Coruscant: Walk Softly

[Ashin Varanin]

The rooftop restaurant was one of the best around. Its menu prices relied rather heavily on the view: The Jedi Temple, not close enough for any but the most insane airborn infiltrations, but not far enough to spoil the grandeur.

With her Force signature carefully muffled, much in the manner of Darth Sidious, Ashin sat and sipped the last of her hot chocolate.

And then unveiled her presence. The Dark Side rolled out from her, an aura of cold will -- and an invitation.

 

[Darron Wraith]

Ashin, Ashin, Ashin....

Coruscant wasn't the most beautiful world in the Republic to the Jedi Master, but he dealt with the skyscrapers and all the traffic dutifully. Having just been put back on active duty by the Council, Darron had just returned from another mission to work with his Padawan. Yet, she was away on a field trip with other students at the moment, so he had done what he had always done: avoid the temple at all costs. If they need me for another mission that entails killing a high ranking Sith or stopping a despot warlord, they can call me on my comm. Until then, I'm taking some time to myself and enjoying what alone time I get. So he had parked his starfighter at the temple and set out to explore the city and simply walk around as a man for once and not a protector of the peace. Although he hadn't taken the time to take off the light armor and greaves he wore, and his lightsabers were still clipped to his belt. He just made sure to pull his robes over his massive frame and hide what was underneath, with his hood over his head he just looked like a tall, bulky monk.

Discretion would be nice for a change, he thought with a sense of sarcasm.

Not fifteen minutes into his stroll did he feel the Force signature, the blood of Olraen had it's own particular feel in the Force. So the Jedi Master made haste to the rooftop restaurant, better I get to her first before someone else. Should some hot-shot Padawan or Knight try to come and detain her, the Dark Jedi would simply kill or fight her way out. She's not like other darksiders though, she does believe in the law. He knew deep down she would respect the laws of Coruscant, and there was a reason for her to be there, so in a sense he was there to protect the Jedi from her defending herself. Within moments, he saw her and ordered a coffee from a waitress as he pulled up a chair directly in front of Ashin. With his gloved hand he reached up and pulled the hood off of his face, and he curtly nodded to the woman before him.

"So," he paused as he took the coffee before continuing. "Are you here to visit the temple? Or is this a part of some plan I really don't need to know about?"

 

[Darth Vandin]

High above, in the atmosphere, Lord Vandin could feel the Dark Side presence billow from the restaurant. He had only been refueling his ship, but now he was curious; who was this person? "Pilot, turn us around. Take us there," he commanded, giving the co-ordinates. The Corellian Corvette was an odd sight to see roaming the airlanes of Coruscant, drawing the attention of all in sight of it, but Vandin did not care. From the window on the bridge, he saw who was giving off the Dark Side; a woman. A Jedi stood there as well. Vandin had no way of telling if the woman was aligned with the Sith, but his curiosity was far from sated. If the woman was Sith, what was she doing on Coruscant? Why was she radiating such a presence on a Jedi world? "Ready a shuttle."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Ashin's gaze tracked past Darron's shoulder as she sensed a flicker of darkness, and a Corvette caught her eye.

"Both, ideally," she said slowly. "And neither. You recall me testing you, to see what kind of a man you were. Well, this test is for your Order as a whole. A Dark Master unveils her presence right beside the Jedi Temple. Who will react? How? With what intention? This is useful data."

She examined the dregs in her mug mournfully.

 

[Darron Wraith]

"You know, you could just join us instead of trying to test the Order and her members at every chance you get." Darron took a sip of the coffee and looked out at the world below, appreciating the view that the restaurant offered. It was quite the change from Felucia, where he had just been. There it had been all jungles and animals and life in it's purest form. Here on Coruscant, Darron could admire the ingenuity of different races and wonder at how they had performed such architectural feats. While his Jedi side almost rebelled against the way the planet had been civilized and turned into nothing but durasteel and concrete, the man in him admired how the environment had been conquered and turned into the crown jewel of the Republic, a melting pot for all civilizations.

Blue eyes turned to regard the woman before him, and he couldn't help but catch her look as she stared into the contents of her cup. The other darksider in the Force's presence didn't go unnoticed to him, but he simply decided to let events play out as they would. Are you planning an ambush?

"Listen, I wanted to say thank you for the holocron. Your insight on galactic events combined with seeing your grandfather again has helped my transition immensely. I know I'm not the type you would expect this from, but I do thank you from the bottom of my heart for that gift Ashin."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

"Of course, Darron. The poison in my blood may have cut me off from the Light Side forever -- according to a consensus of Light Side healers and Dark Side alchemists, sadly enough -- but I remain...me. Well, so long as power doesn't warp me faster than I'm comfortable with. Joining the Jedi is not medically possible for me.

"As for my reasons for testing the Jedi..." Ashin smiled faintly. "Remember, I have a portion of my grandfather's memories. We both recall a time when the Jedi Order was far from a good example in terms of any quality of humanity. Today's Order...is it worthy?"

 

[Darron Wraith]

"Honestly, I have no idea of the state of the Order. Your business on Mon Calamari drew a mission report to my desk to have you detained, I"ve been dragging my feet on the matter to be quite honest." His brow furrowed as he spoke of the deception he was currently employing on the order to keep them off of Ashin's trail. The two had vowed to let each other work and do their parts for their orders in exchange for an alliance that would see a greater good for the galaxy should larger threats arise. It had been rather tricky in doing so, he had shuffled some files and changed the threat rating for Ashin on a couple dozen occasions as scouts came back with more intel of havoc her and her Order had been creating out in the galaxy.

"Why must you judge the Order in the first place? Are you policing the very Order you have said that you yourself cannot join?"

 

[Ashin Varanin]

"I appreciate your efforts, Darron. I assure you it's not necessary." She shrugged. "But since my 'efforts' on Mon Calamari have caused some strife, I would remind the Order that I forestalled a civil war by eliminating the combatants of a radical faction, subduing no less than two major staging points for two separate factions. Call it an invasion if you like, call it imperialism if you like, but we got the job done.

"As for why I hold the Order accountable...well, call it the vestiges of my grandfather's sense of duty. I was a Jedi too, if you'll recall."

 

[Darth Vandin]

Vandin had taken the shuttle down alone. If trouble arose, he could no doubt fight his way out, or flee. Still, he had ordered his Corvette to find the best, optimal firing position and await his orders should the need arise.
Now, the doors to the restaurant's elevator opened. The Dark Sider and the Jedi appeared not to be having a confrontation...but looks could be deceiving.

 

[Viqi Gal]

Viqi the Durosian landed his straight-line ship thing wrecklessly near the restaurant. Viqi the Durosian was hoping he'd have some fun drinking together with some friends, he walked down the ramp into the restaurant and looked at the restaurant, grinning. "Ahhh.", Viqi sighed in relief, as he was waiting patiently to get a drink from the restaurant, he walked inside stumbling on his legs, Viqi wore a robe, a hat, and had a rock hidden under his hat incase of emergencies. He walked and pulled a seat, sitting down. He'd constantly burp, waiting for the water to reach him.

 

[Darth Vandin]

Vandin heard the reckless flying and turned to see the blue skinned Duros. "I...Did not expect that."

 

[Viqi Gal]

Viqi The Durosian looked at Vandin, not knowing whether he was whispering or not. He chose to stare at him while burping. "Hey, hey, sorry if I caused any inconvenience". Viqi smiled while staring at Vardin's eyes.

 

[Darron Wraith]

"Yes, you were a Jedi, but you have since had to forego that path. What could you honestly say to the Order, or do that would enact some positive change? Do not think it hasn't escaped my attentions that you are with the Sith."

Darron motioned for the waitress to bring him another cup as he regarded Ashin some more. Yes she had a good bit of Je'gan in her, even if her sense of justice was a bit more firm and misguided than her grandfathers. He could tell where their ideologies differed, but at his core Darron could see how she would have made an amazing Jedi. Had it not been fort those damn poisons she would have been an amazing addition to the Order. She truly would have added to the legacy that Je'gan made all those years ago. He allowed his mind to wander down that path briefly as he was brought another cup, he didn't usually partake in any thing other than water but he figured he could enjoy himself a little. Despite who he was with. Doubt the Order would like the company I'm keeping...and what would Rosa think?

The thought of his Padawan warmed his heart as he gave Ashin all of his attention,"listen say what you will about what you did on Mon Calamari. I know first hand who you are working with, I've seen them in action, hell I've killed a few of them. You are traveling in dangerous circles playing a dangerous game, regardless of it is by your rules. You aren't safe and the company you keep will only bring the Order down on you like a hammer one day. If they send others to try and capture you, and you dispatch of them. I will eventually get the call. What then?"

 

[Ashin Varanin]

"Then you'll do your job -- I expect nothing less." Ashin waved for, and received, another hot chocolate. "But I have a question for you in return. The Jedi raised me to do maximum good in my sphere of influence. I've applied that principle in at least two ways. First, the Sith would have invaded Mon Calamari anyway. I was in a position to moderate that, and save untold thousands of lives. Second, you know as well as I do that the Jedi feel a responsibility to uplift, strengthen and monitor the galaxy. I feel the same way about the galaxy...and that includes the Jedi. I will do what I must for the benefit of the galaxy as a whole. The Jedi have a role to play in that. Do I not still have a responsibility to bring as much positive change as I can?"

 

[Darth Vandin]

At the sound of the word, "Sith," Vandin's attention was immediately turned to the other. He stepped closer. Now he recognized the woman; he had seen her on Korriban several times before. Ashin Varanin. He had yet to meet the Jedi, however.
"Is there a problem?" he stated to them.

 

[Zev Stargo]

The light sound of a shoe tapping the ground echoed slightly around the small table at which Zev sat, cigar smoke chocking the area with the sweet smell of Tabac. His green eyes studied the holographic chess board in front of him, the pieces resembling Imperial Stormtroopers and Rebel fighters from the times of the Galactic Civil war and Emperor Palpatine. His opponent was one of his friends from a youth that seemed ages ago but the two still shared a bond and would, every so often, get together in the cantina to drink, smoke and have a game of chess or Pazaak. Today, however, Zev was not paying full attention to the game at hand, instead, he was observing two peculiar people sitting at a table in the cantina. One was a male, the other a female, and they were defiantly not your run of the mill cantina crowd, even for Coruscant where that crowd had a large variety of people.


Zev continued to watch the two out of the corner of his eye as he made his move, earning a silent curse from his friend. What was disturbing about these two was the fact that the male was packing a lightsaber...could they be here to watch him? It was no secret to Zev that the Jedi and the Republic had no love for him and his secret activities in the criminal underworld, so it was quite possible that these two were here to spy or ambush him. It was always risky meeting up with his childhood friend, perhaps the law had finally discovered more about Zev than he would like.


"Jonn, you okay?" His friend asked, giving him a cautious stare as he did


Zev glanced back to his friend, his emerald eyes emotionless as he brought the Shento cigar up to his mouth and took another puff "quite...I believe it is your turn." Zev said with his usual stormy calmness, not taking his eyes off the Jedi at the table below his.

 

[Darron Wraith]

Ashin's points were valid, and Darron for all his skill on the battlefield and with his saber, he could see the reason in her words. She wasn't a liar, and like her grandfather she didn't posses a single dishonest bone in her body. He had to at least respect that she was trying to do good to the best of her abilities, but he knew that the Council, the Order, and the Republic would never see it her way. It pained him to know one day he would get the order to bring her in or kill her if necessary, it was an eventuality he had seen on Kamino a few months ago, Yet he had ignored it because their alliance was paramount for galactic safety, and he couldn't bring himself to kill Je'gan's granddaughter. She may have her flaws, and she may be of the darkside. But I swore an oath to my friend to protect all members of his bloodline until my dying day and I intend to keep my word.

"Ashin, you're arguing perspective with me now. You know I see what you are saying, and I know that deep down you are trying to do as much good in what limited capacity you could do. It's the simply matter of which Order you follow, and who's company you are with. I know you are working closely with the Emperor and don't you dare try and lie to me about it, I've read the intelligence reports. Your name and his have come up together in briefings.."

A flicker of darkside energy drew his attention and he noticed the young man standing near them, his words holding too much of a threat for Darron's liking. His blue eyes sized the Sith up, and his senses reached out to feel his power. "There is about to be one should you consider threatening me boy, go away before I bring you to the Council for judgment."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

"Of course I'm working closely with the Emperor. My job is to ensure that Sith are accountable to his laws -- the ones forbidding Sith from committing murder within their territory. Again, the reality is somewhat more complex-"

She broke off as a dark presence approached. "It takes guts to present oneself to two Masters in sight of the Jedi Temple itself. How far do you think he would fly, Darron, if I punted him across the gap? Do you think he would crash land in Teferi's private gardens?"

 

[Zev Stargo]

Zev strained to hear the last bit of conversation, that female was no Jedi...she was a Sith and by the sounds of it the Jedi were looking for her. A split second grin came across Zev's face before his lips became neutral once again. There could be a lot of money and leeway to acquire for this information, today must be his lucky day. He strained to listen some more as the game of Chess came back around to him. Slowly he had his knight, represented by an Imperial Speeder Scout, move into position to draw his friend into check mate. That's when a young Sith approached the table, and it seemed as if a fight were to break out.

 

[Darth Vandin]

Vandin laughed under his mask. "It wasn't a threat. I recognized Ashin. Not someone I would expect to be talking with a Jedi Master." He then grew deadly quiet, turning his attention to the Jedi. "And I'm the one who owns the Corellian Corvette, here, not you, Jedi," he said, pointing. "All due respect."