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re: Calosea and Vaurus - Chapter 1: Alderaan
by Clusterfact on August 11, 2010 11:51 pm
Upon arrival, the two Jedi touchdown in a small landing pad a few blocks away from the mansion. A couple of guards approach from the private hanger offices and escort the Jedi over to the governor's mansion. The mansion is a large, stately building hewn from an ancient, golden-colored stone. A burly man with graying temples and an attitude you could smell stood outside of the huge, mahogony doors.
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"Gentlemen, we've been expecting you. I'm Lieutenant Governor Adner Balo, and before you say a damned thing -- there will be no mind magic here, you understand? If I even suspect that either of you have influenced these negotiations with your Force nonsense, I'll blast you myself. Are we clear?"
The two Jedi simply glance at each other, then nod in agreement. The Lieutenant motions for the Jedi who then follow him up the long stairs. The front room of the mansion is immense with tall pillars framing either side of the spacious hall.
"The governor's family looks to have been well-taken care of for at least a few generations," Calosea looks around at the fine paintings and fauna displayed. "No doubt this ... security comes from years of stability within House Orga -"
"I'm not interested in hearing it, Jedi. If you wanna talk politics, you will do so with Governor Varcorus. I'm just here to keep the governor from being tied up with ... disturbances. If it were my decision, you'd be back on your ship and sent home."
"No doubt," Calosea replied, "so it seems it was not your decision?"
To this the Lieutenant abruptly turns and stops the Jedi in their path. His eye is caught by Vaurus' hand, which was placed gently on the hilt of his lightsaber. The Lieutenant stares for a moment into the Nautolan's dark, piercing gaze.
"I don't know what you are planning on doing with those, but if you -"
"At ease, child. Fear not Lieutenant -- the boy is a bit jumpy, but he is not a fool." The master shoots a quick look at Vaurus, who smirks and releases his saber. "Rest assured it is a tool for protection first and foremost; we have no intentions of using these today."
The Lieutenant sat for a moment before giving a heavy sigh. He then turned and continued down the long corridor until he came to a small room at the end.
"These are your quarters for the stay, gentlemen." The man seemed uneasy with the Jedi now that he had seen the old weapons of the Force-users. The two Jedi gave a slight bow as the door was closed behind them.
"Master, I apologize for that moment back there. He felt nervous, and is already distrustful of the Republic and us Jedi. I should have had more control and it won't happen again."
"He is distrustful of us true, and while you complicated our stay here, it wasn't anything he wasn't already expecting. Come, there is still some time before we must meet with the governor, and I would like to learn more of our host."
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The Jedi began walking through the long hallway. Portrait after portrait of Organa govenors and senators lined the corridor. Expensive urns and vases decorated the windows and helped take up some of the vast space of the Organa mansion. The corridor broke away into a small room with tall windows overlooking a small courtyard. The gardens of House Organa were always known for their splendor, but to experience them in person was a privilege not given to many outside of the staff and family. A large fountain dominated the center of the yard and the high walls of the mansion sectioned off the gardens on three sides. The side that was left unopposed by stone and wood gave way to a glorious, expanding vista of rolling hills and spreading mountains -- the kind of scenery famous of Alderaan.
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"I can see now some of the perks of social work," The padawan said with a grin on his face. "I think just about anybody would be a man of the people with these benefits," he scoffed as he reached out and touched a large, billowing flower.
"This is a family built upon trust and faith and hard work. House Organa has never been an establishment of greed or lust for power. They have remained loyal to the Order and the Republic for quite some time -- longer than most would."
"I meant no disrespect to the family, master.."
Two smaller side doors on either side of the courtyard opened up and revealed two protocol-looking assualt droids each one brandishing a blaster rifle. The droids buzzed at each other and began firing at the Jedi, who easily began deflecting bolts around the garden. During the tussle, Vaurus noticed a man on the roof of the complex. He was dressed in a military garb not uncommon to Republic forces and was holding a blaster in one hand and what looked like an explosive of some kind in the other. Vaurus sprang into action and rhythmically sent a blaster bolt towards the man. The bolt singed the leg of the aggressor, who then stumbled off out of sight, but not before tossing the detonator into the garden below.
"Down!" The Jedi Master Calosea pushed on Vaurus' shoulder and simultaneously flung the detonator using the force high into the air over the cliffside. The resounding explosion was quickly followed by the crushing of air. The sound of the blast could be heard echoing off the mountains for miles.
Vaurus finished up the droids in a few graceful flits of his saber as his master stared at the roof where their attacker had made himself known. Carbon scoring now polluted the garden stonework and small sections of plants were left smoldering from the blaster fire.
"Looks like someone doesn't approve of us, master."
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