Ask Naboo Political Animals

[Carrick]

Naboo, Theed​

When you needed to hire someone to protect you, even for just appearances sake, you didn't spare any expense. You got the best of the best and that meant you were shopping for a Mandalorian.

That was the advice that his Uncle Thaddeus had given him when he had admitted he was planning on attending some key meetings in Theed to introduce himself on the political scene. It felt completely unnecessary to Carrick since he had been a Jedi Knight before he had left the Order and it wasn't as though leaving the Order removed that skillset from him. Of course, his uncle had had a very compelling counter argument for that as well.

In the political arena, never let on that you are different. Different is dangerous and will have life-long enemies band together to remove you - better to appear like all of the others and only reveal your advantages when they served to benefit you the most.

He was glad his uncle was experienced but it was not as though Carrick had none himself - he had been a diplomat for the Jedi Order for some time before he left after all. But he bowed to his uncle's experience in this case because this was Naboo, this was where his uncle had brought himself up in the game of politics and he would know the backroom dealings far better than Carrick himself.

Dressed in a rather formal black set of clothing, Carrick looked the part of the hungry young politician ready to mix with others of his kind. The unfortunate side effect was that he was unable to bring along any of his usual weaponry aside from the lightsaber he had hidden on his person in a discrete holster on his left forearm. Sitting in the back of the speeder car, he enjoyed the breeze as the droid piloted the vehicle through the outskirts of the city toward the party.

He was not alone in the speeder of course.

Sitting across from him was a fully armoured figure, Minevra Fhirdiad. She was the Mandalorian he had hired to serve as his bodyguard for the night. To protect him and, more importantly, to be seen protecting him.

"I don't suppose you'll have issues with the security check point will you?"

@Minuteman75

 

[Minerva Wren]

Why did I ever agree to this? Minerva immediately knew the answer as soon thought ended. The short answer was that she needed credits. Years before her adopted father had given a warning about the mercenary career.

Some jobs will feel beneath you. However, if you’re strapped for creds it is best to bear it unless there is no other choice.

At the moment such advice provided little comfort to Minvera as she sat in the speeder with her temporary employer and the droid driver. Carrick struck her as another rich boy trying to impress everyone with his charm and money. The Mandalorian crossed her arms over the chest as the speeder maintained its course.

Thank Manda it will be one night. Standing around with self-proclaimed elitists patting themselves on the back makes me sick as it is.

Subsequently Carrick turned to her and asked his question. Immediately it was answered with an annoyed grunt. “Oh I can handle it in more ways than one. Though I imagine you prefer the more polite approach.” A short chuckle escaped her.

Given the security arrangements at the party, Minvera couldn’t take her blaster rifle. Another reason why she hated formal parties. Fortunately she still had the pistol and set it to stun to placate the locals. Of course she had a surprise hidden away in case the event proved more interesting than thought possible.

Drawing her pistol Minerva inspected it, making sure the weapon was operational.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Well she was as taciturn as he had expected of her but that was alright. There was nothing wrong with being proven correct even if the outcome was not the ideal, it just meant that he had a good grasp of the situation as it stood. He was going to be under the care of a woman devoid of a sense of humour and lacking any desire to engage in conversation. If she were his date for the evening he would have been more than a little bit put out but she was not.

His date for the evening still needed to be picked up.

"We'll be dropping by to pick up my date in a moment." he reminded his bodyguard, "Please do your best not to frighten her too much - I'm afraid she is very much the shrinking violet compared to your own competent self."

Flattery wasn't really flattery when it was the truth in his opinion.

Arriving outside the home of his date for the evening, he stood from the stopped speeder and made to open the door for the young woman from the Trubitan family. Effie, as she was named, wore a rather extravagant dress for the occasion but she was from a rather wealthy family so that made sense. She was the third daughter of the main house but that was fine - her father doted upon her and it was to that man he gave a respectful nod to as he accepted her hand.

"I shall have her home safely, sir." he assured the father solemnly before smiling, "And hopefully she will have had a wonderful time that she can regale you all with."

He helped her back into the speeder and they were off toward the terrace party.

So far so good.

Spoiler: Effie Trubitan

@Minuteman75

 

[Minerva Wren]

She knew exactly why Carrick hired her. In a way it made sense, having a Mandalorian bodyguard to both intimidate and impress others. Underneath she scowled at the thought of being viewed like some exotic pet by wasteful people. Still there is an off chance of some action. The rich often make targets of themselves.

Keeping that thought in mind Minverva snorted when Carrick instructed her on how to deal with his date. Waving it off she replied.

“Yea, yea I get it. You don’t have to tell me twice.”

It wasn’t long before they stopped at a manor. The design of the place was beautiful, Minverva considered while Carrick went to pick up his date. Subsequently she kept an eye at the surroundings because of boredom and just in case there was trouble. Sure enough Carrick and Effie came to the speeder.

She certainly dressed for the occasion. Even more so than my employer. Keeping that opinion to herself Minverva put up her pistol back in the holster and sat in silence away from the couple. The speeder drove off heading for their destination.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Seemed that he had been right before - Minerva was not one for conversation.

If he was paying her for anything other than bodyguard duties he would have been a little bit put out. But as it was, a chatty bodyguard was one that wasn't paying attention to their surroundings and that was a risk to his safety and the safety of his date. She was exactly what he wanted.

He smiled and chatted about some nothing topics to his date as they drove to their destination, the terrace looking over the city they were going to be having the party at. Once the speeder had stopped he would get out first before assisting his date in dismounting from the speeder with her hand in his.

Carrick glanced at Minerva.

"Do you want to go on ahead first? Check us in and we'll be announced."

The speeder was collected by the valet and piloted away.

@Minuteman75

 

[Minerva Wren]

During the ride, Minerva made to look around the buildings and streets they passed. Not so much their beauty but for possible threats. So far none. Still a sniper would have plenty of options in this city for a vantage point. She paid little attention to the dates’ conversation as a result, not that they spoke of anything interesting to her.

Once they stopped, Minerva hopped out first, glancing back and forth on the street. It was at that moment Carrick asked if she would check Effin and him in. She gave a nod and walked over to the entrance. Waiting on the side at a podium were a silver plated protocol droid flanked by two guards in matching white suits and red roses.

You couldn’t pay me a million credits to wear that crap.

The droid examined the armored figure standing before him from head to toe. The guards grew tense at the sight and one had a barely restrained scowl. Underneath the helmet Minerva rolled her eyes. The droid asked Minvera.

Pardon me...uh madam do you have a permit?

Sighing the mercenary displayed an identification card Carrick had given her. The bot inspected it for several seconds and said. This is legitimate, you and your charges are free to enter. They will be announced. But do please behave yourself.

Despite annoyance at that last comment Minverva said nothing and marched on. Soon enough servants, guests and security in the terrace saw her. Hushed whispers followed and Minerva felt their eyes on her but pretended not to notice as she stopped at the first table and waited for the couple. Sure enough Carrick and Effin came and were properly announced .

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Carrick had to admit that he wished he had chosen the older sister to take on as his date... she wasn't as pretty as the sister he currently had on his arm but she was something of an intellectual and would have provided stimulating conversation. His current date was telling him some gossip.

And the worst part was?

It wasn't even juicy gossip.

Honestly, if she was going to be a gossip he would very much prefer it if she actually gave him something to work with. His time as a diplomat had taught him that there was no such thing as a bad source of information if the information itself was good. Gossip, ironically enough, was actually a great source of information.

Usually.

They were announced and they stepped forward into the party proper. As soon as they were announced all eyes were momentarily on then - which was why no one missed it when the blaster bolt from the sniper rifle hit her right in the abdomen. She spun away from him, blood erupting everywhere.

Then the screaming started.

@Minuteman75

 

[Minerva Wren]

The mercenary stood several feet away watching the pair enter. I bet someone is going to walk up to them and play the flatter game. Just as she thought so, Minerva lost that silent bet when a laser shot struck Effie and screaming erupted. Acting on instinct Minerva activated the jetpack and flew toward Caddick in an attempt to tackle him out of the line of fire. It wouldn’t do good for the Mandalorian’s reputation to lose her charge just as he arrived to the party.

What a way to a crash a party.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Oh Force that was a lot of blood.

Allowing himself to be tackled to the ground by Minerva, Carrick dragged the injured Effie with him, covering her with his body. Swearing quickly, he pressed his hands against the wound and began reaching into the Force. Despite being trained as a Jedi, the Force seemed slow, sluggish, to respond to his demands that it heal Effie.

He cursed louder.

"Mando!" he called out, "Have you got any bacta? The Force it... it's not going to be enough."

Effie clutched at his forearm as he willed more Force to work on the process of healing her even as the sniper was revealed to be two Trandoshans shooting down from a nearby rooftop. They were now opening fire on the crowd at random, having lost sight of Effie and Carrick.

@Minuteman75

 

[Minerva Wren]

Minerva sat up and swifty overturned a metal table to provide extra cover from enemy fire. Readying her blaster rifle she turned toward and beheld Carrick trying to treat the wounded Effie. Her eyes blinked at the sight of the man using the...force.

Before the mercenary could demand answers Carrick then asked her if she had any bacta. Biting her tongue Minerva brought out a bacta patch with one hand and tossed it to the diplomat. “This should slow the bleeding at least.” Minerva had a low opinion of high society folk but even she didn’t want Effie to suffer like she is now.

Meanwhile the gun for hire peeked from the side as mayhem raged on the terrace. It was a pair of Transdosen sharpshooters. They fired on anyone in range guests, servants and guards alike, killing and wounding them. The people screamed and panicked, fleeing for their lives. A part of her wanted to go after them immediately via jetpack but that would mean leaving Carrick behind.

There could be more. These lizards don’t have long before the authorities arrive. Meaning they will try to finish up as soon as possible.

From her belt Minerva pulled a flash charge. While the scaly snipers were busy shooting at bystanders she made her move. Activating the device, the charge flew fourth like a firecracker, displaying a brief yet blinding light in the Transdosens’ general direction. Subsequently she aimed her rifle and fired a four round burst at the hostiles on the rooftop.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

He could tell that the Mando had a rather dim view of him using the Force - it wasn't mind reading if she was projecting her disappointment like a petulant teenager - but he wasn't sure what she really wanted from him. Carrick was rather well known on this planet as the former Jedi diplomat to the planet of Naboo. If she had done her research she would have known he was a Jedi Knight already but, he supposed, seeing was believing.

And if she was one of the old-school Mandos then it was seeing the age-old enemy that was believing. He hoped she wasn't going to make this more difficult than it already was but she tossed some bacta at least. Applying the bacta patch and applying the Force healing as well, he slowed the bleeding to a crawl but Effie was still not out of the woods yet.

Cursing their situation, Carrick picked her up.

"Mando we gotta go." he urged her even as he moved Effie about in his arms to better carry her without pressuring her wound, "She could die if we stay here - we don't have time to be messing around with the shooters!"

Despite his words he would use the Force to hold one of the Trandoshan snipers in place. It didn't last very long at all and, to anyone else, it would look like the Trandoshan shooter just paused for a second... but it was a strategic stop that allowed two of the blaster bolts from the Mando to hit home.

Carrik rushed from cover.

"Grab the wheel, Mando!" he instructed her as he laid Effie down in the back seat, "Let's blow this party!"

@Minuteman75

 

[Minerva Wren]

Struck twice, the Transdosen fell off the rooftop while his partner dropped suffering from the blinding flash from earlier. Minerva heard what Carrick and it made her stop shooting. Whatever she felt about force users in general the warrior had swore to their contract until fulfilled. This is the way.

She ran behind her charge and wounded Effie whom he carried. Reaching the speeder she jumped into the front seat. “Hang on tight wizard!” Shouted Minerva to Carrick in the back with Effie, activated the vehicle. Then it hovered and she pressed forward.

The speeder sped out the parking lot, nearly hitting a Gungan valet who jumped out of the way with a yelp. Racing through into the dark street, the mercenary yelled.

“Where is the nearest hospital?!”

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

His hands were covered in blood and so were his clothes by this point but he didn't show any sign that he cared. Instead he was busy tearing some of his clothing away from himself to use as bandages. The bacta and the Force had assisted with the bleeding but not binding it up with even a makeshift bandage was just asking for trouble as far as he was concerned.

It didn't take long before he had torn half of his shirt apart to tie one up across her body with enough thickness to it to soak up some of the blood. He scowled at Minerva from the backseat of the speeder.

"I'm not a Jedi or a Sith." he told her through gritted teeth, "I left that life behind me. Not a wizard anymore - just a guy trying to make his way in the Galaxy."

Even if he couldn't ever 'get rid' of his 'magic powers'.

"Nearest hospital is off the main street on the east side of town and... kark, down!"

He gritted his teeth as blaster rounds scored across the back and sides of the speeder they were in. Peaking over the backseat, he groaned ever so slightly.

"Of course - they have a tactical... Mando we need to get off the main streets. If they follow us we're leading armed forces to a hospital."

@Minuteman75

 

[Minerva Wren]

Struck a nerve there. Minerva noted how her employer responded to being a wizard. Not that it phase her but interesting how he emphasized on cutting ties with the Jedi. Still a force user though. Listening to his instructions the mercenary was about to turn the speeder when blasterfire erupted once more from the back.

This is certainly an interesting night.

If she wasn’t the wheel Minerva would be retaliating against their pursuers. “I hate it, when I can’t shoot back.” The Mandalorian whispered, driving the speeder faster than before. While the engines whined at the strain Carrick in the back told her to get off the main roads. She complied, making a hard left turn into an alleyway.

“Where the cops when you need them?!” She remarked as the hostiles continued to chase after them and shoot.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Carrick didn’t really have anything to say to the Mando that he hadn’t already said at this point – they were in a high speed chase that involved blaster weaponry. This was the kind of thing he knew Mandos were very happy to indulge in and so he would let her. His attention was still focused on his date for the evening, who was still at death’s door despite his best efforts. The Force was acting almost sluggish in it’s response to his urgings and his demands.

It was acting like a petulant child right now and he was beginning to lose his patience with it.

Sure, the Force might not be ‘with him’ any longer because he had chosen to leave the Jedi Order and that was fine. But did that mean that an innocent, someone who had not been part of it at all, should suffer and endure pain like this? Why? To punish him? He felt a give in the Force and it flowed slightly easier from him, as though accepting his point that punishing an innocent was no way to punish him for leaving the Jedi Order. He was sure that the Force would have it’s own issues with him at a later date.

The tactical hurried after them at pace, it’s blaster raking across the side of their speeder, leaving half a dozen holes in the metal. They were protected for now but they both knew that it likely wouldn’t last for very much longer. Then they were round a corner and the tactical didn’t follow them immediately, instead holding position at one end of the road.

Why would they stop chasing them, even if they were still taking shots at them? The answer came just a few seconds before it became a reality.

“Mando – it’s a trap!”

Indeed, the road ahead of them was suddenly cut off by a hovertruck, likely one used to haul garbage. It was heavy, it was huge and there was no getting past it. From atop the truck, a few more attackers arrived, not Trandoshans but rather a mixture of different species, three of them in total. They raised their blaster rifles and started pouring down fire.

Carrick sword and grabbed Effie up and held her atop his left shoulder. She cried out in pain but pain was better than being vaporized in the middle of a side road. Jumping out of the speeder, he reached behind him to his hidden lightsaber, pulling it out and activating it to bat aside a few bolts that came too close before plunging his sword into the lock controls for one of the buildings, forcing the door to shoot open.

“We’ll lose them through the houses!”

Was it a bad idea to make their way through unfamiliar territory? Yes. But it was an even worse idea to stay in a prepared killzone.

@Minuteman75

 

[Minerva Wren]

Minerva for a moment thought they lost them, once the shooting stopped. That belief died as soon as she spotted the hovertruck at the other end of the corner and Carrick declared it was a trap. She ducked her head several times as the three new hostiles opened up on them while still driving. Immediately she halted the speeder.

Once Carrick grabbed Effie and jumped out the mercenary in turn, drew her blaster again. Providing cover with three round bursts, Minerva listened to the former Jedi who forced open a door with his laser swords. Go figure he would keep one. They didn’t have a choice. The assassins’ firepower forced her to duck down again.

“You shoot like stormtroopers!” She shouted in taunt at the hostiles when an idea occurred to her. “Get inside now I’m gonna leave our admirers a farewell present.” Minerva then said to Carrick as she stayed low underneath the speeder as the rest of its glass window shattered from the constant enemy fire.

Then the merc pointed her jetpack toward the hovertruck. A moment later, a missile burst forth from the jetpack and flew straight toward the enemy vehicle and the rocket exploded upon impact. Regardless of its success or failure Minerva quickly jumped out, joining Carrick and Effie inside the building.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Minerva wanted to blow things up before they were fully safe – he wished he could say he was surprised but hey, Mando had to Mando.

Carrick tried not to make a big deal out of it, bursting into the home as he did instead. His date wasn’t happy with his current rough handling of her but she seemed to realize that it beat the hell out of being hit by the people who wanted them dead. So she hadn’t actually said anything about the quality of the ride – so far. She was a noble so he didn’t expect her to be able to keep her mouth shut as long as the entire escape.

Would be her playing against her designated role as haughty noblewoman after all.

In the house itself a family was cowering on a staircase behind a husband and a father warily staring at them with a bat in his hands. Carrick supposed that a fully armoured mando, a Jedi and an injured woman jumping into their living room was the last thing they had expected. Not that he blamed them – he wasn’t going to lie and say that any part of this seemed normal at all.

“Sorry about the door.” He apologized to the family as he hurried through the room, “Send the invoice to the magistrate’s office and I’ll collect it and pay it tomorrow! Upon my word!”

He was shouting toward the end because he was already running through the kitchen into the alleyway around the back of the house. Between the houses were a maze of passageways and they were just what they needed to lose their pursuers. He turned to his bodyguard for a moment as he took stock.

“Don’t suppose you got a jetpack?”

@Minuteman75

 

[Minerva Wren]

Reloading her blaster with a new clip, Minerva barely played the frightened family cowering on a staircase any mind as she and Carrick still carrying through Effe ran past them. They have to keep moving. Whoever was after them, seemed to be in large numbers, heavily armed and determined.

Who is the target, Carrick or Effe or both?

That line of thought had to be saved for later as the small party exited the house via the kitchen. Before them was a labyrinth of passageways. It should slow down the would-be killers after them but on the other hand this makes it difficult to get Effe to the med center in time.

Minerva was trying to come up with a solution when Carrick asked her if she had a jetpack. With the left hand she pointed with her thumb to the jetpack on her back. As much as she would like to mock his question the merc instead asked her own.

“What do you do have in mind?”

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

What did he have in mind?

Well Carrick wasn't the kind of person who was going to be focused on the ground floor. Fighting in the Galaxy was a three dimensional thing at the very least. He secured his grip on Effe and took a deep breath, eyeing the edge of the closest building. The Force hadn't answered his demand that it heal her as well as it once would have. If it was a general decline?

Then he was probably about to break his own neck.

"We take it to the rooftops."

Using the Force, he rocketed up to the top of a small outcropping of building. It was probably a bay window or something but he ignored it in favour of making a second jump, making it to the top of the roof without issue. He looked down at the alleyway for a moment, glad but slightly confused about how he had managed to make the jumps so easily.

The Force hadn't hesitated that time at all.

"Come on Mando, the way to the hospital is clear if you can run along rooftops."

Or fly.

He suited action to words however and started off at a run, still carrying Effe as though she were some kind of precious, fragile, item that he needed to deliver.

@Minuteman75

 

[Minerva Wren]

Of course the rooftops, it made perfect sense to Minerva. Beats wandering through a maze at night with assassins on our tail. Nodding the mercenary ascended via rocket style while Carrick force jumped twice. Following her charge, Minerva opted to fly by jetpack instead of running on the rooftops.

We have the high ground.

Keeping the blaster at the ready, she looked out for hostiles. At this point Minerva wouldn’t be surprised if the assassins would try something desperate to stop them. Subsequently she heard speeder sirens in the distance. It seemed Naboo security was finally stirring to action.

“About time the cops woke up. Unless it’s our stalkers employing a trick somehow.” Minerva called out to Carrick.

@Nefieslab