoy would be taking. Thinking as he moved, Crix knew that he needed something that would be big enough to block the way but not overly threatening enough to make them consider just blasting it away or running straight through.

As he was getting closer, he spotted the perfect thing.... a produce cart.

"Please don't! What are you doing with my cabbages?!"

He had thought about using the Force to trick the dealer into giving him his produce cart but why would he need to do that? When merely pretending to take the entire cart was enough to cause an argument to break out between himself and the cabbage cart owner in the middle of the road. A quick use of the mindtrick on some people around did mean that half of the onlookers were taking his side about them always having been his cabbages!

The convoy ground to a halt as one of the guards disembarked and headed on over.

"What's the hold up? Move your damned cart!"


Crix immediately acted offended.

"It's not his cart - its mine! They're My Cabbages!"



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Edaara Tonor

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"Always," Edaara replied softly. She pulled up the dark blue hood of her Jedi robes, shadowing her green features. She let herself be carried by the throng, and when she heard a commotion from up ahead, she took her chance and slipped onto the speeder bus at the back of the convoy. She was lucky to not be noticed; everyone inside was standing up, trying to figure out what was the matter. She slipped in between people, examining them and their uniforms. She soon found who she was looking for- an older human man with dark gray hair and even darker eyes. His lithe form was folded into a seated position. She was glad to see he looked on edge, his eyes darting to different people. She stood in front of him, with her right side facing him, so it wouldn't be obvious she was watching him.

"What's the problem?" he asked no one in particular.

Edaara took this as her chance and turned to him, lacing her voice with the Force. "Your boss has been inconvenienced," she said, thinking on the fly. "His security needs the codes to his quarters to protect him. I am the leader of his personal guard. You will give me the code and then you will forget we talked," she said sweetly.

The man blinked once, twice. "I will give you the codes and forget we talked," he said in a monotone voice. Everyone else was preoccupied with the destraction Crix was making to notice the change in the man. Edaara pulled out her datapad and recorded the codes the man prattled off, and then his face went blank once more. Edaara stood up and walked away, and she could hear him talk again.

"What's the problem?"

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Crix Aran

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"And I'm telling YOU that cabbages are the same!"

"One of them is white and the other is green though!"


"They're still the same plant!"


At this point, Crix had managed to convince the guard that he was also very interested in defending the honour of cabbages everywhere and he was currently having the argument with the cabbage seller that Crix had initially caused a fight with. Wandering away from the guard and cabbage man as they started getting into it again, Crix patted Edaara on the shoulder and started walking away from the scene he had absolutely caused.

"Each of them thinks the other is disrespecting cabbages - I had no idea anyone could ever feel so freaking strongly about cabbages."
he muttered to her as he eyed the rooftops, "Come on, lets get back to the rooftop so we can give our friend that code."

Pushing his way through the crowd, Crix grabbed the bag he had hidden their lightsabers in before handing them back out and tossing the bag away. Ascending the stairs back up to the rooftop where they had left their Sullustian ally, Crix paused and held up a hand for Edaara to stop for a moment before they approached.

"Do you have the codes?"
he asked quietly with a frown, "Edaara... this next bit isn't going to be pretty. In fact its going to get very murky from here on out. If you wanna give me the codes, I can do this part. You don't have to get involved in this bit."


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Edaara gave a small smile as Crix walked back up to her, muttering about cabbages. She followed him up to the rooftop and stopped when he held up a hand. She pulled out her datapad. "I got the codes on here," she said. She tilted her head a little at him as he warned her about it getting messy. Her eyes met his and she hoped he could understand how determined she was. "I'll be fine, nothing I haven't handled before," she said. She hooked her saber back on her belt, easily accessible should she need to draw it quickly. Any other Jedi would have taken Crix's warning to be a kind of an insult to their abilities, but Edaara knew Crix was looking out for her best interests, and she respected him for that.

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He met her gaze for a long moment before nodding and starting back up the stairs together. Crix knew that some parts of being in a rebellion were just downright nasty and he had the nagging feeling that this was the prelude to something like that. He hoped that he was wrong but he honestly doubted that he was - at the end of the day there were only so many ways this kind of thing could end.

There was a brutal calculus to it all.

One that Jedi didn't really work well with... it was harder to justify mass death when you could feel each one leaving the Greater Force if you were looking for it. Reaching the rooftop, Crix eyed the Sullustian warily before nodding.

"We got the codes."


The rebel seems to be relieved - an emotion other than disgruntled since the first time they met him.

"You Jedi are efficient I can't argue that. Hand em over."

Crix raised an eyebrow ridge but moved to the side so Edaara could hand them over if she wanted to. If she trusted the Sullustian enough to based on what Crix had to say.

"The leader of your people is a scumbag..."


"He sure is!"

"... and a father of three, young, children. Who will all be at his private residence with him tonight."


There is a pregnant pause as the Sullustian seems to take a moment to just breathe and close his eyes. Its clear that he's aware of where Crix is going with this.

"He has to die."

Crix shrugged.

"That's not my point - and you know it. My point... is what are you going to do with the children?"


Their contact gets angry but it feels shallow in the Force.

"How many of our children died because he gave families starvation rations to save on credits?!"

Crix doesn't blink.

"How many of your children come back when you gun his children down in your raid?"


The Sullustian man seems to rock back on his heels as though physically assaulted by the question. His mind is a whirlwind of emotions - shame, regret and anger all warring with each other. Crix never blinks as he observes the Sullustian before turning to Edaara.

"Your call."


Personally? Crix would give him the codes.

At this point he had thoroughly reminded the rebel in question of the real, sentient, cost of their game of cruel calculus and it would be enough to change his mind. Because that was what Jedi should do - change people's minds. He could physically stop it from happening. He could use the mind trick and force the man to make the right decision... but it would be wrong to do so.

Arriving at the right outcome by the wrong means meant there was still a wrong there that should have been avoided.


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Edaara Tonor

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Edaara had started to extend her hand holding the datapad out to the Sullustan, but when Crix mentioned the leader had three young children, something inside of her pulled taut. Children? Why had she not been informed of this? She glanced at Crix, a questioning look in her eyes. Children were her weakness. There were times when she knew it would be safer to not have any attachment to anyone-but there was something almost animalistic in her nature, that demanded she defend children, whether she knew them or not.

She pulled her arm back a little, looking back and forth between the Sullustan and Crix. Crix was by no means above her in rank, but he was above her in experience. She tried to come up with a compromise, her mind whirring. "What if... I lead a small group to take the children, remove them from harm's way? Perhaps some of them might turn out to be Force sensitive and we could take them back to Yavin IV..." She knew it was a lame excuse, but the thought of not knowing whether the children would survive or not hurt her more than any battle wound.

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It was a stretch and everyone on the rooftop knew it.

The idea that the leader's children could be Force Sensitive was a wild one, a hope that was slim to almost vanishingly small and that was why they all wanted it to be true. Even Crix wanted it to be true but the chances of it actually being true were too low to really be worth considering. Still, their Sullustian contact in the resistance eyed Edaara for a long moment before shaking his head ever so slightly.

"I... they're not Force Sensitive, they'd have shown signs by now right?"

He wanted to believe.

He wanted an out.

Crix might just have one.

"Send them away."
he offered, "I have contacts on Vandelhelm - its nearby, they're going to be one of your major trading partners, so you can keep an eye on them. They get to live a life away from here and you get to make sure you can see them grow away from this."

And not grow up to crave some form of revenge.

"... they'll be at your ship by midnight tonight with some of their bags." the Sullustian decided at length, slumping slightly against the wall, "What happened to me? What happened to me to make that seem like it wasn't an option right away?"

Crix smiled sadly.

"War. It makes good people cruel... we just have to make sure we choose our allies well. Well enough that they will call us out on this type of thing. Keep us kind."


The Sullustian nodded and began relaying the orders to his friends using his com unit, still waiting for if Edaara would hand over the codes.


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Edaara felt a little relief as Crix humored her, promising the children's safety. She re-extended her hand holding the datapad to the Sullustan, then stepped back to Crix's left. She was silent, and crossed her arms over her chest as, even now, the sky darkened. They had done their part. Now, unless the Sullustan needed any other assistance from the Jedi, they would head back to their ship and wait for the children.


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