"Kolto for your cuts."

[Zam Ulgo]

https://soundcloud.com/stanislav-matvieiev/jeremy-soule-star-wars-knights-of-the-old-republic-soundtrack-bastila-shan​

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Alto City, Manaan
Pyrshak System, Inner Rim

"The two stereoisomers in Kolto as opposed to one stereoisomer in Bacta mean that tolerability of the former is reduced. Bacta is more easily metabolized by the target organism, which is critical in compromised patients. However the refining process for Bacta for improved mechanism of action is also more costly."

Zam smiled as the turned off the holo-projector on her workdesk. Her green, semi-feline irises dilated once more as she took a deep breath, sat back in her chair. The pale white ceiling orbs of the Ahto City visitor's quarter provided a relaxing, dimmed light from overhead, matched by the blue-green hum of the holographic display.

The half-Cathar-half-Hapan stood up, letting out little more than a soft sigh as she turned to her bunk. She wore the typical tanned and brown robes characteristic of the Jedi, but under it brandished a utility belt and sling that carried a myriad different tools that helped her during her work. Of course, there was also the familiar silver handle - a lightsaber, which seldom left her side, although in recent solar revolutions she had little cause to ignite it. After all, she was a consular, and focused most of her energies on developmental work. Barring her little hobby of trying to mimic and read up on the works of Jedi Artisans, she was a scholar and scientist through and through - peacetime vocations that found application in her practice of medicine and research.

Jedi Padawan Zam Ulgo had spent the past 3 weeks here studying Kolto - the healing/remedial substance that Manaan had once exported, but had since been phased out in favor of Bacta. Besides the usefulness of studying galactic medical history (of which Kolto played no modest part), Zam had also arrrived upon the request of a plea for help from one of the Ahto City Civil Authority's judicators. In the centuries since the rise of Bacta, the paralleling decline of Kolto demand hit the Selkath economy quite hard. Social problems such as unemployment, inflation from overproduction and social discontent, particularly up on the surface in Ahto were trade with the rest of the galaxy took place, were becoming harder and harder for the Civil Authority to ignore and dismiss. In studying Kolto, Zam Ulgo hoped to find out if she could reinvent it as a lower-cost alternative to Bacta, and planned to make use of it heavily in her own medicinal practice as a healer and would-be doctor.

She was just about to sit down to remove her boots when suddenly, a familiar feeling of unease came over her. Immediately she turned her gaze to the door - the only way in and out of her hostel unit. Something wasn't right. As Zam observed a light green gas rise from the bottom of the door, she put on her rebreather, stood up and ignited her lightsaber - the familiar sizzle and crackle followed by a rich, green beam. Seconds later, and right on time as though Zam had called it, the door panel was blasted open, sliding it open as four Selkath brandishing blasters stood by the hallway.

A firefight ensued.

[member=Cedric Grayson]

 

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Manaan had never been a place of enjoyment for Cedric.

Since Ahto City's sinking during the wars with the One Sith, the Selkath had been quite averse to outsiders. The Republic had managed to restore the city before collapsing against the might of the Sith war machine, but the damage to outside relations had already been done. Any further alliance with the Selkath was generally met with disdain from the natives, and diplomacy with the oceanic people had petered out to little more than trade agreements.

That suited Cedric just fine. He'd come to this world under the pretense that his dealings would not be advertised to the greater galaxy. Initial talking with the Selkath's ambassadors had been frosty, but the mutual brutality the Essonians had received at the hands of the Sith had served as something for the two peoples two bond over. From there, it hadn't taken long to secure passage to Manaan in preparations for a meeting with the Selkath leaders. More than a little bit of kolto would be needed to keep the medical facilities of the exodus fleet from running out of resources.

The Jedi Master lay still on his bed, his eyes shut as he drifted upon the Great Ocean. It was only when a storm came rolling in that he pulled himself away from the empyrean, eyes fluttering as the sound of gunfire thundered in his ears.

Acting on instinct, Cedric called his lightsaber from a nearby table to his outstretched hand. He jumped to his feet, cyan blade roaring to life as the door parted, and he found himself standing in the hallway near the attacking Selkath.

He eyed the green gas, drew upon the empyrean's energies to provide him with oxygen where there was none, and stepped into the fray. The aura the Blade of Ruusan cast made the Selkath halt somewhat in their assault - it ushered them to calm themselves, and set aside their weapons.

Cedric took advantage of the hesitation, calling upon the empyrean to twist the very blood that flowed through two of the Selkath's ear canals. The eyes of the two aliens rolled into the back of their heads as they slumped to the floor, unconscious. Cedric would have done the same to the other two, had one of them not started firing upon him with a fully automatic rifle, forcing him to block the bolts into the ground so that they would do no harm to any bystanders.

"Incapacitate them!" He snapped, his voice carrying over the din of combat.

[member="Zam Ulgo"]

 

[Zam Ulgo]

"They're getting more persistent."

Zam grumbled under her breath as she immediately reverted to the jerky Shii-cho movements she'd come to reply on against blaster fire. In staccato motion she deflected several shots, and then stuck her hand out to push one of the Selkath off balance, who then was knocked back and hit the back of its head against the wall, knocking it out cold. Behind it however she could hear the distinct repeeating shots of a blaster rifle, but the two Selkath engaging her both only held pistols. There was someone else engaging the other two further out the door. That's when she heard the voice of a man call out from in the hallway. "Incapacitate them!", it exlaimed.

With one already down and now the blaster rifles outside silenced, Zam took a few steps forward, deflecting a few more potshots from the last active Selkath before she got close enough to easily Force-Push it into the doorframe, also knocking it out cold. After checking their pulse to make sure they were fine, she stepped outside to see what had happened; as she deactivated her lightsaber, Zam saw the two other Selkath with their weapons lowered and apparently ready to be taken into custody. She also saw standing in front of her, a large, athletically built human taking up about half the hallway, holding more than a mere vibro-blade. However, he did not look hostile.

Zam sighed; closed her eyes as she holstered her lightsaber again by her utility. "You don't look like one of them", she then said as she turned to face and look up at him. She then took a quick glance at his weapon, and then her eyes returned to meet his stoic gaze. "A Force User? You.. don't seem like a Sith. A Jedi? It can't be.." And before she could continue what she was saying, 5 Kolto police officers showed up from around the corner with the receptionist, who most likely called the authorities soon after the initial explosion.

"What's the meaning of all of this?", the sergeant croaked in the Selkath language, to which Zam raised both of her hands calmly and replied, "These thugs barged into my room." She then turned to look at Cedric again while continuing, "This is a friend. He helped."

The sergeant gestured for the 4 disarmed Selkath suspects to be taken away, and began probing Zam, opening his investigation. "You are a tourist in Ahto. Selkath do not attack tourists for no reason. Please state your business here, so I can file my initial report to the civil authority."

"But I've been here for the past 20 solar cycles", Zam replied in the Selkath dialect. "These are probably more Manaani isolationists; stirred up by my Kolto research."

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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Cedric was more than little pleased that the other Jedi had complied with his wishes. There were a number of advantages to keeping their attackers alive, least of all their moral duty to try and guide their assailants back onto the path of the Ashla.

Hie praise was evident when he spoke, "You did quite well," he seemed to be paying little mind to the authorities, seeing as she had already given a decent enough explanation. "Keeping them alive was the right thing to do. If they are isolationists, then they are only afraid that their way of life might be tarnished by our presence here. We can't fault them that fear," he turned about to the Selkath who were being detained. "Whatever you reasoning here, know that we forgive you, and we only wish you choose a more productive path in the future."

The detainees did not respond, but Cedric had said his piece. "Aside from the moral reasons, keeping them alive betters our image in the eyes of the authorities. It's possible more xenophobic elements in the government could have turned this against us. Not anymore."

The lead officer coughed, and Cedric gave him a polite nod. "Ah, yes of course. I am Cedric Grayson, here to speak with your administration about the purchase of Kolto. I heard the commotion and simply did what any Jedi would do."

[member="Zam Ulgo"]

 

[Zam Ulgo]

After the dust had settled, Zam saw the apprehended Selkath assailants be shipped off by the authorities in cuffs. She felt little need to say anything more as this wasn't the first time - about 2 weeks ago, a mugging attempt was also made on her in the back room of the Ahto Cantina, and although that was ultimately unsuccessful, that was beside the point.

"Thanks", Zam replied to [member="Cedric Grayson"] as she kept an eye on the Selkath; stepping up next to him by the hallway after taking one last look at the blasted door that led into her room. "I guess some things don't really change. But it really is as you say, the last time Kolto was vogue discussion, Manaan had to maintain neutrality between the old republic and the old Sith empire. And in the end, it cost them dearly." Zam let out a sigh as she found herself having little more to say. Indeed, killing them would have only fueled their movement further and made martyrs out of thugs. Kolto research aside, convincing the solitary Selkath that she did not intend to drag them into another conflict was going to be another battle entirely. The very thought of the challenge vexed her already.

By now however, the Selkath officer had finished typing his report into his datapad and looked back up at Cedric and Zam with a cough. "Jedi make for difficult tourists. Where Jedi go, trouble follows. You will speak to the Civil Authority first thing in the morning. They will go over the case and answer your questions about the Kolto, provided", he said as he looked to check the time. "That will be in one hour, so there is little use in detaining you further - the female we are already familiar with. If you do not appear however.."

Zam just smiled. "We'll be there, officer", and politely waved him off to diffuse the tension. Working alongside Selkath was never easy - thankfully she'd been with them long enough to know this was just their nature, and that it was nothing personal.

She then turned back to Cedric still standing by her side. "Thanks for your help back there, by the way. I'm Zam Ulgo." She finally allowed her lips to purse slightly, letting out a reserved, toothless smile. "Jedi."

 

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The Selkath were an odd species, but there were traits about them to be admired. Most sentients would have been rather perturbed by the Selkath's rather hardline approach to maintaining law and order, but Cedric both understood and sympathized. In a galaxy so prone to chaos and strife, it was only natural that a cautious species treat outsiders warily. It kept their peace, and so long as the Jedi didn't actually do anything wrong, it was little more than a slight waste of time. More than enough of a trade for not ending up in a prison for the rest of their lives for not complying.

"I'm Cedric Grayson. Also a Jedi," Cedric snickered as he offered the girl a hand. "I had my suspicions, given the lightsaber and all. I hadn't expected to meet any of our kind here on Manaan, though we are in Silver space so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."

He paused, brow furrowing as he watched the authorities walk away. "I came here to broker a kolto deal for my people. Already succeeded in that, I was just getting ready to head out, though I suppose we'll be enjoying one another's company for a little longer. Why are you here of all places?"

[member="Zam Ulgo"]

 

[Zam Ulgo]

Zam shook his hand in kind, although noting the considerable difference in grip strength. Although unfocused, she could feel the weight that Cedric's handshake carried. Her eyebrows raised as she released it in turn. "Oddly enough, this place doesn't figure much in the Order's records. Not too many people pass through it - may have something to do with Bacta being the 'in' solution now. Kolto's only found in the history books these days." She then quickly outstretched her hand back in the direction of her room, pulling her holo into her palm as she activated it. The pale blue-green glow of statistics, charts and models then came up, flashing excerpts of Zam's research into the substance.

"Funny you should mention, actually", she continued in reply to Cedric, "I came here a few solar cycles ago to work with the Kolto found here. You see, Bacta may be convention now, but not everyone gets access to it. I generally work with border communities, and that liquid can be pretty hard to come by." Zam then smiled, oblivious to the fact she was starting to go on an off-tandem rant about Kolto, "Kolto however is cheaper, and when I use it alongside my Force Healing ability, I can compensate for the efficacy gap. It's really about bringing medicine to the masses, Cedric. That's why I'm here." She then sighed.

"I'm sorry too if you got dragged into the affair with the isolationists. They aren't too happy about what I'm doing. I can talk to the Civil Authority for us both -just give me about an hour for that; I have a pass from the government for my work anyway-, but.. you.. mentioned you closed an agreement with them for their Kolto?"

Zam's eyes widened. "That means they.. supply you now?"

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

[Placeholder 0128]

Cedric listened in respectful silence as Zam explained things. The girl had a presence in the force akin to a small, calm island. There were no tempests or typhoons like with Loske, but rather a balance that had been achieve entirely of its own accord.

A disciplined padawan then.

"That's interesting about the kolto. My family had quite a few great healers, they likely would have benefited from such experiments." He mused, brow furrowing as his gaze followed after the leaving Selkath. Zam claimed she could take care of the talks, and understanding she likely had more experience with the race, Cedric acquiesced.

"I'll leave you to it then," he paused, "They do, at least for the moment. My people can't afford bacta, so our doctors will be using kolto instead." Another pause, "We could probably use a Jedi with your skills. A method of refining the kolto to be more efficient would save more than a few lives in the coming days."

[member="Zam Ulgo"]

 

[Zam Ulgo]

"It's a shame, really. Think of how many people have probably died just because they couldn't afford bacta, right? There's just no reason for us to throw Kolto out like that. Many people can still benefit from it." The tone in Zam's voice changed now - transparent as Tattooine winds when it came to things she was passionate about. There was an air of idealistic optimism to her speaking now. She turned off the holo as she tucked it back into the pocket of her robe.

Zam then looked back up at Cedric, her semi-feline green eyes staring at the cold, near-obsidian mask that the man wore. "Soldiers? But yeah, leave the Selkath to me. It's going to be a little rough trying to explain everything all over again, but the Force is my ally." She sighed a bit again, with the small, toothless smile returning to her face.

"What's all this about soldiers though? Are you really just a Jedi?"

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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"Indeed. Kolto could be the solution we're working toward, if we can find a way to process it more efficiently anyway. If all goes well we won't need much of it. I suppose it depends on what resistance we meet with," Cedric mused, half lost in his thoughts as he started to drone on.

He paused for a moment, brow lofting as she asked about the soldiers. "I am just a Jedi, yes. Doing my duty in the best way that I know of. My soldiers are Essonians, and I am an Essonian Knight. Our world was razed by the Sith a decade ago." He paused for a moment, brow furrowing, "Now we've gathered our forces. The imperial puppets of the Sith have fallen apart on Coruscant. I aim to take the world back, and bring some semblance of order back to the core."

Another pause. Cedric's eyes narrowed as he appraised the girl. "There are few trained force sensitive healers. You'd make a difference."

[member="Zam Ulgo"]

 

[Zam Ulgo]

Zam's pupils dilated at the thought. War. She hearly spaced out and only caught herself breathing heavily from the chest when she noticed Cedric was done talking. "I'm sorry, this is just a lot. Whoo." She took a deep breath and tried to recompose herself, patting herself down to try and regain a bit of her senses again.

"The core worlds haven't known peace for years", she replied in a hushed tone, almost droning on. She took another deep breath, letting out an audible huff as she placed on hand on the hilt of her lightsaber, instinctively just making sure it was there as the tension rose. "Well", she continued, "it'd be irresponsible of me to refuse if people are going to need me. Just tell me something, Cedric. It's not going to be another empire, is it? If you can promise me that, and let me continue my Kolto research there, then you'll have your doctor... and scientist. Well, Jedi anyway."

[member=Cedric Grayson]

 

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Cedric considered her words for a few long moment, eyes narrowed into curious slits as he fought for the proper words. Zan had a far different temperament than most Jedi, but it was something they needed. The new order would need people with a cultivator's heart. There would be a need of warriors, yes, but the soul of the Jedi Order was in its hunt for knowledge. Zan might have been little more than a novice within the empyrean, but there was potential there.

"It is," he replied plainly, "One in which the Jedi will make sure democracy is preserved. I am to reinstate a proper senate, and guide it along until it is powerful enough to stand without my leadership, but an empire is required right now. There is too much instability, and far too much imperial sentiment in the core. The elites must be brought to see the true benefits of democracy."

He paused, "I stand for the Jedi way. It is my life, and it is why I go to Coruscant now. If you do not wish to join me, then I understand, but if you do, a shuttle will be waiting for you after the trial."

He turned about, drawing his cowl over his face as he squeezed through the door. "It's your choice."

The Jedi Master disappeared into the alleys of Ahto City.

[member="Zam Ulgo"]