Ask Chandrila Two Sides of the Same Coin

[Rel Bombay]

Rel Bombay was proud to be elected Senator of Chandrila. Thanks to the New Republic, he had brought peace and prosperity to his people and home world. Unlike some, Rel believed in second chances. If he didn't give his hometown a second chance, it probably would've looked the same it did a few years ago- and it wasn't a pretty sight. Now, he found himself doing something similar on this very day. But instead of a town that needed some cleaning up and extra peacekeeping forces, it was a woman that had been caught at the wrong place at the right time.

Lore Togrud had been interfering in highly illegal business, but Senator Bombay did not see a criminal. He saw potential! Imagine if the Senator could actually persuade the woman to change her ways. It would be another good mark on his career as man who can speak of and commit to making a change. Yes, it was sort of a political ploy, but Rel also wanted to do this because he did not want to see such a young woman through her life away. It broke his heart to think of someone so young being sent off to the chopping block.

The Senator's meeting room was not as formal as most others would have them be. Many fairly comfortable mini-love sacks sat on side of a clear glass table and another comfy couch sat on the other side across from it. Rel personally loved the giant bean bags, so he sat in the center one, seeing as no one else would accompany him and the criminal. When he was ready, Rel waved for a guard to open the main doors, Lore Togrud being escorted inside. The two guards would unbind her and usher her to take a seat across from Rel before exiting the room.

"Ah, finally! Miss Togrud, it is muh pleas'ah tew finally make your acquaintance." Rel smiled friendly before outstretching his hand to shake Lore's.

@Reylo4evr

 

[Lore Togrud]

Lore had barely healed from her run in with the Trandoshan when she was being ushered to some hippie senator of Chandrila. She was ushered into Senator Bombay's meeting room and was at least glad the seating was comfortable. She sat on the couch across from the senator. When he used her name, she tensed. Only people with good reason knew her name. She supposed the Trandoshan likely knew her name too and she wished she had gotten to talk to him longer. Now only five people in the entire galaxy knew her true name.

"Why am I here," she asked, getting straight to the point. She didn't trust the man in front her- no one was ever kind unless they wanted something.

@Charles

 

[Rel Bombay]

"Ai know yo' name, yes." Rel poured a glass of water for the two of them. "I am a Senata', Miss Togrud. There be lots of'a sources and such." Rel didn't ever het his hands dirty, but he was correct when he said he honorable agents that gave information necessary for Rel to gain some leverage over the woman. "Yew are not in trouble, no. Yew are 'ere to...take a change of pace?" Hopefully this would catch her attention enough to get her to speak.

"Ai know yo' work as well as yo' name. Yew are young. Dew not throw yo' life away." Rel's smile faded to a more concerned look. "But, yew have skill. Ai am willin' to offa' yew a new, more suitable, job. Would yew be willin' to forsake this old life of...debauchery...and use yo' abilities to serve a greata' purpose?" A clean slate probably did sound appealing to most criminals who wished to go off the radar. "What dew yew see in yo' future, Miss Togrud?"

@Reylo4evr

 

[Lore Togrud]

Lore was silent for a moment as she listened to the senator talk. To her, he sounded hopefully oblivious to how the galaxy worked. She was genuinely surprised when he suggested giving her a second chance. The pieces clicked together. "You're offering me a job with the pretense of it being better than all my other jobs," she stated, not really posing it as a question.

Escape the debauchery of her life? She knew it was far from perfect but she could be worse off. She ignored the glass of water the senator poured for her, some part of her rational, moral mind scolding her for being rude. "Can you erase six years of debauchery?" she challenged, unknowingly hinting that she did truly wish she could be a better person.

@Charles

 

[Rel Bombay]

"Six years of Black Moon's life? No. Probably not." Rel shrugged before taking his glass of ice-water and taking a sip. "But, as far as Ai am concerned...Lore Togrud has committed no crime. Lore Togrud is just anotha' woman, tryin' to make 'er way in the galaxy." Rel smiled cheekily again. Black Moon probably couldn't just be deleted from the galaxy's radar, but luckily for Lore, she did use her real name or real contact information. Lore Togrud held no suspicion within the galactic law enforcement.

"Black Moon has a bit of a track record, yes. But I am talking to Lore, no?" Rel questioned. "Who am I talking to? The criminal? Or the possibility?"

@Reylo4evr

 

[Lore Togrud]

Lore was silent again, and stayed quiet even after the man had finished speaking. "I don't know," she said softly, her bandaged shoulder and calf throbbing almost in response. She was quiet for a little longer before she finally spoke again. "What do you want me to do," she asked. Moon had been the one running from the bounty on her head, fighting until she couldn't anymore. Lore... she hadn't truly been her in a long time. Perhaps she was the one trying in vain to make some positive impact on the world.

@Charles

 

[Rel Bombay]

Rel had gotten what he wanted. All he needed to do now was convince her that her life was up to her. Rel would not puppet her around like she had been previously. Lore was her own person and Rel wanted to reiterate that. Freedom was a huge ideal with not only the Republic but with the entire galaxy. Most criminals would even agree, albeit to Rel's disdain.

"I wan' yew to do dew whateva' yew wanna dew." Rel shrugged. "What does Lore wan', hm? What does she wan' in 'er life? There be good jobs aroun' every corna'. I have jobs...the Republic got jobs...good people got good jobs." With someone of her expertise, Rel wasn't worried at all about what she'd be able to accomplish. If she decided to join him, he'd make her his personal bodyguard and assistant. With Lore under his wing, Rel could teach her how to look at the galaxy through a different perspective.

@Reylo4evr

 

[Lore Togrud]

Lore was at a loss for words. This Senator was good with words; Lore was not surprised he had become a Senator. In truth, at this very moment, she wished for a large meal. She reached out and picked up her glass of water, taking a large gulp. "I want a job from someone whose morals I don't have to question," she replied honestly, setting the glass down. She met the Senator's gaze. "I want to change the galaxy for the better," she continued, a little softer. This man seemed to believe she was a good person, which Lore had been questioning herself. She considered asking him for a job, since he seemed so ready to forgive. Some childish part of her wanted to be comforted and told she was a good person.

@Charles

 

[Rel Bombay]

After Lore finished speaking, Rel gave a single nod of his head and smiled that warm smile of his. She was proof that not all criminals were actually criminal. Yes, some like Gareth Gin committed heinous acts against the innocent all for the name of glory, but some just wanted to escape. Some, like Lore, weren't sure what they could do so they did what the could with what they had. Imagine what the galaxy would be like if everyone was given the chance and resources to dream a good dream?

"I know gewd people, Miss Togrud." Rel began. "If yew wan' someone who's got a gewd soul, I've got a list of names. Yew might find mine on it." The Senator chuckled. "Wantin' to make change is a great start, but yew gotta work fo' it. And trust me, madam, it takes a lotta work. But, I'm willin' to 'elp yew get'a workin' hard. Would yew wan' to 'elp me ou'? I'm in need of an assistant. Maybe even back up fo' when things get'a messy. Ya' feel me?"

@Reylo4evr

 

[Lore Togrud]

Lore tilted her head. It sounded like this man needed a bodyguard and assistant. Something like relief and gratitude flooded her in a brief rush and she may even have smiled. "You mean be your bodyguard?" she asked, just to make sure she wasn't jumping to conclusions. She could already picture it; but hope was a dangerous thing.

@Charles

 

[Rel Bombay]

"Hey, I didn' say it!" Rel chuckled again after Lore hit the target dead on. "With all dese Senatas getting murdered, gunned down, and whatnot, I wan' to be prepared." Rel said in a more serious manor. Senator Hawthorne had his head chopped clean off. Senator Starros was shot on his own planet. The Senator of Kashyyyk had half his planet destroyed. Chacellor Ro was assassinated and even President Thorne was lucky enough to survive his kidnapping. The grand political scheme of things wasn't looking too bright.

"Would you be willin' to do somethin' like dis?" Rel raised an eyebrow. He was serious about this offer, and he knew he was putting his own life in the hands of an ex-criminal, but this was also a sign of trust. Rel was confident in Lore's ability to change and believed her when she said she wanted to do good in this galaxy. Maybe there was a part of the Senator that wanted to use this as a political ploy to implore forgiveness and rehabilitation to criminals in the New Republic, but Rel was doing it because it was good.

And it was always good to do good.

@Reylo4evr

 

[Lore Togrud]

Lore was surprised that he was offering her this job, and she knew she would be a fool to turn him down. "Yes, I would be so grateful," she said softly, still smiling a little. She could still do something she was good at, but now it would be doing something of use- defending the man who believed in her and gave her a second chance. This was the least she could do to pay him back.

@Charles

 

[Rel Bombay]

Rel gave a nod of his head and stood up from his seat, outstretching his hand to shake Lore's. "Well, den. It appears that everythin' has been settled. Welcome to the New Republic, Miss Togrud." Today was a good day for the Senator. He had proven that terrible people were not outright terrible and that everyone was capable of change. Besides! Now, Senator Bombay had a lithe assistant at his side in a galaxy growing rife with crime.

"I will have my people clean up yo' credentials. No more Black Moon. From now on, Lore Togrud is in charge."

@Reylo4evr

[/End thread]