Put it on my tab

[Sanya Val Lerium]

Kal'Shebbol

A small holo image danced above her table changing through all the colors slowly. Although she just watched the life around her with a corellian ale in a small stright glass. She had learnt this was one of the bar's [member="Jorus Merrill"] often visited or that's what her information led her to believe. While she sat there Sanya would keep looking around at those around her either enjoying themselves or drinking their sorrows away- like their life could be found at the bottom of each glass.

The more she tried to tune out the world around her the more she got a strange feeling. An echo in the force of where it once touched but is no longer there. The only thing it left was it's scars and imprint etched on the soul and the empty shell of their former self. Maybe the absence belonged to one of the many wasting away here or maybe they found purpose enjoying them self with friends. Nether the less she felt empathy and sympathy for who it was. Sanya knew all to well what it felt like to be disconnected. She knew how much she depended on her abilities from it and it compared to loosing all five core senses at once.

She finished off the rest of her ale in a gulp making her head shake and the end of her tail twitch. Her expression showed she rarely drank but the was she did it told a different story. It almost felt like fire down her throat numbing her tounge and staining her breath with it's strong potent smell. Time passed by in what felt like a blur and more had come and gone. One of the staff members of the establishment came to collect her glass from the table and she looked at the woman. "Excuse me miss. I don't suppose you know of a jorus Merrill?" Sanya had asked. "Yes he's sat over there." She replied with a warm smile. "Thank you. I hope you don't mind me asking but could you possibly send him over here please?" "Certainly, just bear with me a moment as I need to clear the tables." Her tone of voice was very relaxed and came across as an assertive person. "Okay. And again Thank you." Neither her or jorus had met before and she knew for a fact he didn't know her voice. So before she reveled who she was she had the opportunity to probe the real reason of this bounty.

 

[Bryce Bantam]

"No Seriously boss, she said I'm dead to her, not in the figurative sense but in the literal sense. Karking money grubbing woman, she already remarried too, to some noble sheb wipe from clan Veruth. Trying to cut clan Rha out all together... ah, but sorry boss enough about my troubles, are you seriously not able to feel the force anymore. Like, not at all. I know we found you in rough shape but seriously?"

After the rescue in wild space Jorus and Bryce had grown closer, even to the point of sharing a drink from time to time and let off steam. [member="Jorus Merrill"] had always been a psudo father to the boy, help shape him a bit. It was only natural as Bryce's true father hadn't been in the picture since he was three.

Taking the last gulp of his Tuluvian triple Bryce motioned over the the bar maid and pointed to his empty glass. Holding up two fingers he motioned to himself and Jorus indicating he wanted another round all the while supremely intreged with his friends new condition. So it was not surprised he didn't notice Croa sitting a few tables down who at this time seemed to have some business with his friend as well.

[member="Sanya Val Swift"]

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Bryce Bantam"] [member="Sanya Val Swift"]

Jorus waved away the concern with his third mug of lum. "Bantam, lemme tell you something. I lived most of my life never knowing a thing about the Force. I had a good run, but I'l live. The Force comes and goes and whatever. Maybe someday I'll get it back, no sweat off my neck if I don't. Talked to an Ithorian priest -- they can fix severing sometimes -- and there wasn't much he could do for it."

Slurp.

"Anyways, like I was saying. All that, it's nothing next to figuring out the important stuff. When not to settle. Who you wind up with. I spent seven years running holocrons and building secret vaults and crap for the Jedi -- and that was a fething thankless job -- and I spent those years on the run. Didn't see near enough of Alna, or Mara, or Rave. That's the one I kick myself for, yeah? I was off trying to save the 'verse or whatever, and my sister was turning herself into a Sith Lord. And my wife was mostly by herself back home, or doing her own thing. And my kid was growing up and fighting my war and getting hurt-"

Slurp.

"Priorities." He set down the mug and looked up as the barmaid came over. "Hey Rocsan. How's your dad?"

"Says hi. Look, Cap'n Merrill, the Cathar lady over there asked me to send you over."

"Oh yeah?" Jorus followed her gaze and lifted the mug in acknowledgement. "Thanks, Rocsan, I'll take it from here."

As the barmaid left, Jorus levered himself upright. His knees were bothering him a bit.

"That's not a Cathar, Bantam," he said quietly, adjusting the taozin amulet under his shirt. "That's a Sekalan Croa, the kind that got warped by that Black Rose toxin. Could be real good, could be real bad. Follow my lead."

He made his way across the cantina to the woman.

"Flattered but married," he said, flopping down in a chair opposite her. "Happily. Let's just get that outta the way first. I'm Jorus Merrill. What can I do for ya?"

 

[Sanya Val Lerium]

[member="Bryce Bantam"] Ξ [member="Jorus Merrill"]

She watched the man closely as he wondered over almost staggering about. As he got to the table she could feel the table shake a little from him dropping into the seat. She couldn't help but smirk a little and shake her head from his comment. She held out her hand across the table for a handshake. A simple professional gusture. "Its a pleasure to meet you Mr Merrill. Could I buy you and your friend here a drink?" She asked out of politeness. Some part of her felt like this would be a long discussion and yet a short one too.

"I'm going to get straight to the point. I'm interested in knowing a little more about an outstanding bounty you have on the black rose affiliates - one person in particular. Sanya Swift. Now I'm aware about the corruption that group has done and witnessed it unfortunately. I also know your about the escapades on demonsgate I think. Now I've looked into it but unfortunately there doesn't seem to be enough information. Whats there seems vague." She said trying to play her without mentioning who she was. at most she wanted to know the reasoning and later on an chance to explain and clear her name on many of the things. Right now she could only speculate from rumors.

Her work inside the black rose was like looking at two sides of the credit chit. One side she regrets been affiliated with them and even taking up a leadership role. On the other side. She was able to protect her wife and get her an out, not only that but she felt like she could redeem those engrossed in evil tendencies. But that was like biting off more than one can chew and choking on it. Not only that but they where the reason behind the full scale attack on sekalus. She only wanted to free the people from the evil and work on building them back up to a functional society and bring them an economy. She has still achieved that but at what risk?

 

[Bryce Bantam]

"Your a Croa, cool. You're actually the second one I have ever met. The other was my pilot on "The Starr" Alexa, great pilot, great girl in fact. A bit strange though.. You would think someone turned into a different species by sithery would be pissed about it. Strangely she seemed cool with it. In fact knew little about her life before being a Croa so hey, who am I to judge."

Bryce had already ordered a new drink so he would just have that put on her tab since she offered. As this beer was only being his second he was barely feeling it and would need to play catch up if he was to get on Jorus's level.

"Now this Swift lady seems like a real piece of work. From the folks we captured with Black Rose connections her name came up often. Apparently she was a big wig in the group. Took part in genoside, aided, if not committed acts of alchemy against innocent women and children. Even ordered the destruction of the main refinery on Demonsgate killing hundreds of workers and setting back the surviving citizens of Demonsgate as they had to rebuild their lives from scratch. Lucky we were there but the costs of that act alone are hundreds of millions of credits. Can't tell you how many people on Demonsgate I met while helping them rebuild openly wished for the deaths of all Black Rose folks."

As his drink arrived he thanked the waitress and took another large gulp of it before continuing.

"You ask me, anyone who would to that. Then steal all the Phink she could from a planet, blow up the main way the people can make a living, then runs off to her home little dark nexus world. She deserves what is coming to her..."

[member="Sanya Val Swift"] | [member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Bryce Bantam"][member="Sanya Val Swift"]

Jorus looped his thumbs in his belt and leaned back in his chair.

"Then there was the whole human shield thing, and the folks she brainwashed on Demonsgate, plus some stuff we can't talk about. Dark stuff, things we only learned when we captured some of her people. Bottom line, lady, we got the goods on her well enough before we put up that bounty."

He sucked his teeth for a second.

"Lemme ask you something, lady, and I hope you don't get offended. 'Fore you were a catgirl, were you even an adult or female for that matter? Way I hear it, that Sithspawn virus of Lerium's turned everyone into her twisted idea of what's attractive, whether they wanted to be or not. You can't tell me you don't know a hundred Croa who wouldn't rip her throat out for that in a heartbeat. Yeah. Yeah, we got our reasons. Plus she fething calls herself a hero."

 

[Sanya Val Lerium]

[member="Jorus Merrill"] Ξ [member="Bryce Bantam"]

She didn't really move from how she sat instead she just listened processing every word. Most of the information that had was far from the truth. Yet it left a sickening feeling deep inside. Is this what others really believe? Is this they type of person the presive me to be? she though to herself moving her hands from the table and griping around the end her tail. Her thumbs would keep brushing the same direction towards the tip helping to relive nervous energy. "I was an adult and female. The transition was my own fault really. Honestly when the croa virus was still an active thing I kissed the woman who is now my wife and..." She said cutting her sentance short. "Tell me this ,all the information you've been given. How sure are you that it's right? Sounds like you've only got the one side of the story. One where others filled in gaps to ease their minds."

The same waitress from before walked up to their table making Sanya stop for a moment. "Hiya would any of you like to order anything else?" She asked. "A corellian ale again please and what Mr Merrill would like." The woman would wait to see what jorus wanted before leaving.

She sighed when she looked back at the two. "Do what you will with me long as I have the chance to actually say my side of the story and give you the real truth. I can't ask you to believe me but I've no reason to lie either. first off I'm Sanya Val Swift." That moment she felt even more sick than before but she didn't need to hide who she was. They said enough already. "Secondly I'm not the Creator of the croa virus. I'm a victim of it but I learned to embrace the change because once it was motion there was nothing I could do. The Creator of it is Baylor Praelior. The one who manipulated me at the weakest moment and used me. Not a day went by when I wanted to run or end her life, but if I did I'd have cost cam her life. Even if I did attempt I'd have been killed anyway. Also not once have I called myself a hero but I'm not the villain I'm made out to be either." She could feel her heart pounding against her chest. Half expecting them both to pull a blaster on her here and now. If what the believed was true then it would be the right thing to do she knew that.

She looked at the other person who hadn't introduced themselves yet. "Also I had no part in the destruction of that facility. The owner was the one who initiated it's destruction and I didn't know he was going to do that till it was done. That was when I told your people it was urgent I had the people evacuate safely. His daughter who works for a phrik mining village on sekalus can testify on behalf on that." Sanya shut her eyes for a short moment and took s deep breath. "Me rambling won't sort anything anyway. I apologize. I'll let you ask questions and I'll answer them." In a way she hope they'd ask them selfs if this is how someone would act if they did do such things. She knew if they where true she'd not be able to sleep. Well not peacefully anyway.

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Sanya Val Swift"] [member="Bryce Bantam"]


Jorus waved off the barmaid, eyes never leaving Sanya. "Nothin' for me, Rocsan."

As the Croa spoke her piece, he sat there, leaning back in the chair, thumbs stuck in his belt.

"Here's what I figure," he said when she'd finished. "I figure our bounty was cramping your public image. Tough to be a Jedi Master when you're wanted for war crimes, isn't it. And see, here's the thing, lady." He sat up a little straighter, and most of the slur vanished from his voice. "We've got good reason to believe you are a war criminal, and the onus is on you to prove otherwise. The testimony of one of your Demonsgate fanatics, who's been living in a mind-affecting Dark Side nexus that you control? Worthless. I was there at Demonsgate when you hid among your people, used them as human shields. You say someone else ordered the facility blown? I say it doesn't matter. You were there, you were in control or could have been at the drop of a hat. Mind tricks, telekinesis, a lightsabre: you could have saved that facility. Instead you ranted at me, tossed out justifications left right and centre, and hid among your people. You used them as human shields, in effect. You put them at greater risk for selfish reasons."

His fingers rapped a rhythm on the table.

"You were a Dark Master, lady. You were far from helpless. You could have found any number of slimy little options to get out of any situation you chose. Balaya fething Praelior intimidated you?" Jorus snorted. "The woman walks around in transparisteel armor, a chainmail thong, and butt implants. And yet somehow she forced your hand so you stood by for an atrocity and did nothing. Stop lying to yourself, lady. You'll never find a shred of peace as a Jedi if you don't take responsibility for what you've done. Color scheme doesn't matter. Accountability does."

 

[Bryce Bantam]

Bryce was cleaning the beer off his jacket after spitting it out in surprise. Fething waste of a good beer but with a tell tail like that it couldn't be helped.

"I'll give you this, you got durasteel one's lady. The General is right, you're a Jedi Master right? And all you could say is, please?.."

Bryce paused a moment to let that sink in.

"He was gonna fething kill himself and all those to loyal to him to see reason. The way I see it, at least some part of you wanted him too. Why else would you stop him? Simple answer is it would have been tough to make a clean escape with our ships harassing you out of Demonsgate gravity well. Slowed down with all the precious metal, don't think we forgot how your robbed them blind before you blew the mines... I ask you, what better way to draw us away then destroy the planets whole fething economy? Look before you claim you didn't know we were the good guy's and that we were there to help let me just tell you that story has more holes in it than a sieve. You used everything low down, dirty trick you had down there to your advantage. All to save yourself and YOUR people from the hell you were about to inflict on the planet, hide behind them while you ran and took every ounce of Phink you could back to your dark shady world. Feth, that sounds like SUCH a Jedi thing to do."

Bryce slammed down the last of his drink before he continued.

"But I understand why you did it, you still think like one of them. Self-centered and mind warped as the rest. If you are truly interested in walking the path of a Jedi then stop it with the excuses. See, they are just like sheb holes, we all got them and they are full of poodoo. Instead look inward and realize although you didn't mean for any of it to happen, it did, and you have a large karking role in it.

“To be Jedi is to face the truth, and choose. Give off light, or darkness. Be a candle, or the night. Which were you to Demonsgate?

[member="Sanya Val Swift"] | [member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Bryce Bantam"] [member="Sanya Val Swift"]

After a long pause, Jorus shrugged and felt tension ease from his shoulders. "Fortunately," he said, "there's a thought that's been running through my head, and that thought is mercy. More mercy than those poor fethers on Demonsgate or Sekalus got, that's for darn sure. The evac from Demonsgate did a good bit of damage to people, structures, local environment. Frankly, we can't afford to make'em whole. But you? You run an interstellar shipyard, you paid how many billion for some lightsabre at auction?" He prodded the tabletop with his finger. "You can pony up to make amends. Total costs ran to about eighty-four million, price of a good heavy cruiser, about two million Huttese peggats. Chump change to you, enough to make a real difference in fixing what you left behind."

He leaned back a little farther in his chair, eyeing the woman he'd long considered a war criminal.

"You sign that over, lady, you walk out of here free and clear, I talk to Central Command, and the bounty goes down today."

 

[Sanya Val Lerium]

[member="Bryce Bantam"] Ξ [member="Jorus Merrill"]
(Ooc: sorry for taking so long )

Her teeth clenched tight as she kept taking deep breaths before speaking once more. "No part of me wanted to see that place go or the people hurt in that facility. When he made his own decision to do what he did, that was his choice and his alone. If I could have stopped it I would have. Unfortunately I wasn't in that room when he issued the meltdown . As for any phrik supposibly on my ship there was non. On the transports I don't know if there was even any on them. I was running a trip to give them building materials for the west wing living quarters. Most of those in that facility are from a village that was destroyed by a volcanic eruption. I was the one who made sure they got out alive and risked my life to ensure no one was left in side while it was been flooded. The only reason that place grew was because I invested in them. I made it my duty to see they had a new start and a good one. The very same thing I'm trying to do now. Also answer me this, why would I need to steal their phrik if I can have it mined on sekalus? Besides you could have still shot me down because those transports left before I got my ship out. I was busy making sure they got out safely. Your the ones who threatened to blast the place in doing so you'd have killed everyone. Either way you pushed the hand not me."

The longer this went on the more she felt that she wouldn't be able to untangle the twisted truths they'd come to believe. It in a way infuriated her. But she was no politic and not entirely good with words. Her eyes darted back to jorus as he spoke once more. "Sign what over exactly? If you mean the docks owned by my company then I cannot do that. Doing so would cause an economic crisis on sekalus - and I do not wish to see my people suffer any more than what the black rose has caused them nor it's previous leaders who neglected and used them." She had made a promise to herself once the rose had wilted and died she'd do all she could to make their lives better. That she'd do all she could to protect them. That she'd lay her life for them if that was what was needed. Still there is an endless amount of options. The only thing limiting those options was one perspective.

Still she had an idea, a far fetched one. "How ever I've no problem in restoring that facility and possibly funding more to be built like it. Except this time with more safety features to ensure the same mistake can't happen. So you don't get paranoid I could send a monthly ledger and updates. The plans approved by your people of course. Not only will I cover the costs but the wages for the demonsgate people. But do understand my people come first." Her eyes traced back to the other person as her drink got placed onto the table. "Also Jedi is just a title. I work with them anyway but I'm not one of them. Really I'm just another asset to them. That's all I've ever been to them. Although my student gives me hope. They are the next generation after all."

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Sanya Val Swift"] [member="Bryce Bantam"]

Jorus folded his arms.

"Lady, like feth are you turning reparations for your crimes to your company's advantage. Eighty-four million, transferred right now, will cover your tab and cancel your bounty. Nothing else to discuss."

 

[Sanya Val Lerium]

[member="Jorus Merrill"] Ξ [member="Bryce Bantam"]

Ooc:

Spoiler

my apologies for not been around nor posting an loa. I got really depressed and been on consistent 51h a week at work.

A look of frustration ran across her face. The man obviously didn't get what she ment or too focused on extorting credits out of her. "Alleged crimes Mr Merrill. Also let me make this clear. My company wouldn't be benefiting from the facilities reconstruction. The people of demonsgate will. How ever if you think it's so simple for me to transfer such amount easily then you must have had a lot to drink or suffered a nasty bump to the head. I'm no longer in control of the credits the company makes in profit, I can only say how it should be spent and what taxes sekalus pays into the government goes back into the world to keep free education, health care, maintenance and making more jobs. That auction was me been to put it simple a moron."

The waitress soon came back over with the corellian ale she'd ordered. "Thank you." She said slouching back into the seat. "Besides that facility wasn't eighty four million in worth. I'd know because sixty percent of if was built out of good will from my company in the first place. Inquisition put roughly twenty two mill in and what was there before then would be worth maybe eleven twelve million. There wasn't just the exteniins but also the equipment." Her hand grasped around the glass and moved it round in small circles on the table.

"But anyway the only way you'll get anything thing out of me value wise is the reconstruction. What you do with it after I don't care. I don't have to be present for it and it could be just materials I send instead. But credits I can't do and I would transfer that either. Either way you can't complain I saved you credits by coming to you anyway."

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Sanya Val Swift"] [member="Bryce Bantam"]

"Lady, you're a war criminal begging for us to let you off the hook, but all you do is whine and dodge responsibility. Just can't stop squirming around in the mud, tryin' to wiggle around whatever you can. Now you've got our conditions. Maybe Bantam here will give you a better deal; that's up to him." Jorus pushed back his chair and stood. "For my part, I'm done with you. Cross my path again and I'll space you."

He headed for the door.