Much Naboo about Nothing...

[Kian Karr]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

​

As far as Kian could remember this was his first time he had ever stepped foot on the planet of Naboo. Kian knew well of its history....all Jedi did. It was the place that sparked the events that would lead to the fall of the Jedi Order of old. Kian closed his eyes and stretched out with the force. He could feel the life of the planet and it seemed to radiate a warmth that many did not.

"Are you sure you're up to this?" Eliza Ricon asked, her hand reaching out and resting on Kian's shoulder. Kian turned to look at the Miraluka and smiled warmly at her. She was concerned about him. All the Shadows had been since his sudden return. Kian was both happy to see how much they cared, and frustrated by how fragile they felt he suddenly was.

"I'll be fine, Eliza." Kian said turning to face her. She was a slightly built woman. Kian always found her appearance amusing. While Kian's face was hidden beneath the antiox mask and goggles necessary for his survival off Dorin, Eliza's top half of her head and face were covered by a cowl. She, as a Miraluka, did not need her eyes to see. "I once had quite a knack for diplomacy you know." Kian said warmly.

"Yes." Eliza said dryly. "I seem to remember a time when you drove your lightsaber into the chest of a ruling monarch in full view of his assembled subjects."

"Now wait just a minute." Kian said chuckling. "He was a droid. His son had murdered the king and replaced him with a fake in order usurp the thrown."

"Yes, well it made for quite a show." Eliza said laughing, but then turning serious. "I'm just concerned..."

"I know what concerns you Eliza." Kian said nodding. "I am still recoverying." Kian said rubbing his side. The meditation and bacta had done a great deal to aid in his recovery but he was still sore from his injuries sustained in his absence. "But I have a great deal of work to do....as do you." Kian said, dismissing her.

"Yes, master." Eliza said turning and returning to the shuttle. It lifted into the sky and set off back toward the Gnost Dural which was orbiting Naboo. Kian watched the shuttle fade into the distance, then drew the dark hood up over his head, hiding much of his features and setting off toward the palace. Kian took back ways and stuck to the shadows, himself fading into the crowd as he made his way toward the palace.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

As Queen of Naboo, most of the woman's daily routines consisted primarily of document signing, resource allocation, ensuring the stability of the planet's commerce, as well as its security and stance among the galaxy. Rarely, if ever, were there meetings with Jedi. While she technically carried the title, she was not, in fact, Jedi. She held no allegiance to any Jedi Order, be it the Silvers, New Jedi Order of the Alliance, or the Academy. Her training had been an isolated incident by a rather gifted woman that she now considered family.

She carried a lightsaber, that much was public knowledge. Though so long as she had taken on the role of queen, not once had Jamie ever needed to use it. Largely her involvement with the SIS had ceased ever since Aela retired from the fighting. And while she was never directly an intelligence officer or agent, Jamie had substantial involvement with a number of missions throughout her training with Aela. Now, though, she was known more for maintaining the peace and neutrality of Naboo than being a Jedi.

That made her business with one all the more interesting when it did, on occasion, pop up.

"Please see that the guest is escorted to my personal quarters when he arrives."​

​

Jamie was eager to meet a Jedi of the fallen Republic. Years back, when she was still nothing more than a teenager, she witnessed the collapse of the Galactic Republic, and the rippling effect it caused as its destruction was felt across the galaxy. Many of the Jedi vanished, taking up personal exiles, rescinding their oaths, or joined other causes. She had thus far not met a genuine Republic Jedi. Needless to say her excitement was nearly overbearing.

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian had expected to be kept waiting. Typically in his dealings over the years with monarchs and powerful political positions, everything was a measure response, done for emphasis. It was a common tactic to keep one waiting or to sit in a position that allowed you to tower over your guests. Kian had always found such techniques silly, but then again, had he not used the force to make himself intimidating in interrogations or to weaken anothers will?

Kian was surprised then, when, just moments after his arrival at the palace, a young Naboo native approached him and instructed him to follow them to the queens personal quarters. Kian bowed his head politely to the young one as they began to walk through the palace. Kian should have been marveling at the splendor of the place, he should have been awe stricken by its beauty and its majesty, but he was too lost in thought to take it in. Kian needed to locate bases of operations to help rebuild the infrastructure of the Jedi Shadows. When Ossus had fallen, the Jedi Shadow Enclave would have gone down with it.

Kian was not around for its loss, but what likely would have happened is the security system, alerted to the loss of the planet, would have demolished the support beams crumbling the enclave in on itself. The most vital information, stored in the lowest levels of the enclave would have been crushed beneath the weight of the fallen structure. Kian just hoped that all his Shadows were out of the enclave when this happened. Security was maintained by droids and most days they were the only ones there. The Shadows were too few to have many on the ground at any one time.

They came to a door and the young Naboo native waved Kian forward, where another opened the door and announced his arrival. Kian entered and found the queen awaiting him. What immediately struck Kian was the fact that she was so very young. Kian's own son, Plo, would have been older than the queen had he not died in infancy.

"Your majesty." Kian said, bowing his head as a sign of respect. Kian had read the reports they had on the Queen and therefore he was aware of her force sensitivity and Jedi training. But had he not been, he would have known it upon meeting her. The Queen, in addition to projecting an air of authority, also projected a glowing, majestic force aura.

"Thank you for granting me an audience." Kian said, his voice deep yet somewhat static beneath the mask. "Especially on such short notice."

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Jamie had not expected a Kel-Dor. Those were rather scarce sights in this sector of the galaxy. In her lifetime she had only ever seen perhaps a handful make brief stops on Naboo. Never a Jedi though, at least, not that she was aware of at the time. Back then she wouldn't have been able to tell the difference from a Jedi or a Sith. The blonde bowed her head in turn, out of respect for the elder Jedi. Near the edge of the room was a modest table, a few chairs circled around it, and a wonderful view of the courtyard beyond the large window. She gestured in a welcoming manner for Kian to join her.

"Please, Jamie will do fine. It is an honor to meet someone with your background, though I'm afraid I know very little of the Republic, and even less of their Jedi Order. I was much younger when it fell to the Sith."

By her calculations she was around thirteen years old when the Republic collapsed during they years long war against the One Sith, a regime that too, crumbled under its own weight. Civil war ravaged it beyond repair.

"What is it that brings you to Naboo--" She lingered, anticipating the Jedi's name would be given.

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

"Jedi Master Kian Karr," Kian said bowing to the Queen, "though please call me Kian." The Kel Dor said, clasping his hands behind his back.

"I am currently contacting leadership at a number of locations, looking to decide on a good setting for the Shadows to set up shop." Kian said indicating why it was he had come. Since the fall of Ossus, the Jedi Shadow's only base of operation was the Gnost Dural. This suited Kian just fine, as he had come to feel as if the mobile academy were a home at this point, but it was not enough to serve the Shadows on its own.

"When Ossus fell, so to did our enclave and with it the only permanent base of operations the Jedi Shadows possess. At least, the Shadows of the Republic that is." Kian said.

"We have a mobile base of operations....but it is not suited for all Jedi Shadow duties." Kian said trying to explain his position to the Queen.

"We need a more permanent structure for training, housing, and....other duties." Kian said, being somewhat vague about the more sensitive side of a Jedi Shadows duties.

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

 

[Jamie Pyne]

"It is an honor, Kian." The blonde leaned her head forward, a slight bow in return to the Jedi Master. "I am sorry to hear of your misfortune during the collapse of the Republic. I'm sure that was a very difficult time."

The Jedi Shadows were something Jamie knew even fewer details of than she did of the Republic. During her unorthodox training, and travels, Jamie had learned small tidbits of the group. A branch of Jedi dedicated to subterfuge, intelligence, and, as rumor had it, assassinations. That latter bit always seemed a bit of an exaggeration though, an effort to make them seem more mythical and frightening. Though she couldn't tell for sure.

"That being said, my home is a neutral world. While we hold an affiliation with the Alliance, it is one of mutual benefit and understanding. The Alliance has sworn to protect us in the event of military plight, but they do not meddle in our affairs, nor do they maintain or deploy their fleets in the system. In turn we provide them a small percentage of resources and do not involve ourselves in their wars." This was important for her to relay, so that the Kel-Dor understood the position Naboo held with the galaxy as a whole.

"If I were to grant you sanctuary on Naboo, I would need several assurances. The first is that no laws of my people will be broken as long as you maintain your stay. The second is that your operations on Naboo will not compromise the neutrality we hold in the galactic community. The third and final request is that the operations of the Jedi will be conducted out of sight of the people."

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian listened thoughtfully to what the Queen had to say. He could understand her hesitancy to allow an organization like the Jedi Shadows onto Naboo in any official capacity. Very few understood the type of work the Jedi Shadows were involved in and Kian worked hard to keep it that way. But Kian had not intended to set up the headquarters of the Shadows on Naboo, rather a small, modest enclave from which to aid and work within Galactic Alliance space.

"Of course your grac..., Jamie," Kian corrected himself, almost falling back into the formalities. "I would have no intentions of breaking any Galactic or Naboo laws."

"What the Shadows are looking for is a way-station of sorts for Jedi Shadows operating within Galactic Alliance space." Kian said trying to lay out his plans. "Naboo is in a particularly ideal location. Located on the outskirts of Galactic Alliance space, you are close to where the former Republic is attempting to rebuild," Kian said referring to the Republic Remnant.

"Additionally, Naboo is poised to be an ideal launching ground for operations within the Confederacy and the Galactic Empire."

"Of course, these would merely be information gathering exercises," Kian reassured, "Nothing that would break Galactic Alliance or Naboo laws or that would jeopardize your neutrality."

"And," Kian said with a smile, "everything the Jedi Shadows do is out of the view of the public."

[member="Jamie Pyne"]​

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Jamie smiled, noting Kian's correction. "i would not claim to suspect that, but it is something I must address for the sake of the discussion." The Jedi Shadows in a way sounded similar in their nature to the Alliance's own SIS, of which her master and friend Aela had been a part of, and by extension she too for a time. Most operations were off the books and had no direct affiliation with the Alliance. It kept things neat and tidy, and cut all cords in the event of a failure. Jamie surmised it was likely similar with Kian's work.

The Republic Remnant was still in its infancy, along with The Resistance, two budding factions that Jamie hoped for the sake of the galaxy would survive long enough to not be smothered in their crib.

"I suspected much of your work was subtle in its nature. It would explain the reasoning for my ignorance of it entirely."

If subtlety was what the Jedi Master was looking for, she could offer several options to the Kel-Dor.

"Naboo has excellent swamps, cave systems, and rolling hills suitable for such a base of operations out of the view of the public. That being said, we also have a number of planets in our system that may also suit your needs. Storm comes to mind, with its thirty two moons.There is also Widow, which houses a strong Force Nexus on the surface of the planet. Or, alternatively, if you wish to maintain a presence in space, Zaela Station houses hundreds of thousands."

The blonde retrieved her datapad, collecting the information for the three locations, as well as several local areas on Naboo that could perhaps work out for the Jedi Master, then edged the device closer for him to take a look at.

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian raised a hand to his antiox mask, running his hands down the spikes on his mask as if stroking a beard and considered the words of the Queen. Kian took the offered datapad and reviewed the locations. They all had their advantages and disadvantages and Kian was very grateful that the Queen suggested them. Several minutes passed as Kian looked them over, evaluating them as he did.

Naboo and Zaela were the two most promising. They were both populated enough to allow for information to flow freely. But the swamps and cavern systems of Naboo certainly lent themselves to a hidden location.

"I think," Kian said glancing up at the Queen, "That the cave systems of Naboo certainly offer the sort of location that would work well for the Shadows."

Kian eyed the Queen for a moment, wondering how best to broach the next subject in a...diplomatic way.

"There are two things I would like to ask about, if you'll permit me." Kian said. "The first is, how many people would need to be made aware of our presence on Naboo, should you permit us to set up here?" Kian asked. "The more people who know about a secret base....the less secretive it becomes." Kian said chuckling.

"The second is," Kian added, "What you would like in return for allowing us to set up shop here on Naboo? I would prefer you benefit from this arrangement." Not wanting to offend but also not wanting to take advantage of the people of Naboo. "In the past, we've worked with the local intelligence agencies as a way of providing services....we could continue this practice here, or compensate your people in another way."

[member="Jamie Pyne"]​

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Jamie considered the Jedi's words for a moment. If the man before her was anything like Aela, she knew he was beholden to his word, and equally trustworthy. Though she knew little of the man standing before her now, she had met a handful of other Jedi in her time spent at Sullust, as well as traveling, and they all possessed the same relative aura about them, carried themselves similarly, and thus eased her concerns of their motives through their connection in the Force.

"Very well. Myself and the Minister of War are the only necessary bodies of government that are need to know. I understand the need for discretion. No others need to know. It suits Naboo better that this remains a secret."

The thought of some kind of barter hadn't quite crossed her mind when the Jedi had requested to meet. Though now that it was in the open perhaps there was in fact a means to equal out the arrangement.

"With respect to your second question, my only request is that any information pertaining to my people or my home be brought to me with urgency. Any advantage we can garner to protect ourselves from outside threats I will happily receive. we needn't ask for more from you."

[member="Kian Karr"]