Why Must We Fight?

[Jamie Pyne]

"I get that." She said with a nod. "But what's the plan for actually finding evidence? Are you planning to try and sneak around the rest of the manor and find either a datapad or something incriminating?" She shrugged, pushing the plate off to the side and taking a sip from the glass. "Otherwise we've mostly just got hearsay to go on. That's not really concrete."

His daughters certainly wouldn't divulge his secrets to them, and while the son might accidentally slip something up, even that wasn't likely. Not unless, well, not unless things between he and Aela or Jamie were more involved during the evening. Perhaps then one of them might gain some bit of knowledge.

For Jamie though, that wasn't worth the price. Not at all.

"Or did you have something else in mind?" Maybe Aela was planning to steal whatever evidence she could from the other nobility.

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

“Oh.” Aela said, smiling slightly as she remembered that she hadn’t actually told Jamie why they wanted to get closer to the son. In retrospect that was a very stupid and dangerous thing to forget, especially since it was a primary part of the mission, but...well she had told Jamie so much that she had just assumed this had been included.

The fact that she’d forgotten showed that Aela was still very much new to this.

“Each member of the family carries a communicator.” Aela said as she pulled out the datapad from before, pulling up a file and quickly sliding the device towards her. “It’s an advanced model that controls more than just their communications. With it they can access pretty much anything on the estate. Lights, music, doors, all of it.”

She shifted slightly in her seat. “They can also access the family's entire database.”

The database where all of the family’s dealings were kept, particularly the financial ones.

“The whole point is to get that communicator from him.” Even the screw-up had one of the devices, if only because he needed it to survive here on Bastion. “We have to find where he keeps it...then take it.”

 

[Jamie Pyne]

The blonde tilted her head back. It was beginning to make sense now. "Ohhhhhh!" A quick nod followed. "I understand now." If they wanted to gain access they'd need to get one of those communicators. Each of the man's children had one. That meant they could in theory get one from any of the three, so their chances were slightly better in that regard, even if the other two were far more cautious and capable of protecting theirs, it was still worth keeping an open eye for.

"So we have to find a way to get one of those communicators. Keys to the kingdom."

Jamie slid off of her chair, taking her plate and clearing it in the waste compactor, before setting it into the sonic washer. She then turned, leaning against the counter to continue talking with Aela. "That's why Tommus was the prime choice then, because he's the least likely to be conscious of protecting it at any given time."

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

“Exactly.” Aela said with a smile, some might have argued that it would be far easier just to go out and kidnap one of the members of the family...but Aela and the Alliance didn’t work that way. They were going to kidnap the head of the family, yes, but only after they found out whether or not he actually committed any crimes.

That was the important part.

Theft was one thing, but they couldn’t just go around kidnapping citizens of different planets. Things got a bit...complicated when you did that. “Theoretically we could go after the Sisters...but they’re trained and far more alert.”

Funny how that was.

She supposed it was because normal people wouldn’t usually suspect the dainty pair of sisters to actually be trained assassins.

“So we take the easy route.” Aela shrugged. “Better than breaking into their datacenter.”

 

[Jamie Pyne]

"Easier route." She said, smiling. "Easier." She had no misconceptions that this was going to be as simple as waiving to him, and reaching into his pocket for the device and making off into the night, out of sight, out of mind. They likely wouldn't make it down the first street before the game was up. Whatever they were to do would have to be very subtle, or seemingly very accidental that caused him to misplace his communicator. If there was any hint that Aela or Jamie had taken it, they were sure to have problems.

"Any idea what kind of security they are going to have? Armed guards? Actual soldiers? Plain clothed?"

Many of the events on Naboo had a combination of defense force and plain clothed guards, depending on what type of event it was. Jamie figured it would be something similar, especially if there was going to be a congregation of the wealthiest and most powerful Bastion had to offer.

"And what of entertainment? Are there performers? Or gambling tables? Anything like that?"

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

She mused for a second, thinking how to best put it. “There aren’t any official soldiers, if you that’s what you’re asking. Bastion is under the control of the Mandalorian Crusdaers, and thus the Planetary Defense Forces belong to them. They wouldn’t give guards for a party like this.”

That didn’t mean much however.

“But.” She began. “The families each have their own personal guards, ostensibly they’re just bodyguard, but in reality these guards have traditions that hail back to old Stormtrooper regiments that were stationed here on Bastion.”

That might mean quite a bit to some people, but Aela wanted to make sure that Jamie understood. “Back then Stormtroopers were elite troops, and these guards take that very seriously. Though they’re not officially any kind of soldiers according to Bastion’s government, they have the kind of training that they may as well be.”

It was rather unfortunate for them really, it meant that the guards were good. Poor guards generally made things quite a bit easier. That was one advantage when one was dealing with Criminals, generally their guards either didn’t care, or didn’t know enough to care.

“As for entertainment there will be plenty.” She shifted in her seat. “There will be jesters, story-tellers, Singers, and of course there will be dancing. Most of the entertainment comes from mingling though, talking and gossiping with others.”

It was...odd to someone like her. Aela would much rather sit down with a good book and ignore everyone else then go to some silly dance.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

So Bastion was a lot like Naboo in that instance, the overall appearance and presentation of the gala, right down to the types of entertainers that performed. The only major difference being that each attendee had their own personal guard, whereas these events back home were typically protected by the NDF. A minor detail really as they would have to keep a watchful eye on the guards as well as their targets. The guards, unlike Tommus, were likely very aware of whom they were protecting.

"Alright." She gave a nod. Most of the high level details and specifics being covered.

"So if I'm going to play the shy, quiet, bratty sister, what's your role?"

She was curious how Aela would act at the ball, be it snooty and close guarded, or loud and sociable. Jamie also wondered for a moment what kind of girl this Tommus would be interested in. That would certainly be important going into this.

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

“I.” Aela began with a smile. “Will do what I am best at. I will play the stoic, disinterested, mature elder sister.”

It was a role she’d played all her life.

Throughout the years her siblings and her had never really had much in common. She was reserved, quiet, and always deep of thought. Her siblings however were far more excitable and generally tended to be much more outgoing. It wasn’t a bad thing, just the differences that they had.

She had been the reserved one all of her life. Mostly silent, always watching, and only speaking when she knew it was the right time. There was an art to that, and she found over the years that it had it’s own sort of appeal to men.

“He’ll inevitably want something that he can’t have, he just has to know he can’t have me.” A task that would be accomplished by her outright rejection of...well pretty much everyone at the party.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

That simplified things in a way. Aela was going to be Aela.

"Well that makes it easy I suppose."

Jamie pushed herself up and onto the counter, crossing a leg over the other while she spoke. "And if he's not interested in either one of us?"

That was also a possibility, there was a chance that someone else at the party might hold more interest for him, or he may find neither of the two attractive. They'd need to come up with a backup plan in that case.

"What then?"

Jamie hadn't any ideas as to what to do in that case, short of simply finding a way to steal the device from him somehow.

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

She'd considered that option as well. In the original plan it had only been Aela, and of course she wasn't exactly the most...appealing woman in the galaxy. Now that Jamie was here it doubled their chances, but sometimes these things were just so tied up with random chance that it was nearly impossible to tell what would actually happen. The Jedi Marshall leaned back in her chair and let out a sigh, rolling her shoulders for a second. "Then we steal the device."

It would be hard.

"We have the blue-prints for the compound." She went on to explain. "So we know the layout...and he's got to sleep some time."

The idea of that...it didn't appeal to her. Aela wasn't exactly the stealthiest person in the galaxy, and unlike her father she wasn't able to just blink herself around. If they had to steal the communicator when the boy was asleep they would have to break into the compound, sneak through about half a mile of guarded palace, and eventually make it out. The task was...difficult, far more difficult than just stealing it off the boy while he was inebriated and distracted.

"That option is far more difficult however." Aela would really rather not rely on the back-up plan.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

The idea of having to break into what was a rather well protected estate to find and steal a communicator while the family slept was not a process Jamie was overly interested in entertaining either. Escaping the party if need be would be tricky enough, but if they got caught snooping around one of the most powerful family's estate on a world that was not under Alliance control? That sparked images in her mind that Jamie rather not think about. It wouldn't be good, that was more than enough.

"Right...Let's just make sure we get it at the party then."

They would have time to go over the information Aela's agent was sent to collect later, as well as get a feel for the city on the following day while they searched the markets for their dresses and accessories to wear to the party. Jamie was sure Aela had more than enough reading material to keep her awake all night if she chose to do so.

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

Exactly.” Breaking into that place would have been a nightmare for even the most experienced thieves, and they were most certainly not experienced.

Micah probably could have pulled it off, or maybe Maleah could have sent in a womp rat to steal the communicator, but Aela? There was no way. She simply didn’t have the tricks or the knowledge to sneak into a place like that. Perhaps in time she would learn, but for now it would take her months to even plan something like that out.

The upfront approach was much simpler, and much more doable.

She offered Jamie a smile, then quickly stood. “You have an hour to rest and explore the manor, remember, don’t go outside.”

An hour before what?

“After that meet me in the basement.” It was one of the more isolated places that existed in the manor. “I’ll have the others help me move things around.”

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Jamie had spent the last hour arranging the few things she'd brought with her the way she wished in the room that would be hers for the next few days. Clothes were sorted into the dresser, datapad on the nightstand beside the bed, the bit of equipment in the closet, out of sight. She'd even sent Kurt a quick impromptu email to say hello, and ask how he was doing, before checking to see that the hour had already passed.

Quickly Jamie set aside the datapad and took her weapon with her as she headed towards the basement as instructed. It was the only realistic place that their uninvited guest outside wouldn't have any chance of seeing them. As she descended the stairs she saw a pair of agents making their way back upstairs. The blonde turned flat against the wall to let them pass, before continuing to the bottom where Aela was waiting.

"Here. On time for once."

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

"Fighting." Aela began as soon as Jamie stepped into the basement, not giving her a welcome or even a hello. This was too important. "Isn't what Jedi do."

True, the last few decades were a strong argument against her own words, but in that moment such things didn't really mean that much. It was the intent that she found important, and the intent of Jedi was not to fight, but to learn and study. To bring peace and diplomacy to those who would otherwise break out towards war.
"We are always meant towards something...more peaceful."

She waited a moment then continued on.

"The force allows us more insight, knowledge, and ability than any ordinary being. This is what gives us the role of the wise ones, diplomats, all of it." She looked up at Jamie. "The force is important to who we are, and it is imperative you begin to learn and study it in your own way."

As Aela had, and every Jedi before her.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Jamie stopped mid-step as Aela bombarded her with a barrage of words, more so dogma, of Jedi. Words she'd heard hundreds, if not thousands of times in passing through other channels of study, conversation, and hearsay. Aela hadn't been the first Jedi she met, and would hardly be the last. Though each individual held to their own certain beliefs and interpretations of what exactly a Jedi was and did. No two were exactly the same, with some sects bending the rules just a bit more than the others.

"I understand." She nodded, "Fighting is not my intention for being your student. I hope I've not given off that impression."

She was entirely sincere in that aspect. There was quite possibly nothing she wanted less than to be involved in conflict, war, and killing. That was why she herself had built her lightsaber in the manner in which she had. Countless hours of studying and internal soul searching had developed the weapon she was now holding.

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

Aela shook her head, giving Jamie a kind smile. "It has not been my impression. The galaxy at large however differs."

It was a problem that Aela had observed for a long time.

"Most of the galaxy now sees us as a Marshall Force. It is a perception that began with The Republic, one that now continues. Some Orders this is correct, the New Jedi Order has sworn to end the Sith and thus are a marshal force." Aela explained simply.

"There are Jedi within the Alliance that do not fight however, and more so in the end..." She took a glance up the steps. "None of them will. The goal is to be at peace."

Why was she saying all this? "I want you to know thay even though fighting and missions like the one here on Bastion is what I now do, I do not intend to only teach you how to fight.

Fighting wasnt the endgame, not for her at least.

"I will teach you more than just being a better combatant, more than just how to survive." Exactly how she had been taught.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

There were, for all Jamie knew, limitless possible applications of the Force, and every time she thought she understood the most basic of principles, grazing only the surface of a subject, she then realized that there were in fact thousands of layers beneath that which she had only just seen. It had been like that from the start, but what exactly Aela knew and practiced herself? She hadn't really the slightest clue.

"What exactly did you have in mind?"

She continued to speak as she made her way into the actual room, rather than standing at the foot of the stairs and looking inward like a frightened animal.

"I've seen people use the Force in ways I've never imagined possible. I've done things that I didn't know I could, or should do. Though the few times I've done anything even notably remarkable it has been under severe stress and left me either exhausted or very simply put me out."

That was what really terrified her, that she had whatever these powers were locked somewhere inside of her, had no control over them, and they only manifested when she was in dire straits. What she'd used thus far was relatively tame in comparison to some of the things true Force masters could do, she had no doubt of that, but she was afraid that perhaps one of those times she might react in a way that was far more dangerous than anything she'd accomplished thus far, and in turn, put herself or those she cared for in worse danger.

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

“The force is, by it’s very nature, and incredibly complex and complicated thing.” That was really understating it. “You could spend entire lifetimes trying to understand it, and in fact I know people who have.”

“Beings who have lived for hundreds upon hundreds of years who still don’t have a perfect grasp on what the Force exactly is, what It can do, or what it does to a person.” That was her family. Most of them had lived for centuries, and they still did not know everything. She herself would live decades beyond a normal human life-span, and she doubted that would help much.

“I can’t teach you everything. I can’t even begin to.” Aela said with a frown. “But I can start you on a path, a path to learning and exploring. I can teach you how to use the force in its most basic means, i can teach you how to reach your potential, and I can teach you control.”

That was the most important part, control. “Once you understand how to control it, you can start to channel it and learn how to better manipulate it. Once you have that, everything will become more natural and you’ll start on your own path.”

That was how it had been for her.

Some things were still a mystery, but other aspects of the force were as plain as day to her.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Control was good. Control was what she was most afraid of when it came to the Force. She had limited amounts of it. Each time she called on it for anything more than simple tasks she was nervous of the amount of umph behind it. Sometimes she way overdid it, other times nothing happened. When it came to the Force, Jamie was all over the board, and never had the same results. It was more frustrating than anything, and it was also just as dangerous.

"That would be good. I don't have dreams of becoming the most powerful human to have ever used the Force. I just want to be okay."

That wasn't asking too much...Hopefully.

"There's just so much out there. So much more that I just don't know about that is even possible. It's like attempting to study the galaxy, there's seemingly an endless void of knowledge that nobody could or will ever fully understand."

She shrugged, thinking in the grand scheme of things made her head spin. Better to focus on the immediate.

"So what did you have planned then?"

[member="Aela Talith"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

“That’s not entirely inaccurate either.” Aela said with a small smile. The force really was vast, nearly impossible to understand. Her father struggled to explain half the things he had learned and in truth...Aela didn’t even begin to understand the broader aspects of the force. Compared to some, she was still just a child.

An odd thought, considering she held the rank of Master.

“Meditation.” Aela said with a smile. “That’s where we begin.”

The simplest of the simple. “I don’t know if you’ve already learned, but I find that meditation is the most important aspect of being a Jedi. It allows you to connect to the force and center yourself, it’s the first step in control.”

It was a small step, but a step.

She didn’t doubt that Jamie at least knew the basic concept of it, most in the galaxy did, but meditation was something else for force users. It was a time where they could link with the force, explore its expanse and take control of it without ever actually doing anything. An important thing, especially when one later needed to call upon its strength at a later...more trying time.