Private I Can Explain

[Wrenarias]

Three days had passed since there'd been any word from Wrenarias. Any calls to her holo went unanswered. Her temporary quarters in the palace were vacant; and her apartment in the city, if anyone paid a visit, was empty. It wasn't a secret that she'd taken a job on the side to cover her own expenses, working as a cybernetic engineer, and it wasn't unheard of for her to get caught up with the work and be rather difficult to reach for a day... but this was different.



Unsure of where else to go and with no access to money or a comm, Wrenarias had little other choice than to pilot the stolen speeder straight into Grayson Palace airspace. All she could do was hope the automated defenses didn't immediately shoot the craft out of the sky. Considering the vehicle was tagged with law enforcement registrations, she allowed herself that small glimmer of a chance. Nevertheless, she found herself holding her breath as she crossed the threshold over the landing pad.

Remarkably, nothing happened.

She expelled a sharp breath of relief and slumped back in her seat, reaching over to power down the speeder. "Thank the stars for that then..." She muttered.

"Where... are we, exactly?" One of the twi'lek girls asked, the one seated in the passenger seat. Her skin was a soft crimson color, her eyes a darker shade of violet. The other woman spoke with a subtle accent, indicative of Ryloth. In the back of her mind, Wrenarias knew the girl must have cost Duval a small fortune.

"Somewhere safe. The Grayson Palace. It's well protected and I know the man who owns this place." Wren explained, trying to reassure the slave girls as best she could, twisting around in her seat to face them.

"I won't let anyone else lay a hand on you. Just trust me, okay?"

Taking one last breath to steady her nerves, Wren opened the door to the speeder and slid out of the seat. She was wearing a poorly fitted uniform with golden letters emblazoned across the chest Duval Enterprise Security. There was a blaster rifle slung over her shoulder and she turned back to the vehicle to help the others climb out from the back. Five additional twi'leks emerged from the speeder, each one a different color and with distinctive tattoo on their lekku. Their clothes left little to the imagination, showing more flesh than they covered.

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Word came from secretary Pickles that an unannounced speeder had made landfall upon the palace's landing pad. A security team had been dispatched immediately, but Cedric was still rousing from bed. Clad in a simple black bathrobe and matching footsies, the Lord-Imperator trudged groggily toward the pad, confident the Essonian security would take care of any threat should they arise.

He arrived a few minutes after the security team, whom had quickly lowered their weapons upon recognizing the face of Wrenarias . The only Twi'lek in the building was well known to the local security - one of several Jedi Padawans that the young men exchanged wanting jests over when they went out drinking.

Cedric blinked through lidded eyes, the steam from the cup of caf he was carrying rising silently above him as he stared at the group.

"My first instinct tells me that you bought us several hookers, but knowing you I doubt that," he brought the cup up to his lips, sipping quietly. "What's going on here Wren? Whom are these women."

Wrenarias

 

[Wrenarias]

Wrenarias took a step forward between the security team and the girls, not because she thought the guys would do anything; but she wanted to keep everyone calm, mostly the recently freed slaves.

Of course, Cedric then strolled up in a bathrobe and blundered into the conversation with as much social tact as a drunken mudhorn. She grimaced a little at the hooker remark, shaking her head.

Rubbing the back of her neck, Wren turned towards the Jedi master and offered a nervous smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. The woman looked exhausted and rather pale, whatever she'd been through seemed to have taken a toll on her.

"For now, they're refugees, for lack of a better word." She glanced over her shoulder to the group of women behind her who were all clustered together. "Ladies, this is Cedric Grayson, a Jedi Master."

The padawan gestured towards the man who was sipping from a cup of caf in a bathrobe. She tried to move past the fact that he currently looked about as far from what one would expect a Jedi to look like as physically possible.

A twi'lek with red skin stepped forward, coming to a stop just behind Wrenarias' shoulder. While she looked to be the oldest of the bunch, she was still clearly younger than Wren. Her arms folded over her chest, visibly cold and uncomfortable. "We're runaways." She said in a soft voice, biting her bottom lip.

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Realization passed over Cedric like the cold breath of God.

He blinked several times, then took a nice long sip of his caf to keep himself from having to speak for as long as possible. When the time finally came, he was more than apologetic in tone. "Of course," he sighed, "Welcome to our home." He bowed his head toward the group of women, before turning on his security team. "See about getting these girls some clothes." He paused as the spouted off their agreements and turned to do as bidden. "Nothing that doesn't fit. I know how your minds work." One of the men scoffed, the others shrugged in agreement, and went off.

"I was beginning to worry you'd gone off and gotten in a speeder crash or something Wren," Cedric scrunched his nose up as he peered accusatorily at her. "I suspect there's quite a bit you need to tell me, but first we need to get these young women situated."

He turned toward the girls. "My men will fetch you some clothes. I'd request that you stay within the palace's walls until we figure this situation out. I don't want anyone trying to harm any of you."

Wrenarias

 

[Wrenarias]

Wren sheepishly quirked her mouth to the side when Cedric turned his gaze towards her, glancing away as she rubbed the back of her neck. She didn't want to admit to getting herself into trouble, but there wasn't a way around it, given the circumstances. "There is... but it can wait until we've gotten everyone situated."

She turned her head just enough to look at the red twi'lek who stood next to her and offered her a reassuring smile. Her attention soon turned back to Cedric.

"Sure..." The young woman spoke softly, glancing once more to Wren. "Would it... be possible to erm... for us to be roomed together, nearby?" She asked Wren tentatively.

The padawan looked to Cedric and raised a brow towards him, silently conveying the question to him with her expression alone.

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There were admittedly a few worries in the back of Cedric's head. Most of them were rather ridiculous and not worth of note, and he quickly dashed them aside. There was the prospect of the populace seeing the head of state take in a flock of scantily clad twi'lek girls into his estate. That was probably going to start more than a few rumors.

Morality, of course, won out at the end of the day. Whatever Wren had done, he assumed it was a good thing, and turning these young women away was neither the Jedi way, nor his way.

He gave the green girl a nod. "There are several guest quarters in the eastern wing of the palace. You can have your pick of things." The soldiers each returned bearing several different articles of clothing ranging from long dresses to leather jackets. Cedric had no idea where they'd gotten them, but he wasn't about to start asking questions.

"Wren is responsible for you all. If you need anything bring it to her," he added, giving his padawan a sly look. "Responsibility is important for a Jedi Padawan, after all." He sipped at his caf.

Wrenarias

 

[Wrenarias]

Remarkably, Wrenarias did not seemed perturbed by the sudden delegation of responsibility. If anything, it seemed to put her further at ease and she smiled slightly. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

It seemed that Wren had been less than forthcoming about her status as a Padawan with the other runaways, however. Each of them made some sound of surprise and looked to their impromptu rescuer with puzzled expressions.

This caused her to grimace slightly and she gave a nervous chuckle. "Right, right... I should see to getting your rooms in order."

She looked to Cedric once more, an appreciative smile on her face. "I'll explain, I promise. Come find me after you uh... Get dressed?"

The lethan twi'lek actually giggled and shook her head, though the sound was soft enough that the wind snatched it away before it could carry too far.

With that, Wrenarias gestured for the girls to follow her. "Let's get you all settled in. Food, showers, proper clothes..."

 

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It was around then that Cedric took note of what he was wearing. He glanced down at the robes that hung loosely from his chest, down to the fuzzy black slippers on his feat.

"Well ladies," he looked to the similarily scantily-clad girls. "At least we match." He did a 'toast' with his mug, snickered, and turned about. "Just ask the guards if you need anymore help, Wren."

With that Cedric quickly made off for his room. He clad himself in simple black Jedi robes, forgoing the cloak for ease of movement. A good fifteen minutes passed before he wandered back down toward the eastern wing.

"You get them settled?" He'd ask of Wren as he came down the hallway.

Wrenarias

 

[Wrenarias]

In the short time that passed, Wrenarias was able to get each of the girls to their own rooms, a clean pair of actual clothes, and food on the way. When Cedric arrived, she was still wearing the poorly fitted security uniform and had been wearily making her way back towards her quarters.

She managed a tired smile to the Jedi Master, then gave a small nod of her head. "Yeah... they've got everything they'll need to get them through tonight and tomorrow, at least."

The twi'lek's entire demeanor seemed muted, more withdrawn than she normally was. She was shaken up, exhausted, and anxious.

"Sorry that this was so... unexpected. I didn't have a way to notify anyone before we landed..." She mumbled an apology, rubbing the back of her neck. Her voice was kept to just above a whisper, not wanting to disturb anyone who might have been sleeping.

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Cedric waved a hand.

"It's alright, you did the right thing. If people need our help, then we must give it without complaint." He offered Wren an approving smile. "You acted like a true Jedi. I'm proud of you," and he was if his tone was anything to believe.

He turned then, gesturing down the hall. A tiny thing was lumbering down the hall. It had a piggish snout full of small sharp teeth, a hide of emerald scales that glistened in the light of the hall, and big black eyes that peered up at the duo curiously. It walked on four beefy limbs, the front two of which were adorned with webbed skin that would eventually serve as wings.

Cedric grinned.

"I was going to give this to you anyway, but I suppose we can pretend it's a reward," he snickered, "This is an Anari. A rare species that we know next to nothing about, save for their powerful connection to the Force."

The pup mewled.

"They bond with a single individual for their entire life. Loske and I found a handful of pups back on Chandrila - I could think of no one better to take care of this one."

Wrenarias

 

[Wrenarias]

Her eyes went wide as she saw the small creature come waddling into view. It was quite possibly one of the cutest things she'd ever laid eyes on in her life. A soft squeak of excitement formed in her throat as she knelt down onto the floor. "Oh kriffing stars, look at you!"

"Look at his little paws!" She exclaimed, not even hearing Cedric tell her that the young cub was actually hers at first.

She was running her fingers along the creature's back when it clicked what the Jedi Master had told her. For a moment, she wasn't sure she'd heard him right. She blinked several times and then looked back up to Cedric with a perplexed expression.

"Wait... are you serious?"

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Cedric snorted.

"Yes," he replied simply, leaning down to scratch the little beast behind its era holes. The Anari cooed in response, its eyes drifting half-shut as it enjoyed the pleasures provided from scratchies.

"I have one, so does Loske. There were only three, but I intend to try and cultivate the species," Cedric gestured toward the pup. "This one's a female. They grow to be the size of gunships, from what I've seen. I trust you to keep her safe," there was a weigh to those words. The Anari were precious creatures, and as far as Cedric knew, only three of them remained. There was so much to learn from creatures that stemmed from the Netherworld itself, but then there was also the simple matter of doing what was right. The Anari required force sensitives totake care of them, and Wren had proven herself more responsible than most, if a bit eager to go off and do her own thing when it suited her.

There was no better choice.

"I haven't named her. I figured you would want to do that."

Wrenarias

 

[Wrenarias]

Wren's smile only spread all the further once Cedric reaffirmed what he previously said. She reached out to pick up the small cub, gathering her gently in her arms and then she stood up, holding the little creature close. "I'll have to think about what to name her then..."

"I don't know what to say, Cedric, thank you." She smiled, nuzzling her cheek against the soft fur on the top of the Anari's head.

A warmth blossomed where she touched the creature, something she'd not experienced before.

"The size of gunships though? Where are we going to keep them once they grow up?" She chuckled as she asked the question. The Anari reached up with a paw, batting at her face and chittered with excitement.

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A few names had come to mind, though Cedric held his tongue. He was keen on making sure Wren has full autonomy in this process. The Anari were molded by those around them, and if Cedric was going to study the different ways the creatures would be affected by their bonds, he would have to stand aside.

“Just make sure the name doesn’t have anything to do with the color green,” he snickered, “I already named mine after his color, can’t have you jacking my style.” He snickered as he leaned down to scratch the little green pup behind the ears.
“Don’t thank me,” he added, “I just gave you an infant to take care of. Let the suffering commence.” He clapped his hands together dramatically.

“we’ll have to figure things out when it comes to housing. They can stay with us for now, but an atrium of some kind would probably suit them whenfully grown,” he scratched at his chin, “I’m not sure.”

A shrug.

“Before we get too into that though - you mind telling me exactly how we acquired a convent of Twi’Lek girls?”

Wrenarias

 

[Wrenarias]

The twi'lek bit her bottom lip at the question, shifting the small cub up onto her shoulder. One hand reached up to help the little one stayed balanced in place. She smiled softly, glancing at the critter as the cub started to bat at the headdress that was wrapped around her lekku.

Though Cedric's question caused her mouth to quirk a little to the side in a faint frown.

"There was a uhm..." She sighed softly, shaking her head. This wasn't a conversation she wanted to have while standing in the middle of a corridor.

"It's a bit of a long story. Want to come inside?" She finally offered, nodding her head towards her room off to the side.

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It could only be such.

Cedric gave her a curious little smile as he nodded, "By all means. I've got time to listen." His next meeting wasn't for another few hours. A break from the monotony of administrative service was more than welcome.

He wasted little time in stepping around his padawan, making his way into the room she'd pointed out. His mind was wandering trying to figure out just what Wren had done. It would have had to be on Coruscant given her choice of vehicle, and probably the lower levels given the professions of the dancers. You wouldn't find their kind near New Essonia.

"So," he turned toward her, "Fill me in on this little misadventure, my young padawan," he added the last bit with no end of good natured sarcasm. As time would have it, he and Wren were near in age. Still, he loved using that line.

Wrenarias

 

[Wrenarias]

"You're far from an old sage, Cedric." She quipped back at him with a tired smile, shutting the door behind her and then leaning down to set the small cub on the floor to scamper off, exploring the new living space.

With a wave of her hand, she gestured over to a small table that was tucked against the wall with a few decanter of wine while she made her way to a small closet. "Grab yourself a glass if you want... I need to get out of this kriffing uniform."

Much like the twi'lek, Wrenarias' quarters in the palace was rather sparse. There was a single bed that seemed to have been roughly made and then left untouched for some time. She didn't have any decorations in the room or on the walls. The door to her closet shut while she changed, only to reopen a few minutes later. Wren was wearing simple trousers and a loose tank top, though as she was stepping out from the small closet she was slipping into an open sweater so that her arms were covered -- better safe than sorry with someone else in the room.

Before she stopped at the table to pour herself a glass, she pulled on her usual pair of gloves.

Taking her freshly poured glass in hand, she made her way over to her bed and sank down onto the end of the mattress. There wasn't a couch to sit on, but she was leaving the simple armchair by the window open for Cedric.

"Well..." Her thumb tapped against the side of her glass, not sure where to start. She took a deep breath and then heaved a ragged sigh. Her free hand ran over her head, trailing down her organic lek.

"Okay so... technically, I'm uh... still tied under a legal indentured servitude contract." She started with a grimace, shaking her head. "The holder of that contract found me here by pure coincidence."

Her mouth quirked slightly to the side and then she took a quick sip from the dark red wine. "Unless, you know, the Force willed it or some nonsense."

After a long pause, Wren absently stared down at her reflection in the surface of the wine as it rippled in the glass. "He sent someone to tail me from work back to my apartment in the city. Not technically kidnapping, since I broke the contract..." She muttered bitterly, raising her eyes to look back up at Cedric.

She waved her hand towards the window. "I got lucky though. Someone else was.... I don't know, robbing the place? I was drugged... still kind of feeling it honestly. Heh."

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The chamber was spartan. Cedric quietly approved: it was not fitting for Jedi to have attachments to much beyond what they could carry on their backs. It wasn't a lesson he'd attempted to impart in Wrenarias , but it seemed to be one she'd come to anyway. That, or she simply didn't spend enough time here to warrant decorating.

Cedric didn't care. He'd take the win.

The Jedi Master settled into the empty chair as Wren emerged from the closet. His brow furrowed as she recalled what had happened. "An indentured servant?" He asked, confused, "We need to go deal with this man then. I'll not have some immoral capitalist try to terrorize you for his own ends." The Jedi added, no end to the protectiveness burning in his tone. People could say what they wanted of Cedric, but he was fiercely protective of those that stood with him.

"And that poison, the drug," he frowned, "If you're still feeling it perhaps we should get you checked. There are doctors here. It might be having a subtle effect you wouldn't notice."

A brief pause as Cedric cast aside the wash of worry in favor of humor. "The Force very well may have willed it to be so. We all have our trials, and it looks like you passed with flying colors."

Wrenarias

 

[Wrenarias]

Wren grimaced, though it wasn't quite clear what caused the expression. Her eyes remained on the drink in her hand for a few moments, before she took a small sip of the contents. Of course, Cedric didn't know.

He wasn't familiar enough with Wrenarias to know the kind of person she was, what she'd endured over her lifetime. While he seemed to rejoice in the trials the Force constantly threw at him, feeling as though they molded him into who he was -- an imperator of a growing empire, an accomplished Jedi Master. He'd been born with a destiny of sorts, the Force ushering him along and shaping him to fulfill the position he now held.

It wasn't the same for Wren.

Though they were close in age, their lives were entirely dissimilar. What had she accomplished? Death, sorrow, trauma. It followed her everywhere she went, clinging to her heels like a shadow. Of course Cedric could praise his hardships, look what it'd gotten him. He had this palace, an Order, a home, a purpose.

She had nothing to show for the misery she'd lived through. To her, it felt as if her entire existence was one long trial of attrition.

As far as she was concerned, the Force could go fuck itself.

Silence lingered in the air for a short while, before Wren found the words she needed to utter.

"There's no need to deal with him. I threw him out a window." She said flatly, with now intonation of regret. "However, all of our contracts are still legally binding and in effect." She added a moment later, turning her gaze to the Jedi Master.

"Bunch of his security personnel too... though not all of them, like the news is reporting." She sighed and gestured towards the hall with a wave of the hand that was holding her glass. "That's where they came from... I took them with me on the way out."

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Cedric was considering something along the lines of jail time. He did well to keep his expression from shifting as she spoke plainly of the man's demise. It was likely a good thing he was gone, though the apathy with which Wren delivered the news was alarming. Execution was not the Jedi way. "Well, I hope he deserved it." Was all he could off. He didn't want to alienate her.

"We can probably see about nullifying those contracts at the very least. Our connections with the IGBC could get on to something." He offered, reaching up to scratch at the back of his scalp as she gestured toward the hall.

"I'd say you made the right call on getting them out, and I trust your judgement in ending his life. I'll only say that you should take great care when meting out the final judgement. Even the darkest of souls can be saved, and sometime meting out the judgement is scars the soul of the executioner if one's intentions are wrong."

Wrenarias