Tania Romali's Story

I was trying to part the crowd but they put up firm resistance. "Move aside please senate transport." I said trying to be nice but instead the crowd pushed closer. I did a small force repulse knocking the crowd back. "I said move.!" The crowd parted quickly and I kept looking for weapons. "All clear down here senator." I yelled over the crowd before backing up to the ramp of the ship.

Whilst following Tania,Larimar found itself unable to focus due to anxiety. It know that such behavior should not be allowed at this time, in fact not focusing was a betrayal of its responsibilities. Still the entire trip from Dantooine had been done before it could attempt checking up on the rest of its colony, something of vast significance to any Shard. However, when the Senate convened it'd have to prioritize the needs of the Raioballo Sector as they had elected the crystal to office. A laughing sound erupted from the protocol droid that acted as the Shard's body when inspiration finally struck.

The Jedi were seeking to rebuild their temple, which would require Senate votes. In the Old Republic the Jedi had made excellent public aides for the relatively low cost of the Republic maintaining their temple. The Raioballo Sector was still relatively plagued by Imperial remnants...but the money in stripping,salvaging and re-purposing Imperial ships was a major part of the sectors economic activity. As such, it couldn't risk angering the remaining Imperial faction in its own territory. The Shard performed a quick check of the Republic databases, the Subterrel Sector was still under Imperial annex. That meant Larimar would be unable to return home...droids were not allowed on Orax under Imperial rule. This somewhat complicated matters, but Larimar still had to make an attempt.

"Tania," the polite tone of the protocol droid spoke out. "We would appreciate your input in regards to a more personal matter...concerning the Jedi."

The small transport ship was now silent as the robed being inside it sat motionless in the chair. He wore a pair of robes that his mother had given him a year ago on her death bed, with a mask he made himself covering his face. Strapped to his back was a freshly assembled vibroblade.

Sulin was deep in meditation. It was nearly a year ago that he had reach 'known' space. Since then he had formed a small, near invisible, group of force wielders called the Observers. They all had gone through great lengths to stay invisible while keeping track of the galaxy around them. Sulin couldn't truly tell whether the organization was doing well or not. At its size, the slightest change could kill it off.

Then, about a month ago, all those of sufficient skill in the force felt it. A pull that they couldn't understand. So, after several days of meditation, the members decided that Sulin, being the founder, only seer, and most skilled, would be sent to investigate. So now, here he was, preparing to take his small vessel into orbit around the city planet of Coruscant. By now, he knew that the origin of the pull was here on planet, which made him even more curious.

Activating a full systems cloak, Sulin woke from his meditation and began to guide the nearly undetectable ship to the surface of the planet. When he was finally confident on his landing zone not far off the port, Sulin made as quiet a landing as he could. Upon exiting the ship, he quickly commanded the force to make him invisible, which force users on the planet likely felt, with no follow up. Like it was only a pulse.

"Don't worry about them they are very dull unlike me I speak multiple languages and can protect you they just liberate planets from a stern parent like figure." I said with a sigh as I scanned the area I used the force to throw a person off the platform. "Don't aim that me." I mumbled as the would be assassin fell far away. "Give them their temple and they will treat your people kindly by driving the imperials out." I opened a car door and got in the back leaving the door open for the senator. I had hired a security team who was in the car already. I looked at the guards and spoke mando'a to them. "Jatne baar aran." I said and they smiled slightly since I know their native tongue.

Larimar stepped into the cab when Tania signaled it was all clear. It had long since grown accustomed to her ability to figure out what was on its mind...blessing of the Force no doubt.

"Tania, we must point out that the Senate as a whole must agree to the Jedi's restoration...not just us. Furthermore it is within the best interest of our Sector, and Dantooine in particular to not express anti-Imperial sentiment." The admission of fact was painful, but the Shard felt it must be said anyways.

"Our own opinion supports the Jedi, in the Old Republic they were an invaluable asset...if somewhat under used. But considering the delicate political nature of the situation we can't fault such an event." Larimar had its droid body shrug, a maneuver rather difficult to perform.

"But we'd like to speak with a Jedi Master, or vassal entrusted to speak for the Jedi. Preferably after the matter of Grand Chancellor has been settled, and see if an agreement of sorts can't be made... could you arrange that? If possible, see if we have any friends or favors to cash in." The voice synthesizer was able to shift tone for the nature of business.

"Should it come down to it, we'd like to be able to arrange for a down payment. Such a show would be useful to move other Senators due to competitive rivalries...along with seeing about a personal request."

"It isn't personal it's just what is best for the sector if a member of senate argues we can give a convincing counter argument I assure you I thought it through whilst on the way here." I said with a look out the window I had a patient stance and was ready for a full argument. "We can talk to the jedi after I will arrange the meeting."

Moving carefully about the buildings, Sulin remained as undetectable as he could be. He knew that should he get too close to a jedi, maybe around 10 to 20 feet, they would know he was there. He knew well that he had to avoid that, so as such, he stuck to taking the roof tops, doing his best to avoid using the force. His position might be a little more than dangerous, as he did not know how the jedi might react to knowledge of him.

His first stop was the old jedi temple. They had a library there that, assuming minimal damage, could give vast quantities of unknown knowledge. Sulin could not pass up this opportunity at such easy knowledge.

---

It had taken Sulin a grueling three hours to get to the old temple. It was in complete ruins. However, Sulin still had hope about it and began by walking in the one archway that was still intact. Upon entering the temple, Sulin fell to the ground pain rippling through him until he had lost enough focus to become visible, both by eyes and by force, once again. He stood up quickly now, without pain, noting that the force was a dangerous thing in the temple.

Following the broken down hallway, occasionally using the force to move objects out of the way, Sulin moved at a hastened pace. He could be seen and he could be felt, two things he found horridly dangerous.

Finally reaching the library, Sulin found what he was looking for. The lost knowledge of the jedi, their archives. It was plain to see that the archives had been damaged, but Sulin pulled all the recoverable data, putting it on a data spike to be brought back to the rest of the Observers. Sulin only hoped that no one had come to investigate the temple.

Larimar performed a mental nod at the woman's words, it also reminded the Shard that it had not been thinking of its constituents.

"In that case, you have been thinking this through more than we have." The remark was meant to be humorous but droid voice systems don't quite carry the proper nuance to make such a point clear. Despite its "body" possessing the proper means of addressing the driver, Tania was once more addressed as an intermediary.

"Within a couple stops, we'll near some of our Imperial partners. Perhaps we should pick them up? After all given our stance in regards to the Jedi, it should be made expressly clear that our sector is in no way turning against the Empire. If anything, we can attempt passing this off as little more than an act of charity...or funding a potential asset in hopes of using it for the Empire."

Larimar secretly thanked its condition at this time. The droid's expressions were usually flat and given there was no body language to give it away, lying was a rather easy task. It intended full well to make good on its dealings with the Imperials, but a way of garnishing some form of economic freedom from the Empire would be ideal. However, such an event would be highly unlikely given its Sector was smack in the middle of Imperial occupation.

"Also...given the condition of our Sector, seeking friends outside the Jedi might be beneficial- despite the idea being distasteful." The Shard made its final concession...for the good of the Sector.

"We should indeed they will want to discuss the idea of a sith temple on this world." I said with a slight smile. "We could make the senate agree to have either one our in the extreme case both." I gave a wicked grin at the thought of a jedi and a sith temple on the same planet.

"We said nothing about building two temples on one world," Larimar casually remarked as the vehicle arrived at the Senate building. Its earlier distress had robbed the chance of gaining an early advantage so the Shard would have to be extremely cautious on the floor.

"Perhaps a test of some form is in order, as you've told us before...the Jedi failed the Republic once. We need to consider the big picture, two temples on two worlds would be easier to maintain in terms of galactic peace. Besides, our Sector has had quite the issue of pirates, raiders and rampant activity of criminal and Separatist alike. Something as a whole rather harmful to the economy." The Shard exited the vehicle with the woman's signal.

"The Empire only protects their economic interests and has no desire to lend further aid. The Republic on the other hand has yet to act in regards to our situation and we haven't the funds to hire a bounty hunting army. We shall withhold our vote until a proper examination of the Jedi option has been conducted." By this point they had reached the entrance, the Senators could bring guards but as security was provided it'd be unusual for personal guards to enter.

"Tania, if you could handle the affairs during the Preamble we'd be most grateful. We'll handle your entry and clearance from here so you may join at any time." The Senator hoped the perceptive young woman to pick up his intention of keeping appearances natural and beneath suspicion. Given the near thousand Senators, the formal greetings and protocol could easily take hours. She'd easily have the time to make the necessary calls; meet the Jedi and in all honesty, and it neither knew nor cared how she'd reach any Sith.

The loading of data to the spike was finally completed. However, Sulin's fears were not helped when he could feel another presence enter the temple. He didn't mind the jedi who stayed back, this presence was getting close. Something about this being didn't feel one sided to Sulin, he had to investigate.

Drawing his vibroblade, Sulin exited the library, the dataspike securely attached to his hip. He moved in ways he hoped would keep him from being detected as he neared the other. He had spotted her in one of the rooms, though he could not tell what she was doing from the angle he saw. Coming around to the door, he stood in a defensive stance asking "Friend or foe?"

"Who and why are you? What purpose do you serve?" Sulin asked in a serious, and slightly gravely voice.