Ask Ryloth Sidewinder

[Maxims Tionson]

Max was growing accustomed to waiting on politically important people these days but this was, perhaps, a little bit longer than he would have liked. Still, it wasn't time wasted by any stretch of the imagination. Just like one of the other visits to a VIP's home, Max was able to enjoy some of the local art scene because they liked to display it. Unlike the previous home however, Max could safely say that he much preferred this style of art to any of the others he had seen - there was something just so down to the ground about it.

Something that made it clear that it was made by locals to be enjoyed by locals. He almost felt a bit like an intruder for being able to enjoy it as an outside but he didn't think that had ever been the intent behind making it. The sense of locality and home it gave was purely from his own mind after all.

Plus he got to keep up his training of Willa.

Twirling the kyber crystal around in the air between himself and his apprentice, without ever looking away from the art, he held it away from her hands with the Force and expected her to be able to take it from him without touching it either. Right now the crystal was wrapped up in the Force, entirely under his control, and she would need to do something about that first before she could take it from him.

The lesson here being learning how to assert control over an object someone else was already controlling using the Force.

"Remember, Willa - trust your instincts." he told her quietly, "And Pull to your hand. If we have to go searching for the crystal because you Pushed it too hard trying to get it out of my control? I'm going to make you go look for it while blindfolded."

@Killa Ree

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drast's eyes shot open as he sat up. "Kriff.. where am I?" he said groggily as he looked around. "Ah osik.. Master Sati is going to have my hide! Did I just wake up somewhere-" he cut himself off as he swung down from the bed, relaxing as he slowly remembered the events of the last twenty-four hours. He was on Ryloth, doing diplomacy osik. He heard that diplomacy osik was going down and so he hurried aboard knowing how much his Master loved that stuff. Only, after it took off, he realized she wasn't on the transport and likely was off to somewhere else. But that was okay, he was with big Swag Daddy Max. The Step-dad he never knew he secretly wanted. So after a quick holo, he had cleared it all with Master Sati and everything was right as rain.

That brought him to now, how groggy he felt. Oh yeah, he was out with the locals late into the night. Master Tionson must have let him sleep in, such a sweet guy. Ditching his usual threads, Drast would be clad in some rather less than regal rylothan threads, wishing to show his love for the Culture as he acted on the behalf of the Order. Having the ability to speak Ryl, he was happy he finally got a chance to flex those old muscles.

Taking a bit to find the exact area where Max and Willa were, he'd let out a sigh of relief. They were in the middle of some Force excercise. Oh he laughed to himself as he thought about all the fun possibilities.

Drast would make his way over to the pair, whistling his tune while shooting Max with a finger gun. Too quick for the wiley old Master. Then he went ahead and tucked the crystal into Willa's hand with a wink. Boom, another fan of the Drast. Or at least she was, until she just melted away into a puddle. He was well on his way to infamy.

With a shake of his head, he cleared the reverie. It had maybe only been a second since he found the pair and looking around he yawned. "I have got to stop eating late. Does some weird osik.." he mused before heading over to his companions. "Hey guys, sorry I'm late. Hopefully I didn't miss too much art. Or ya know, Will of the Mindgames." he said with a smirk and some wiggled fingers.

@Killa Ree @Nefieslab

 

[Willa Kanz]

She was relieved to have some time with Max, even though he hadn't scolded her too much with slipping off. She had the feeling the guy had the Dad Disappointment thing going on, and she felt it hard. Hell, even her old man didn't make her feel this much guilt for being a bad student. But he'd been patient with her... and she was happy to have time with him to train alone.

That was until Drast was around.

Smothering a sigh, she couldn't help but feel a small sliver of annoyance that the other Padawan was hanging around. Didn't he have some Master of his own? She thought she heard the woman was trying to bring him along on some expedition, yet he chose to come here. The way he kind of flirted around and acted the way he did was kind of annoying at times, especially when she was trying to focus. It was kinda weird, but she wasn't gonna read too far into it. She was kinda the same, once. Instead, she nodded at Max and continued her focus.

She wanted to try something different. As he would maintain his control over the crystal, she would search for a weak spot. It was second nature to her; rather than using brute force, she would use subtler tactics to wrest control. For a moment's concentration, she could find something.

The Master would hear a faint, thin ringing, almost a keen like from tinnitus. It would continue to grow, subtle at first as she focused, and if his attention would turn to the sound she would reach out her hand to lure the crystal in with the Force.

Everything was connected, she mused to herself, tongue sticking out slightly in focus. If she just kept up her focus---

@Nefieslab @Rhogar

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Max sensed Drastus approaching but he made no move to stop the exercise he was running with Willa. Though the sudden tinnitus he was hearing made it rather easy to ignore Drastus' weak excuse for spacing out slightly when he arrived. Though it had to be said that the kid ate like a Nexu starved and kept away from anything close to nice tasting... so maybe less an excuse and more of a weird fact.

He could tell that Willa was the source of the tinnitus and it effected how much it actually worked as a distraction. In the end he waved a hand, unraveling the sound technique but allowing her to take the crystal anyway. It was, after all, her crystal.

For now - if she didn't bond to it then they would find another.

"Didn't miss much." he assured Drastus with a casual wave of his hand as he turned to the door, "In fact..."

The door opened and a green Twi'lek man dressed smartly stepped out into the corridor. Max smiled brightly at the appearance of the younger man and held out a hand to shake. The Twi'lek in question laughed a little bit, shaking the offered hand.

"Using the Force to make it look like you know I was coming Master Jedi?" he smirked, "Does that often impress the Padawans?"

Max grinned wider.

"It doesn't - but I didn't use the Force." he laughed a little bit at the confusion on the young Twi'lek's face before he explained, "Your guards stood at attention straighter."

Observation worked as well as the Force in some cases, along with some terrible senses of humor too. The Twi'lek man laughed and gestured to the Jedi to follow him further into the building to his office, where he sat behind the desk and gestured for the Jedi to sit.

"Before we begin? Introductions." the Twi'lek declared brightly, "My name is Jacen Syndulla the Third, of Clan Syndulla. I enjoy a fast ship and a faster song on the radio - yourselves?"

Max just smiled a little bit.

"Max - I enjoy getting a chance to relax with a cigara or two."

He didn't mention his rank because, well, he didn't much care about it. It was something he was but it wasn't something he ever felt the need to bring up. Jacen eyed the two Padawans expectantly.

@Rhogar @Killa Ree

 

[Drastus Drahr]

He sighed inwardly. His presence here was a fluke, just the result of him getting on the wrong ship and instead of turning them around and affecting their arrival time, he tagged along. Though, he definitely felt like the odd wheel out. Master and Apprentice and Drast. He had sent his Master a comm request to send a transport to fetch him so he could link up with her, but there was no response on that which meant he was there to help Max and Willa with whatever they needed. That is, if they needed his help.

Then the dignitary they were waiting for arrived and that was just the pause in Force talk that Drast needed. His hands would clasp behind his back and he would remain silent unless spoken to, which he didn't expect to happen, until it did.

Knowledgeable of the customary and traditional Ryl greetings, Drastus would bow at the torso as he spoke in Ryl "Sei goh ohk Drastus, eti ohk selerki'ahi ar rarnork dan Jacen bo Marsa Syndulla. Do sohsa bee, anmian bo ceu ohk anubiga cea Do arnian xeuan." Straightening from the bow he would offer his hand and with it, a wide smile wide. "I got an egg that goes -pretty- fast." he'd say in basic.

Spoiler

Ryl Translation: "My name is Drastus, it is wonderful to meet you Jacen of Clan Syndulla. I must say, both of those are hobbies that I also enjoy."

@Killa Ree @Nefieslab

 

[Willa Kanz]

The crystal slipped into her palm, and she gave a small smile, holding it for just a moment. Some of the other Padawans had earned their crystal, but anytime she asked they just gave her a look as though she were supposed to know how it worked. She couldn't help feeling like Max made it easy for her, though. Frowning, she pocketed it for now, but her hand would brush against it every now and then, making sure it wasn't just going to up and vanish.

Jacen. The name sparked something in the back of her brain, but she couldn't place it exactly. She gave the man a smile, and followed her Master's example. Drast uttered something that sounded kinda mangled; maybe he was giving respect?

His comm chirped as a message came through. Perhaps it was from his Master or something.

"Willa," she replied, a warm smile on her own lips. "Love a good podrace, and I make my own songs if that counts." Truth be told, she was surprised a man of wealth and taste was this up front and friendly; she'd expected arrogance, a touch of sophisticated superiority.

Then again she might have been watching too many holodramas lately.

@Nefieslab @Rhogar

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Jacen leaned forward with each word spoken by the Padawans and Max was readily getting the feeling that he was a little bit of a third wheel. As much as he enjoyed flying from time to time, he wasn't much of a speed freak or ever a particularly good pilot. Good enough to get where he was meaning to go in good time and without crashing.

The Twi'lek laughed heartily.

"Your Ryl is good - though it has an accent from the northern hemisphere. I assume whoever taught you it came from there? Good effort!" he approved of Drastus' attempt to speak his language, "But Basic serves us better I think - the others seem to not understand my mother's tongue."

Max actually did understand Ryl but he wasn't going to announce it - just like he didn't announce that he knew Huttese and Mando'a. They were relics of a past life that cropped up from time to time. Jacen blinked a few times at Willa.

"A Jedi who makes her own music... I did not know the Order allowed for such creativity." he admitted, glancing at Max, "I was led to believe the Order was rather... closed in many ways."

The Master smiled slightly.

"A common misconception, Jacen. We are a lot more connected to the Galaxy than our older counterpart."

Jacen raised an eye ridge and smiled slightly in a way that expression no small level of doubt.

"Really? Then your padawans should be aware of the Galaxy, yes?" he smiled with a little bit more of an edge, "Do you, Padawans, know what is happening on Ryloth right now? I'll give you a hint; it's happening at our spaceports every day. It is growing."

@Killa Ree @Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drast would smile at Jacen. "You're correct. My friend Poe was from Kala'uun." He would keep his hands folded behind his back, glancing at Willa as Jacen addressed her. And when Max himself, said the Jedi were more connected with the galaxy then ever, he couldn't help but feel slightly vindicated. The Jedi had finally begun to adapt.

At Jacen's question, Drast would have to think hard. He knew that Ryloth had an extensive history filled with hardship, a hardship imposed on them by the Hutts, Zygerians, and any slaver backing super power. Constant abuse from the outside galaxy threatened to impoverish the planet for its entire existence. But.. that was the past. It seemed like Ryloth was finally growing technologically, economically, even socially. Having slight irritation at himself for not paying too much attention in the spaceport, he'd take a stab in the dark. "Podracing and live music?" he offered with a light tone.

@Nefieslab @Killa Ree

 

[Willa Kanz]

It was especially busy as a spaceport, though then again there had been a battle there recently, and debris still littered a lot of the planet's desert surface. But brown eyes met Jacen's own, her own voice quiet. "Ryloth's recently been the focus of a large battle, from what I was told. Increasing planetary defenses would be a possibility for more ships, but then again.. self-sufficiency and trade could mean busier ports. But bringing in Jedi normally doesn't mean we're here for good news." She tilted her head slightly to look at Max as well, hands lacing before her.

Beyond that, she couldn't really say why exactly they were here. It was a test of some kind. But her Master wouldn't have brought her along simply to admire the view of Jacen's collection of rare art. Lessons were involved; she could only hope she could keep up and understand them.

She had made a promise to surpass her friends, after all.

@Nefieslab @Rhogar

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Jacen and Max both listened to the answers supplied by both of the Padawans for different reasons. Max because he didn't want the Padawans to show up the Order for not, actually, being more involved in the Galaxy and Jacen because he was genuinely curious about what the Jedi had observed. The Twi'lek smiled a little bit at both answers, pointing to Drastus first.

"Oh I wish your guess was right." he teased before moving his finger to Willa, "Yours is closer. Both closer to the answer I was looking for and closer to home; I was involved in some of the fighting on the ground."

That last part hadn't been something Max knew actually but it made sense - the Syndulla clan had made it their business to fight off would-be conquerors. The CIS, the Empire and now the Sith Eternal; it fit with everything he knew about the clan. Jacen turned to Max, gesturing for the Jedi Master to give his own thoughts.

"Refugees."

Jacon clicked his fingers.

"That's the one!" he turned back to the Padawans, "Refugees. From every corner of the Galaxy that's getting stepped up to by the Sith and their neighbors too. I have thousands arriving, by the day, on my planet and I want to help them. Your Master here..."

The Twi'lek gestured to Max who adopted an innocent, "who me?", expression that got a small smile before Jacen continued.

"Has a plan. But before I agree to anything I said I wanted to speak to some people within the Jedi who didn't spend so much time around scheming politicians. Tell me, kids, what do you think about refugees?" he pushed them with a frown, "What are you willing to do to protect these people with no credits, no home and no love for you or yours?"

@Killa Ree @Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drastus cursed internally. He had forgotten about the fighting on Ryloth and was grateful he wasn't seen as a total fool by Jacen. With Jacen's next question, he would think hard on that. On Corellia, he spent much of his life living in poverty, a different kind of refugee. And though many were in fact, fleeing the Sith, some could very well be forward recon spies. And after some more thought, he would let out a sigh.

"Refugees need to be protected. That said, too many will put too much of a strain on your city. So perhaps build a border town, underground of course. Safe from the elements and close enough for trade. Those with skills can help build it up. Maybe see if the Jedi can offer some additional protection as supplemental aid. We have botanists, healers, and guardians.. key components to helping such a settlement prosper. Another reason for it being a separate encampment, is that it keeps any potential spies from having easy access into your Clans home. Keep them from residing within your walls until maybe after a year, which should be more than long enough to root out any spies. Personally, I'm not much in the way of healing or growing.. But, I can swing a sword or provide labor for building." he said, hopefully wording each thought perfectly.

"Perhaps the Temple can even provide some of its food stores for the refugees?" he more or less asked Max as he glanced at him, as if searching for any sign his answer possessed merit. As he spoke, he would even wonder if Master Sati would take pride in his response.

@Nefieslab @Killa Ree

 

[Willa Kanz]

Listening to Jacen and then Drastus, she nodded once, listening to the man explain. Refugees... with the assault on Coruscant, there were those as well. People without a home or place to go back to... hell, even in its' own way, Crix was a refugee. Sort of. When asked what they would do for refugees, her answer was short, simple, and to the point.

"That's part of being a Jedi, sir. We're not here to be loved. We're here to help and protect; at least, that's the simple way of it I think." She didn't look at Max now but gave Jacen a smile.

"If we can help, then I'd love to hear those plans." Now she glanced at Max, wondering what he had in mind. Drastus had a good point, but there had to be a simpler way than building some sort of refugee gulag or something. Besides, that wouldn't seem like the best message to push forward. Hey guys, guess what! Your life sucks and we have a place for you, but it's not with us! But she didn't voice it, instead glancing between the three guys.

@Nefieslab @Rhogar

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Jacen and Max both listened as Willa and Drastus answered and both of them were pleased. The Twi'lek because it was clear that both of the young Padawans had a love for life despite the station that life held. And Max? Well Max could honestly say he had more than a little bit of pride in seeing just how quick and earnest both of them were in making their cases, in stating their honest and open beliefs.

Max raised an eyebrow and turned to face the Clan Syndulla head.

"They are adamant, you can hear it can't you? They are resolute and that is what the Jedi Order has, Jacen. Even our Padawans, just starting on their Jedi Journeys, believe with all their might that life is precious. To be protected. So..." he pulled a datapad out from his robes and set it down on the desk between them, "You know that we make this offer with conviction."

The Twi'lek took the offered datapad and looked from Drastus to Willa before deciding to explain a little bit more. Max hadn't because he had sensed Jacen needed to see the Padawans reacting so well on the fly. Needed to see it to believe it almost.

"Your Master Max here is proposing a charity that will ship thousands of refuges from Ryloth to Cato Neimoidia." he tapped the datapad, "The Neimoidians and I shall share the credit. The Jedi will never be acknowledged as to having helped at all... how does this make you feel?"

He could see what Jacen was doing - he was testing the Order through the Padawans. As Padawans they were the least emotionally controlled (or at least the least trained to control them) and if anyone would let pride rule them it would be them. If the Padawans let the secret out because it stung their pride to not get credit for good deeds? Well then that revealed the character of almost a full half of the Order.

@Rhogar @Killa Ree

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drastus seemed a little more confident as he noted the approval of both Max and Jacen. He even shot a grin at Willa, they were doing a good job. At the next question, he would scratch his jaw, in thought. It wasn't the first time he had heard of such things. Senator Snowell on Corellia would pump tons of her own creds into building up parts of the city without any formal acknowledgement, but the streets knew. And this wasn't much different. "I mean, the Order has been doing things off the record for years, right? What's the difference here? If anything, I feel like we could help more. We know what we did, and despite the positive news maybe alleviating some of the Jedi hate right now.. Oh well." The Jedi needed good public optics. But maybe mention of Jedi involvement with the move could pose even more danger.

His gaze would drift from Max to Jacen "The reward for aid isn't acknowledgement, it's knowing you did right. As long as Ryloth is fast friends with the Order, that's all I can think matters." he would then have a half laugh. "Although, maybe a statue of Master Tionson in the former refugee camps with no placard or explanation could also be good."

@Nefieslab @Killa Ree

 

[Willa Kanz]

Do it without personal recognition? Willa was all cool with that. She wasn't into the whole 'plastering her face all over the Holonet' schtick. But for the Order to remain anonymous? That wasn't gonna mean anything to turn galactic favor... but if that's what it took to agree, she'd roll with it.

"I didn't sign up for PR," she partially joked, giving a slight smile. But as to how she felt... she hesitated, torn between honesty or diplomacy, before speaking. "I think... it makes sense," she agreed slowly, arms crossing beneath her chest. "I feel fine with it; any way to help the galaxy, we'll do." She knew most would be so pissed at not being seen doing good deeds, but it wasn't about being seen.

It was about serving and protecting, and she was gonna do her best to make Max proud.

@Nefieslab @Rhogar

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Max and Jacen had already hashed out most of the details of the proposed charity beforehand but the head of the Syndulla clan had demanded to meet both Max and a pair of other Jedi to discuss the final details. It was clear, especially from his line of questioning, that what he wanted to grill wasn’t the plan but the Jedi themselves.

Public opinion had been turning against the Jedi for some time and the news went out of it’s way to focus on the negative aspects of the Jedi. Amusingly enough they seldom did the same to the Sith on the same level – likely because no matter how much they “didn’t trust the Jedi with power” they trusted that they wouldn’t just be killed for their words like the Sith would do to them.

Jacen wanted to cut through the narrative to get a ground view from two Padawans, specifically two that Max hadn’t couched at all about the answers.

“I wasn’t aware that Jedi regularly engaged in such secrecy…”

Max gave the Twi’lek a smile that had been described, at times, as insufferably neutral and innocent-looking.

“It wouldn’t be very secret if you had, Clan Head Syndulla.”

The Twi’lek laughed a little bit, nodding to both Max and Drastus for a moment.

“Point.” He granted before eyeing Willa, as if noticing her hesitation before humming ever so slightly, “… alright, I’m happy enough that you aren’t doing this for the fame, the glory, the PR or anything else like that. These refugees are not my people but from the moment they landed on my planet, I had to treat them as though they were. And their welfare is my business.”

Jacen leaned back slightly in his chair before shaking his head.

“I can spare a trio of starliners for the transport of refugees on a semi-permanent rotational basis but I can’t spare any escorts. In addition, I need to have assurances that even if you’re not public backers, the ships distress beacons will send signals to the Jedi as well as the Rangers and they WILL be answered.”

Max raised his hands in a placating gesture.

“All acceptable points, Jacen. We will respond to any distress calls from them and you need not worry about escorts – those will be provided by the other half of this deal.”

The Twi’lek scowled.

“Still can’t believe you expect me to publically shake hands with Neimoidians and say it was an idea we had together… alright fine.” Jacen Syndulla sighed before waving at them, “Nothing to sign by it’s very nature. Have the ‘viceroy’ reach out to me when it’s ready to go.”

Max stood and bowed to Jacen, recognizing the dismissal for what it was. He would sweep the Padawans out the doors with him before breathing a sigh of relief.

“So, kids, what do you think about diplomacy? Nerve wracking in it’s own way.”

@Rhogar @Killa Ree

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drastus would half bow at the waist to Jacen. "An honor, Clan Head Syndulla." he'd say curtly before being swept out by Master Tionson. "Well, we played a small role in it, luckily to you already having laid the groundwork for such agreements. I imagine the nerves would be wracked much higher if we were in the initial planning. Would it be possible to help with the refugees after this at all? Given we set up this deal, we should ensure the refugees are still treated.. well in their final location." It's not that he didn't trust the Neimoidians, he just knew people were capable of taking advantage of others in worse positions.

@Killa Ree @Nefieslab

 

[Willa Kanz]

Seems like the old fogey already had it all planned out all along, which was... nice... but annoying as well. She ran a hand through her hair; she could still feel the small, tight curls growing back, and made a mental note to cut it soon. She had to wait for a few moments to answer first, before glancing to her master, hands on her hips. "It was hella stressful," she finally confessed, then sighed, running a hand over her face.

"But truth be told, I would have preferred to have tried without... pre-planned stuff?" she gave him a faint, wry grin, cocking a brow. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you wanted to show off a little. But I do know you better, so I gotta say... that was pretty cool, Master." She cocked a smirk but then nodded once to Drastus.

"If Master Max agreed to work with the Head of Syndulla, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't accept something that would hurt others," she replied, glancing between the two of them. "But being who we are, part of our work is to protect others, yeah? So we help, earn some gratefulness. It's good all around."

Truth be told, it was a little nerve-wracking. They were basically meeting with a freakin' leader, talking about saving hundreds, if not more lives and stuff. The pressure was huge. The responsibility was friggin huge.

@Nefieslab @Rhogar

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Max could see that his little Padawans were taking it well - they had just helped him negotiate even if he had made sure that it was all ready to go beforehand. As much as he wanted to help the Padawans learn, this was their first taste of negotiation and he wasn't going to have it be something so important straight away. This had been almost a dry run as it were, where the terms had already been hammered out and what was needed was to close the deal as it was.

He withdrew a cigara and lit it up as they left the clan building.

"You're both right; this was a safe run." he explained with a smile, "The plan and agreement was already written up and already something palatable to the person it was directed at. All you guys had to do was seal the deal at the end of the process. That's because this is your first taste of diplomacy; and first steps shouldn't ever be something that requires you to hit the ground running."

Pointing to Drast, he nodded.

"We absolutely can assist the refugees - but we're going to make sure we do so as outsiders. So if they send out distress signals on route? We show up." he explained, "Pirates might try their hands in space and it'll be on us to stop them."

He blew out a perfect smoke ring.

"But you did well guys. Next time you'll be the ones who do the whole deal so I'll send you links to some legal texts and cultural examples as well. Learning is fun, right?"

/End Thread

@Killa Ree @Rhogar