Private Touch It and Find Out

[Tirin Raene]

TAGS: Gem-in-Trash

Tirin had heard tales of a fuzzy student by the name of Gem-in-Trash wreaking havoc in the temple halls. Curiosity piqued, he decided to seek her out during his brief visit to the grounds. He navigated the sprawling temple, his eyes scanning for any signs of mischief amidst the serene beauty of the architecture. In his hands, he carried a simple black box, its lacquered surface catching the light as he moved.

At last, he spotted the little hopeful girl, her untamed hair and mischievous grin confirming she was indeed Gem. "Gem, is it?" Tirin said gently, his tone softening as he approached her.

"I am Jedi Master Tirin, and I have a small mission for you," he continued, kneeling slightly to meet her gaze. "I wish for you to find Knight Zenth and deliver this box to him. Do not open it, and do not give it to anyone else. No matter what you hear or feel from it do not open it. It must be protected. " With careful hands, he offered the box, its basic latch glinting in the light, devoid of any locks, then slipped her a small piece of paper to accompany it.

"I have some pressing debriefing reports I need to finish," he added with a hint of urgency. "I trust you are well and truly capable of fulfilling this task, young one?" His eyes held a mix of sincerity and expectation, hoping to inspire confidence in the young girl as she took on this important responsibility.

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

Gem had a reputation for unruliness and mischief, and she liked to keep up appearances as best she could with strangers. That said, those Knights and Masters who did work with her, or had her as a student, also knew that she was smart, witty, and compassionate.

What she knew of Tirin Raene was that he was a Jedi of rules, and a lot of them. Exactly the sort of person who would give her a long winded lecture about exactly the kind of fun that Gem liked to have. But she also knew he was someone that she wanted to impress. So when he'd approached her in the cafeteria, she sat up straight, and tried to get her haircomb uncaught from her hair.

"Master-Ow!-Master Raene, uh...To what do I owe-" she tugged on the comb, "The pleasure?"

She ran her claws through her hair, helping it part so she was able to untangle the comb. Normally she was good about keeping her hair clean, but she'd just returned from a mission to the Outer Rim, and she hadn't been able to be as fastidious about grooming as she normally was. For all her mischief, she hated her fur getting matted, and she loved her long, curly hair.

When a Jedi knelt to meet her gaze, she knew that they wanted something from her. It was never a matter of asking a favor, they were always looking for something, so she was immediately suspicious. And delivering a box to another Jedi was Droid work, so this was definitely some kind of test.

She was so going to ace this.

"I'd be happy to!" Gem said, taking the box from him. She looked it over and felt the weight in her hands, "I assume I shouldn't shake it or put it in a bag or something. Where, uh...Should I look for Knight Zenth? Do they have more of a name than 'Zenth?'"

 

[Tirin Raene]

TAGS: Gem-in-Trash

Tirin maintained a steady, even tone as he spoke, his heliotrope-colored eyes focused intently on the strands of hair that had begun to stray from thetussled arrangement. "The paper I provided contains the address where I have been told he should be today. He had business in the city, seeking specific parts." His gaze lingered briefly on the hair struggle before returning to her eyes. "His comlink experienced an unfortunate accident recently, making him difficult to contact."

He paused, his expression clinical and devoid of any inflection that might suggest urgency or concern. "It is imperative that the box remains closed and its contents undisturbed," Tirin added lightly, his voice steady, as he smoothed out nonexistent wrinkles in his deep wine-colored robes.
"As for him, he typically makes himself quite at home in the hangars, particularly around the engineering bays. Following the completion of my reports here, I will need to depart, so I will not be able to deliver the box personally. I am entrusting this task soly to your discression young one. " Tirin's eyes, calm and observant, remained fixed on her as he concluded, "I appreciate your willingness and cooperation in this matter."

He paused for a moment or three, his demeanor remaining calm and methodical. "Knight Valin Zenth is a tall and imposing figure, standing at a towering height of approximately two point thirteen meters," he clarified, as if addressing an audience rather than a conversation. "He possesses long white hair and bears fractal electrical scarring across his face. Notably, he has one blind eye and a blue eye, with prosthetics replacing both an arm and a leg."

Tirin continued, his tone detached as he described the knight's attire. "He does not adhere to typical Jedi garb, often opting instead for a drab, shabby-looking trench coat that appears tattered and worn." He maintained a steady gaze, ensuring that every detail was communicated clearly. "It is crucial that you recognize him, should your paths cross. Now then... it shouldn't be too difficult a task for you to find a man such as this... correct?"

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

Gem looked at the paper and quickly studied it. Although she wasn't familiar with this specific place, she knew she could find it easily enough; she'd spent enough time on Coruscant to know her way around.

"Approximately two-point-thirteen meters? I suppose that'll have to be specific enough," she remarked with a smile. She realized, after a beat, that Tirin Raene might not appreciate the humor she intended, "I think this is more than enough to find him. I know a thing or two about being a Jedi that sticks out."

She tugged on the collar of her jacket, which was mostly made of patches and pockets, "I'll bring it right over to him for you, Master. I'm sure he'll appreciate the..."

She pondered the box for a moment. Given that the recipient was allegedly missing his communicator, it was probably a new one for him. That's what she would have put in the box. She would ask when she delivered it. Gem grabbed the last of the hard boiled eggs on her plate and cracked it open with one hand, and then, still with one hand, peeled it and slipped the egg into her mouth. With most of her mouth inhabited by egg, she added, "It'll be there in a jiffy."

Not that any reasonable person could understand what it was that she'd attempted to say. With the box under one arm, she reached for her skimboard, and sighed, remembering that it was still in her room, and she sighed. The one time she had a legitimate reason to use it, she'd promised to keep it stashed in her room.

"I just gotta grab a couple of things first," she added, her mouth still full of egg. Gem balanced her tray on top of the box to go and dispose of it properly before headed back to her room to grab her skimboard and a backpack. She carefully made a few measurements of the box to make sure that she wouldn't tip it or something, and decided that its contents were probably hardy enough to endure being put into the bag. She resisted the urge to shake it, even if to get a feel for the weight and looseness.

After all, if they'd asked Gem-in-Trash to deliver it, they needed it moved fast as fluff!

"Gem? That you?" her mother, Digs, asked as Gem was darting in and out.

"Yeah. I'm just grabbing my board-"

"You know what they told you about boarding in the Temple, this is-"

"I know, I actually need it this time-"

"-Gonna get you into more trouble-"

"I got a job for a Jedi! I need my board, mom! I'll be back by dinner okay I love you byyyyyye!" Gem sang out as she ran out the door. Out of habit, once in front of the entrance to her and her mothers' quarters, Gem threw her board on the ground and almost jumped on it. With a sigh, she recalled that she was, in fact, on watch for causing too much trouble with the board, and she picked it up, smiling at a passing Knight who was used to looking the other way when she boarded in the halls. That didn't stop her from running through the halls, and, the moment she was at the exterior of the temple, threw the board down on the ground and she started skimming down the temple stairs, headed towards the hovertrain station.

 

[Tirin Raene]

TAGS: Gem-in-Trash

The box it's self had heft to it as it was made of wood. But tilting it felt as if nothing moved around with in... like perhaps it might have even been empty... The box would fit nicely enough in to her bag snugly so.

Tirin bowed his head to the girl and offered a polite gentle smile in return. " May the force be with you. " He offered before departing.

The journey would not be a short one. The destination, was buried deep within the heart of the city, and would require hours of foot travel. Public transport wouldn't serve her here, as the location of the speeder repair shop lay just beyond easy access for someone on foot, and little did she know that Tirin had ensured the most convenient routes were closed off in ways subtle enough to go unnoticed.

A Jedi should be able to endure the monotony of a long walk, after all.

Yet the real challenge wasn't the distance.

The box she carried was deliberately plain, almost too plain. No markings, no real weighty presence outside what was presumably it's make to suggest what lay inside. And yet, wasn't that what made it all the more suspicious? A Jedi Knight wouldn't go through the trouble of emphasizing its secrecy without good reason.

The city pulsed around her, vibrant and alive. Streets stretched on, lined with storefronts and vendors, the tantalizing scent of roasted meats and spiced drinks lingering in the air. Occasionally, curious eyes would land on her, staring and watching.... Did they know? Had they been watching?
Time wore on, the monotony settling in like a thick fog. Her feet ached. The weight of the box, slight at first, seemed to press heavier against her arms

With each passing moment, a thought may have even snuck into her mind; Wouldn't it be easier to know what she was carrying? Just a peek. Just enough to satisfy the odd gnawing curiosity curling at the edges of her thoughts.

The temptation only grew as she neared her destination; a building housing one of the city's most renowned speeder repair shops.

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

Convenient routes were of little concern to Gem-in-Trash. Nor were closed off ones. If anything, they provided obstacles for her to try tricks on. She was just about to start jumping over warning signs when she thought about the nature of this task.

It was clearly some kind of test. Probably a prank-test. Whatever was in the box, if there was anything in it at all, was not the point. The point was that the box would be delivered and preferably in tact. If she took a shortcut through construction zones or something, she risked damaging the box...And failing the test. The address was too close for public transportation, but frustratingly deep in the city itself. Gem took a moment and re-examined the address, picturing it in her mind.

Gem-in-Trash did not have a map on her. But she did have the Force. It was her guide. She reached out, feeling the hustle and bustle of the city. She was looking for a Speeder shop. There was a certain noise that speeders made. Whatever that smell was, it was fantastic.

Box delivery first. Spicy meats later. She was looking for a strange Jedi. Over two feet tall. Blind in one eye. White hair.

Well, maybe the vendor might know the best way there?

No. Delivery.

Gem sat at the booth, keeping the bag with the box between her legs, and her board leaned up against it, and she tapped her fingers happily on the counter, keeping her eyes firmly affixed on the trompos, whose aroma had overridden every piece of training she'd had.

"Hi! Whatever that is, I would like as much as you can reasonably give me in whatever combination you most recommend," she requested. As the meat monger started making her plate, she fished out the piece of paper with the address, "Also, do you know the fastest way to this speeder store? Or at least the neighborhood it's in? There seems to be a lot of construction. Oh, and can I get another one of these plates to go? For my mom."

Gem was sure Knight Valin Zenth would be at the store for a while. Besides, she was a growing girl! Should she get him something while she was here?

Nah.

She had the box for him.

 

[Tirin Raene]

TAGS: Gem-in-Trash

The meat monger glanced up from his work as Gem-in-Trash placed her order, a smile spreading across his face. "You've got good taste! That'll be a mix of our best cuts," he said, expertly layering the fragrant meat onto her plate. As he handed it over, he added, "As for the speeder shop, you'll want to head straight down this street and take a left at the second intersection. It's about two blocks down, right next to the construction site. Can't miss it!"

Before she knew it, several minutes had passed, the plate nearly empty. The sky outside was telling tales of the time, the sun inching lower and casting long shadows across the bustling street. The shopkeeper, noticing her half-finished meal, quickly prepared a carry-out package, carefully wrapping the remaining food with practiced ease.

"There you go!" he said, sliding the neatly packaged meal across the counter to her. "Safe travels to the speeder shop!"

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

Gem patted her belly, noticing that twilight was coming upon her. She accepted the to-go box, and repeated the instructions to the speeder shop to herself. She also made sure to memorize the location of this place, she and her mom were definitely coming back here.

"Thank you, Mister Meat Man!" Gem said, taking the bag with the box and stuffing the leftovers into it, on top of the box. Whatever temptations Gem might have had to look in the box, they would be far too eclipsed by the temptations of the shawarma plate that was surely leaking juice all over the box.

Whatever. That would just make it smell nice as well as look nice!

Gem hopped onto her Skimboard after leaving a few credits with him, waving good-bye to the vendor as she followed the instructions to the speeder store. She might pull some grindage through the construction zone, if it wasn't too dark on the return. Then again, she'd just eaten a bunch. She kind of wanted to curl up on the couch and sleep after the delivery. Maybe Valin Zenth would give her a ride back to the temple in whatever speeder he was buying?

"Left at the intersection...Two blocks...There's the construction site!" Gem chirped to herself, pushing her board to go faster as she weaved between pedestrians, pulling up to the shop and poking her head in and scanning for any sign of large, white-haired Jedi Knights. She remembered that the Force was with her, and she reached out as she entered, hoping he would sense her arrival as she searched for him both with her eyes and with her feelings.

"Hello? I'm looking for someone who should be here, tall guy with white hair? Uh, human-ish, by the name of Valin Zenth?" she called out, partly to the nearest worker, but also to the store in general.