Private Of Planetquaking Importance

[Cotan Sar'andor]

The next time Jorus Q. Merrill returned to his ship or checked his commlink, he'd notice a message left for him from a familiar number.

Hey, Jorus, tried to call you earlier and didn't get an answer. When you get a chance, could you call me back? Full holocall, face-to-face communication. Intentionally ridiculous grudge matches aside, I've got something important to talk to you about.

You know, groundquakingly, change-the-galactic-axial-tilt sort of important.

The message was clearly from Cotan, and for once, it sounded entirely, completely sincere.

 

[Jorus Q. Merrill]

When Jorus called back, he took it seriously despite the voice in the back of his head: It's a prank. It's a trap. It's a prank. It's a trap.

And, likewise, despite the tiny little voice that suggested the whole affair was just a waste of time.

"What's going on, Cotan?" he said as the connection firmed up. "What do you need?"


Cotan Sar'andor

 

[Cotan Sar'andor]

Cotan looked a bit like he hadn't been sleeping very well. Or maybe like he'd just woken up a short while beforehand; still, he grinned seeing Jorus's face. A grin that was perhaps a bit at odds with the message he'd sent...whenever he'd sent it. "Jorus, you should invest in a saltwater spray. It gives your hair and beard a bit of rugged roughness, looks good on you."

The hologram wavered for a moment, before Cotan started chuckling quietly. "Don't worry, I'm not just leaving you with that. You remember Asha? Redhead, I sent her your way after I ran into her hunting pirates on Aaris Three, back before Taeli played her hand and helped Kaine sack Coruscant? She was also with me and Quill on that trip out to Cresh."

Jorus Q. Merrill

 

[Jorus Q. Merrill]

Cotan Sar'andor

"I remember. Nice girl, keeps to herself a bit, yes?"

He'd never been clear on the nature of their relationship, her and Cotan. Friends, partners, student/teacher, or some Je'daii thing beyond all that. At minimum he knew she was very, very important to Cotan.

"What's the situation?"

 

[Cotan Sar'andor]

Okay, good, he didn't have to explain too much. He could just get right down to the question he was worried about asking, about as worried as the other one he'd have to ask soon. "Well, Jorus, you're a Jedi Master, a retired Judge in good standing, and one of the more well known star captains in the rim. More importantly, you're someone we both respect." He raised one hand, pushing back a bit of his messy hair.

"Asking Romi or Coren doesn't feel like the right place for them, and I don't want to force Quill out in front of a bunch of people, so why not ask the man who helped me get on the path to where I am now? Assuming she agrees to it, would you be willing to officiate?"

Jorus Q. Merrill

 

[Jorus Q. Merrill]

For about seven seconds, Jorus just stood there and blinked.

"Would it change your perspective at all if I told you I'm not really a Jedi?" he said, not that that was salient to the core point upon which he still chewed. "I was a Warden of the Sky when the Jedi came and offered me a job on their council. Bam, Jedi Master. Then I quit a few years later. I still don't..."

His thoughts caught up.

"Yes, of course, I'd be happy to. When's the ceremony?"

 

[Cotan Sar'andor]

"Remains to be decided," Cotan said, still grinning at Jorus's momentary inability to focus on the right part of what he'd said. "I'll let you know when and where once I do. You might have to share with Qae up there, I'm not sure. But thanks, Jorus."

Jorus Q. Merrill