Dawn Comes
Anyone with reasonable access to Prosperity's library and its restricted sections (temporary passes and such, too) is welcome. I'm not looking for open conflict from the get go, but as the thread progresses we can see where an encounter can lead.
For all intents and purposes, unless inspected closely, Bernard looks and sounds the part of Gabriel Pryce .
For all intents and purposes, unless inspected closely, Bernard looks and sounds the part of Gabriel Pryce .
Prosperity, Library Section, Restricted Access Area
As Bernard approached the keypad to the Hidden Archives within the halls of Prosperity, he wondered for a moment if matters today might escalate to the point that more Jedi blood got spilled by his hands.
The keys lit up blue as he entered the combination. If the lock algorithm hadn't changed, then based on the current cycle and relative proximity to Tython ... and esk five onith nine three. The keypad lit up green.
Bernard sighed as the first lock mechanism disengaged. That could have been a lot more trouble, but serving as a councillor did pay off sometimes, after all.
The doors slid open to reveal a narrow corridor, lit dimly by crystal emplacements along the length of the walls. At the far end, a set of double doors marked the entrance beyond which were stores of restricted knowledge, and deeper within, behind even more security, the Bogan Collection, and the Black Vaults. Two figures stood on either side of the doors here, their beige-gold robes and extended white lightsaber hilts made them easily recognizable as the Temple Guardians.
Their masks shifted to focus Bernard almost instantly, but their stance did not immediately potray hostility.
Without missing a beat, Bernard proceeded down the corridor, with his eyes turned down so the hood of his cloak obscured more of his face. Visitors were uncommon, but not unexpected. And from all appearances he had made his entry with the proper authorization. Although they couldn't quite make out his face, enough of the beard stuck out to make his appearancemore convincing, and he'd come prepared with a trick up his sleeve.
"Name and rank," the left guard held up a hand once Bernard came within four steps of them.
"Gabriel Pryce, Jedi Master and Historian," Bernard answered with the other man's voice.
The height between them had matched almost perfectly, and Pryce's position as a historian was sure to rouse little suspicion with the Guardians. Add a diguise kit mockup of the other Jedi's beard along with some makeup, both of which had cost him a small fortune to get perfect, and Bernard could pass as the Jedi Master upon cursory inspection when his hood was lowered. With the voice changer obsucring his voice, the illusion became almost perfect. After hours of fine tuning, Bernard sometimes didn't recognize himself speaking in the mirror once the disguise was on.
"State your intent," the Temple Guardian demanded
"Research," he said.
The Temple Guardian regarded him for a moment. Bernard could practically feel the eyes behind his mask narrow.
"I recognize your name, Historian. But your presence is out of the ordinary. Your assignment was to the Templ on Coruscant. What do you seek from Prosperity's Hidden Archives that you cannot find in your own?" The Temple Guardian's head tilted ever so slightly.
"I'm investigating the effects Prosperity's involvement in front-line warfare has on the station, and I've been given permission to study the more dangerous knowledge to appraise if the risks they pose have grown over time," Bernard answered.
He crossed his arms beneath his robes, keeping hidden the fact that the number of digits on his hands didn't quite match up with that of a Human's.
"I can't quite investigate the effects on the artefacts sitting around in the Temple on Coruscant, now, can I?" Bernard snipped, putting a slight tinge of smugness into his voice.
The Temple Guardians regarded him, and exchanged a brief look. Their posture changed beneath their robes, and Bernard let his hand fall to rest on the cold steel of his lightsaber.
A moment passed before the Guardian replied.
"We'll be interested to see your findings, Master Pryce. You may proceed inside."
Bernard nodded courteously, and after the Temple Guardians disengaged the Force lock on the doors, he stepped into the vast library of forbidden knowledge. When the door behind him closed with the loud thunder of stone striking stone, he breathed a little easier.
The easy part was behind him. Now came the difficult part, finding the obscure scraps of knowledge that revealed the truthful nature of the Dark Side.