First Reply The Shadows of Peace

[Mak Manto]

Mak's Quarters - Bottom of the Jedi Temple

Leaning back in his chair, Mak took a deep sip of his scotch as he idly twirled his cane in his third hand. The room was dark with the fireplace allowing shadows to dance from the flames that occasional leaped up from the wood logs.

He was just beginning to slip into meditation when a firm knock interrupted the stillness. The door opened to reveal Master Halco, her expression serious as she entered. "Mak, we need to talk. There's a critical situation on Balmorra that requires your immediate attention."

Mak shifted his posture, his curiosity sparked despite his earlier lethargy. "What's happening?"

"There is a situation brewing on Balmorra," Halco replied, urgency threading her voice. "Several factions are trying to usurp control over the foundries on the world, and with the weapons and droids that they produce, we can't allow for the planet to turn to enemies of the Galactic Republic when the planet falls within our territory."

Mak raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "And I'm expected to help mediate this chaos?"

"Yes," she affirmed, meeting his gaze. "You'll be working alongside someone else on this mission, someone that will complement your skills as you will to theirs."

"Sounds thrilling," Mak responded, a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "Just what I needed — more chaos to navigate."

"Your ability to investigate is why we need you," Halco insisted. "Master Noble wanted you specifically. There are dark forces abound, manipulating these conflicts from behind the scenes. She believes that there may be more at play here than just politics."

Taking a moment to process her words, Mak nodded. He might not have been eager to jump into the fray, but he understood the importance of his role. "I'll do my best," he said more earnestly, feeling a flicker of resolve spark within him despite the chaos. "So, who am I working with?"

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

The door chimed, and Master Malco pressed the button for the door to open. On the other side, wearing a patchwork corduroy jacket and a pair of denim jeans, and no shoes, was a gray-blue Cathar Padawan, who was currently trying to rip up a particularly stubborn piece of jerky by holding one in her teeth and pulling on the other with all her might.

Gem-in-Trash's eyes widened when she realized the door was open; she'd accidentally hit the chime. The jerky snapped in half towards the bottom, and it flung itself upwards, whipping her on the forehead. It surprised her, and she took a couple steps back.

"Uh, hi," she said through her teeth, not wanting to risk the jerky escaping her mouth, "I'm Padawan Gem-in-Trash, are you Master Mak Manto? I've been told to report to you for some kind of mission?"

She held out a claw, wrapped the jerky around it, and pulled, using her claw to slice it; the effort only got partway through, forcing her to repeat the motion several times before she managed to cut it in half all the way. Once successful, she offered the unbitten bottom half of the jerky to Mak Manto with a toothy smile while she chewed.

 

[Mak Manto]

Mak stared at the Padawan for a moment, caught off guard by her unconventional introduction. His lower left hand reached out and accepted the jerky without thinking, a bemused expression crossing his face as he turned back to Halco. He ran a hand through his beard, incredulous at the unexpected arrival.

Halco's lips curved into a smile at the sight, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "May the Force be with the both of you," she said warmly, before stepping back toward the door. With a final nod, she exited, leaving the two of them in the dimly lit room.

Turning back to Gem-in-Trash, Mak regarded her with newfound curiosity. "So, Gem-in-Trash, is that really your name?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Sounds as if you've got quite the story behind it."

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

Gem bowed to Halco as she left, loudly chewing on the tough, but delightfully flavorful, jerky.

"Ahnd also wid you!"

She looked to Master Manto and smiled, stuffing the half-chewed jerky into her cheek so she could speak with clarity.

"I was born in a dumpster," Gem offered, and shrugged, "I'm not really clear on the details, I was a little busy at the time. I had a lot to do, what with the crying, pooping, and drinking milk. Baby business."

Gem had a bag with her, and she presented it to Mak Manto to inspect. In it, Gem had datapads, maps, a couple of canteens, and a few books. It was mostly snacks. Strapped to the bottom was a personal repulsor-tech vehicle known as a Skimboard, popular with teenagers.

"They told me to research Balmorra, past and present, so I downloaded a bunch of information onto these Datapads and wrote a couple of report briefs. I figured I was just helping someone with their mission prep, I didn't expect to be part of the mission? But after Yavin, I guess I must have left an impression. I wrote the reports quick and dirty yesterday, it's nothing too detailed. I can do more on the way there. Everything else is just in case. Never be caught without water, and if you're bored, you can always re-read a book. Oh, and snacks."

She opened her jacket to reveal she had her own Lightsaber, "And I've got my own Lightsaber. I think that should cover just about everything except a ship and maybe Landspeeders for when we get there."

 

[Mak Manto]

Mak leaned forward, peering into the bag that Gem-in-Trash had presented with an arched eyebrow. He scanned the contents, a mix of datapads, maps—marked with colorful doodles—and an assortment of snacks spilling out among the practical items. His lips twitched in amusement at the sheer variety.

"Impressive collection you've got here, Gem," he said, pulling out a particularly questionable-looking energy bar before setting it aside. "You certainly come prepared, though I must admit, the balance between snacks and research is… intriguing."

He straightened up, a smirk creeping onto his face. "So, let me get this straight. You were born in a dumpster, you like to chew on jerky, and you've somehow managed to write quick and dirty reports on Balmorra while considering snacks to be essential supplies?"

He gestured towards the lightsaber at her side. "And you also wield that? I'll admit, it's not exactly what I expected when I heard I'd be partnered with someone, but I have to say, I rather like your style. It sounds like we might just get along famously."

Mak chuckled lightly, then gestured for her to follow as he moved toward the fireplace. "I suppose we should start preparing ourselves for this mission, then. If you've done your homework, we should see what else we can dig up about the situation on Balmorra. But first…" He raised the half-eaten jerky towards her, "You wouldn't happen to have more of that, would you?"