First Reply Murder On Bespin

[Asher Hodesh]

Asher was relieved that both Sir Narr and Master Katarine Ryiah was not only understanding, they were offering him words of comfort. He was so use to getting a lecture, that this had him stunned. When Master Ryiah bent down to catch his gaze, he looking her eye to eye as she encouraged him and told him that His Father's deeds had not bearing on him, nor his standing in The Order. He let out a deep sight of relief, and gave a slight smile in return,
"Thank you Master, and Sir Narr. I am overwhelmed by your kindness." He then focused solely on her green eyes, and said,
"Master Ryiah, I promise that I will do all in my power to help catch this murderer. Even if it leads to unpleasant places with my family."
He gave a bow.

Then then gave the command to lead the way to his homestead,
"Yes Master, this way."
He began to lead them both out of the Offices of Tiberius Corp and back to the lift. From there they made their way to the white steps and he began to lead the way to a villa of matching white not far in the distance, it was separated on a platform with a bridge and security detail.
While Ash lead, Knight Narr pulled up the File and began to relate the intel,
"The deceased it seems is not an employee of Tiberus Corp.. curious.. which does not fit with the story that this was an accident at the work site. There is more, among the initial findings not included in what we saw was a necklace that bears the Hutt Cartel Insignia."
Narr raised a hairless brow,
"Curious the Examiner did not have that necklace, nor any mention in the log."
Ash listening as he lead them to gate of his Family Home, turned and said,
"My Father makes dealings with the Hutts," he paused, there were only half a kilometer away from the gate,
"Master.. if I may, if this was a Dark Sider and they killed a Cartel Leader, it would bring the wrath of the Hutts here.. that means if we do not catch them, Cloud City could turn into a war zone."

Knight Narr let out a sigh,
"This seems very convoluted and makes me suspect that this chaos of characters is meant to keep us clouded.. while I share Ash's concerns, it could be a ruse, planted by the Murderer. They already have planted a Dark Side relic in the mouth of the victim, I say it makes sense they could plant a necklace nearby too."
Ash retorted,
"True, but the Murderer wanted us to find the Runic relic, that means.. the necklace may be off world and already on its way to the Hutts."
As they all stood there, The Master, The Knight, and The Initiate, Narr said,
"Whoever this is.. they are cleaver, they have our investigation splitting into two prongs, which returns us to what was said before.. we may be the targets, and they seek to get us apart and cut us down one by one.."

Ash turned around to Master Ryiah,
"What do you think Master? Is it a ruse or reality? Should be pursue multiple leads?"

 

[Kitty Kat]

can delete

 

[Asher Hodesh]

As before Master Katarine Ryiah was the soundness in all this chaos. They would do as she advised, attend the dinner and try to unravel his father's lies,
"Yes Master, I agree wholeheartedly with your plan. We need to catch my Father in his lie, and conduct our inquiries on them both."
He found himself smiling at her, it was a thrill to meet someone who was so wise in the investigative matters. She was showing him what it meant to be Master Detective. Sir Narr piping in said,
"I concuir, we sall prusue as Master Ryiah advises. Though I sitll want to reiterate my concerns about seperating. I still believe the first theory, about us being the true targets is the right one."


They came to the gate, and there two guards with blaster pistols in holsters, they had helms with a captial T on them in blue, and one raised comlink to their mouth, and said,
"Halt.. identification please."
Asher almost growled,
"We are Jedi, invited by Mr. Tiberius Hodesh himself.":
The Guard began to check a datapad, and said,
"I see.. wait a moment please."

Ash felt this was absurd, this had been his home and getting in was like trying to visit a Chancellor. Then he realized, this was not his home, he was no longer a part of this world. And he was being treated as he should, as a Jedi stranger. The Guard recieving a message on his comlink said,
"You are cleared to enter, have a good day."
Ash took a step into the grounds, the courtyard had while marble pillars, and a great fountain with golden stone in the three circles that rose to the clouds, the trickle of water was soothing. There was some bushes, cut into circles of perfect cemitrey that flanked the great golden door. Nothing looked like he remembered, in fact, the manor was alien to him. The great doors opened to the Three Jedi, servents, standing at attention, and a Young Woman approaching them, saying in a very soft spoken voice,
"It's you! Oh it's you!"
She was in a fine golden dress, her naked arms being thrown around Ash's neck as she kissed his cheek.
"Your father has told me so much about you! I have been dreaming of this moment!," she turned to Sir Narr and to Master Ryiah saying,
"Its is a great honor to meet you Jedi! I have never hosted Jedi before! This will be exciting! Come! Come in and lets have a sit in the parlor, the dinning room is being prepared for the feast!"

Ash was rather confused, who was only a couple of years older than he, and why was she the Hostess, where was His Mother?
They were brought into a fine palor with a great chandliers that rose from the floor to the cieling that sparkled as clearest crystal, around it was a circular couch, the Hostess bidding them sit.
"I am afraid Tibby is busy with some last minute business. He has assured me he will be here soon."
A protocol droid of chrome with yellow eye came with a tray and on it was fine crystal oval glasses with golden bubbly liquid. The Hostess took a glass and sipped,
"I am so sorry.. I am rather nervous. When Tibby told me His Son would be dining with us.. I was over the moon!"

Ash unable to contain his perplexed feelings said,
"Who are you? Do you work with my Father?"
She almost choked on the bubbling vintage and said,
"My goodness no.. I am his wife, Lucinda. Has he not told you?"
Ash raised a brow,
"My Father.. divorced my Mother?! Where is she?"
Lucinda downed the glass in big gulp and swallowed.
"Uh.. this is so akward.. I thought your Father would have told you before the dinner.. your mother.. is dead."
Ash rose up from the couch,
"Whaaat?!"
The Hostes rose as well holding out her hand in a gesture seeking to calm him,
"I am so sorry! He should have told you! I don't like this! Telling people bad things!"
She began to cry, her tears making his gilded mascara run.
Ash began to pace, amd then he paused,
"That is why all the changes.. the courtyard.. this room.. he has washed away every trace of her!"
Lucinda stepping closer to try and offer comfort said,
"No! No! I did that.. do not blame him! I though a fresh decor would be good.. she died two years ago and he was in a stupor for much of those years."
Ash felt his breath leave him,
"Two years! My Mother has been dead for two years! Why in the Force did he not contact me?!"
She tired to pacify him with a touch of his arm,
"We had no way of finding you! He said that he had no idea where you had gone."
Ash responded,
"Lies! More lies! He knew what I wanted to become! He tried to stop it! Even visited the Temple on Coruscant to try and keep them from taking me in!"

Knight Narr stood and came to the Intiate's side, placing his hand on his shoulder,
"Ash! This is a great deal to process. Lucinda do you have a private room we can adjourn to and a wash closet?"
Ash began to tear up and speak angrily still,
"I am going to be sick!"
Lucinda walked over to some wallpaper and pressed, a secret door opening to a room and refresher connected,
"Here! Please use it at your liesure. I am so sorry! I did not mean to hurt him!"
Narr nodded,
"You take a moment to Hostess, I can see you have a good heart and meant no harm."

Ash went into the refresher and began to void into the sink of finest pearl, he then made fists on edges of it, which made it shake, and drops of liquid from the faucet began to levitate into the air,
"Mother!!!!"
Narr held him at the neckline,
"Its ok Ash, let it out. There is no shame in this. Grief is a part of life, a part of The Force even."

 

[Kitty Kat]

can delete

 

[Asher Hodesh]

TAG: Katarine Ryiah

At her words about him returning to the Jedi Temple, Ash took a sip of water from the faucet and he washed his face. Narr keeping his hands upon his shoulders as he tried to help him process. After some dry heaving, the Initiate came to the door and opening it saw her face, her emerald eyes were like land to a shipwrecked soul and he instinctively reaching out embraced her in his state, he said as her chin went over her shoulder,
"I wish to stay.. to see this through.. I need help from you, and Narr.. this pain is unbearable!"
Her suggestion he should leave the investigation seemed the wisest course of action, however, Ash did not want to leave. He needed to confront his Father, to get answers, to know why.

Trying to rein in his mourning, he then released his embrace and said to her,
"We will use this.. set him off balance.. turn this shattering into the unraveling of whoever is behind this.."
He wiped his eyes, drying to make his heart as stone, to quiet the fountain of faint heartedness.
Ash slid down the wall, his long boots which went to knees arching up to his face,
"I know.. your wisdom is sound Master, I should leave, but I will not leave you and Narr in danger.. I must.. endure."
His chest was rising and falling, he tried to hold back another crying jag. There was knock at the door, it was Lucinda,
"Is there anything I can do?"

The Jedi Intiate took some deep breaths, trying to control himself, he said,
"There is Emotion, There is Peace." He Recited the Odar-Nurr version of the Code, that acknowledge emotion, but called to the Force to give one peace to help navigate it. He felt himself steadying as she held out his hand to Master Ryiah, he already was seeing her as tether, he did not know if that was fair. Narr had done a lot too in the refresher, but in her eyes he felt a calm that helped him. It was like the lakes of Naboo, which he had visited once on a case. He had never seen anything more beautiful than the Lake Country of that world, and her eyes reminded him of it. It was as if her eyes were pools from that very place, and he found himself now able function some, the tears drying up as he kept focus on her.

Narr looking at them both gave a smile, in the middle of tragedy he saw that The Force was linking them. Ash had gradually become more and more submissive to her, in a way he had never done with potential masters before. He had been teased, called a wild Reek, was it possible Ryiah was the one who could help him tame that nature and become a Jedi? Narr did not interrupt them, but rather went to the door and opening it, stepped out with the Hostess,
"All will be well.. thank you for checking. Perhaps you could get some refreshments, he has lost a lot of fluid."
Lucinda nodded,
"Of course! Right away! C-9V0! We need the fine bottles of water at once!"
She then charged off towards the kitchen, Narr standing out where the circular couch was, this was moment for him to do a little inspecting of premises, while The Hostess was busy, and the Host had not yet arrived. He began to search the book shelf for any clues that was in a corner. When he pressed on a yellow volume, a secret door opened, and inside he saw a study. The Purple Nutalon looking around with his gilded eyes before entering in...

 

[Kitty Kat]

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[Asher Hodesh]

Ash having been in Master Katarine Ryiah arms felt soothed, and he listened as she urged him to rein in his feelings about his Mother, and not let it cloud his vision about this investigation. He nodded his head and said,
"Yes Master, there is a time to mourn and it is not now. In fact.. I am suspicious of why my Father witheld this information.. that it is another whirlwind meant to keep us as you said before, 'going in cricles."
It took all of his resolve to bury this feeling deep down, to numb it, and instead choose to fixate on the here and now. His Mother had died two years ago, and the Murder Investigation was happening in the present. There was no mistake that his heart was riven, his Mother was the only one who supported his day dreams of becoming a Jedi and his obession with the folk tales on Cloud City about Skywalker and The Imperial Occupation. Losing her was like losing a tether to the only past he still wanted to remember. So he had to pull himself up by his boots and merit Master Ryiah's faith in him, that she let him continue as Junior Investigator.

"Master, I suggest we not speak of this at dinner. Let Lucinda tell my Father I know and my stoic response cause him pause, and perhaps unease, so that you and Narr may more easily expose his lies."
This was rather crafty for a Jedi, but the aim was to catch the Killer, and so one sometimes had to do things that would not meet the approval of the Jedi Council, well their sensibilities perhaps. What mattered is someone had perished, had been snuffed out and there was some sort of cover up, and obfuscation happening. Ash was not even certain if there was a Dark Sider really involved now, if that was not just have them go on a wild Purrgil trail. Still he would obey Senior Investigator Ryiah, she said with too little information they had to prusue all the avenues. Hopefully at dinner they could glean enough to remove some suspects and trails.

 

[Kitty Kat]

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[Asher Hodesh]

Asher was elated that Master Katarine Ryiah had agreed to the plan. She even gave him the boon of saying it was as if he was reading her mind. This made him smile in turn as he went with her back into the Parlor, Narr was just returning from the secret book case study, and came up to them. he seemed rather surpised to see Asher was no longer swooning, rather he seemed as he had been before the tragic news.
"You look better.. that is good, because I did not snooping in the study and found some notes that mention The Hutt Cartel. Which does cooberate with the lost Cartel evidence the Examiner had in the file. It looks as if one lead is panning out."

Asher rubbed his cleanly shaven chin,
"Good work, though I agree with Master Ryiah we should still pursue the other avenues."
Coming out of kitchen was Lucinda with some water, she was physically shaken and was taken aback to see Ash was not only recovered, but as if nothing had happened.
"Dearie! Are you alright?"
Ash gave nod,
"I am.. thank you very much for your assistance."
He took the glass of chilled water and sat on the circular couch, Narr did the same, and so did the Hostess.
"I am so sorry for your loss Ash," said The Hostess, "I cannot believe your Dad did not tell you.."
Asher gave a faint smile,
"It is alright.. he was merely treating me as I am.. a Jedi. When one joins the Order, you join a new family. Perhaps he did inform the Council and they decide it was best at that point not to say anything.. I was rather.. impulsive then."
He said this mainly to get Lucinda to not be in a state by the time His Father arrived, though as he pondered his own words, it might be the truth after all, the Masters may have realized it would make him spiral, that he might have even returned to Cloud City in a vengeful state, launching his own unsanctioned investigation. Ash looking to Master Ryiah as he had said these words, his eyes filled with the look of a Young Man who had been effected by his own words. If it was true and the Jedi Council had kept this from him, letting him instead go on investigations, he began to consider this was why he had not been given a Master yet, that it was not just his behavior, rather they were waiting to reveal this to him and see how he responded.

 

[Kitty Kat]

delete

 

[Asher Hodesh]

Asher caught sight of Katarine Ryiah giving him a look to help steady him, that she was there, he felt his heart calm even more as she gave this gesture. He was beginning to understand what it meant to be a Jedi, to put on a brave face and bury your pain till the proper time of mourning. There was a great deal to grieve, and yet he felt as long as Master Ryiah was there he would have the strength to carry on. He had heard of the bonds between Master and Apprentice, how they became the Two that were One, was that what was happening? He hoped he was not presuming, she was not officially his Master, though she felt like it and he would hold on to that feeling throughout this.

Narr gave a nod to the appreciation from The Jedi Master. He was watching as Asher had completely composed himself, and was actually functioning by the Miracle of the Force, no because of Her. He saw it when they embraced near the refresher, Ash had been a wanderer, lost, and for first time he saw The Initiate behaving like a Padawan, composed, obedient even to Her, and yet still making his voice known. It made him smile.

Lucinda was now seated and breathing a sight of relief as Droid came and began to sweep a feathered fan on a gilded pole to cool her. She responding to the Jedi Master said,
"My Husband.." she looking at Ash, concerned that such language might be salt in a wound, before she continued, "is always late. His business keeps him at the Office more than he ever is here.. I have become quite lonely of late, since.." She paused once more, as if some information was going to slip from her mouth, and instead she placed something else there, "since the accident.. as you mention. He has not been sleeping much.. and.."
Suddenly the door opened, and it was not Mr. Hodesh, it was that Young Man with a clouded aura who had knocked Ash, his long black bangs falling, as he came to standstill seeing All Three Jedi there.
"Oh darling! Everyone this is our son.. Kadim. Please my darling boy sit! We have guests."
The Clouded One sat came in, and the Mother rose to kiss his cheek,
"Good evening Mother.. and Jedi, I saw you three at the Office."

Ash felt himself having to call to he Force, to supress the emotion rising up in him. She said this is our son, which meant. Lucinda spoke up,
"I guess you are brothers! Yes! How happy is this day. Our family complete."
Kadim in his very stiff gate walked across the room, Ash standing and Kad gave him a hung,
"Welcome home.. Brother."
His eyes flared a little as he with drew his embrace with a mischievous smirk.
Ash was using all of his strength to fortify himself from falling down, the revelation that he had a Half Brother, another piece of information his Father had kept from him was taking its toll. Channeling the feelings, he said rather nervously,
"Hello Brother, I do recall seeing you at the Office."
The Jedi Intiate was using all his will power not to scream. He had been replaced! Just as his Mother had been replaced!

 

[Kitty Kat]

can delete

 

[Asher Hodesh]

Asher was feeling himself losing control, his fortitude was crumbling when Master Katarine Ryiah came beside him and suggested her adjournto His Father's study. The Jedi Intiate gave a nod and said,
"Yes Master, I shall return in a moment, I recall I left the datapad in the refresher."
A good cover, to make Kadim and Lucinda not think he was effected by this reveal. He went through the door, and Narr paused a moment, thinking it was best that Young Lad have a moment to himself, to process this very shocking information. He felt rather sorry for Ash, that he had not only the loss of a parent, but the sudden expansion of his family, a brother, who from the Knight's senses was nothing like The Jedi Intiate. He sensed a dark aura around Kadim, and that made him stay in the room with the Master, even though he was certain she could handle herself.

Inside the room Ash went to the sink and started the faucet anew, he was dry heaving again, and began to scream into the towel, when in his state he had not detected the blow of wind, that the doors out to balcony from the room were open when they had not been. He had his face buried in the golden towel, muffling his sound, when he let out a gasp as he removed it and look up into the mirror, he suddenly saw a Mask, something peering at him, and a bright light, that thrusted, he ducked and the tip of the bled kyber went into the mirror and he rolled around towards the seat, and frantically grabbed at his saber hilt and as he snapped the cobalt to, it barely was in time to block the red blade of the Masked One, who now pressed down on him, he felt its power, it was trying to push his own weapon's blade into his chest, Ash knew he had to do something to get out of this death trap and so he kicked at the feet with great, force, making the Assassin lose their footing, and fall forward and rolling he cut up, tearing the half of their cape clean up and then getting to his feet sprinted toward the door, when hen suddenly felt himself grabbed, not by a hand and thrown to the side, towards the balcony. The Attacker then came at him in a furious pace, Ash drew his weapon in upper cut like fashion to meet them, and now they were on the balcony, their blades crackling as the two burning beams met in a an exchange of cuts and thrusts.

The Initiate barely was able to hold his own, this Warrior was ferocious, using its blade as if a tooth seeking to dip into him like a living carcass. Looking at the mask of this Darksider, the great deep holes, he began to contemplate who this could be. He tried to sense but they were blocking his overtures, and then with extending of their hand, they threw him back, his back going up on the finely crafted stone work of a railing, which Ash then using his boots stood up on and the Masked Phantom leapt up on and began to do a wrist cut, Ash parrying, their blades beating against one anoher, and the Jedi shouting,
"Master Ryiah! Sir Narr!"

The Darksider then extending his hand grabbed at his escophagus, and Ash felt himself be raised up, his wind pipe beginning to close, hearing the door suddenly open inside the room. The Dark One then threw Ash back towards the room, him landing at the base of bed, gasping, as the Phantom leapt away.

 

[Kitty Kat]

Can delete

 

[Asher Hodesh]

Sir Narr kept pace behind her, and at her instructions he leapt after the Masked One. Giving chase through the streets of the City, being lead far away from the others..

Asher laying on the ground sat up panting, his chest rising and falling as he looked at Master Katarine Ryiah
"I am not injured.. they were as you suspected.. I fought them.. they are well trained in the Jedi Arts.. only.. this was different, this was Dark."

In the span of a few hours he had learned his mother had died, he had a brother, and this Darksider had tried to kill him.
"Master Ryiah.." He took her hand and said, "They tried to kill me.. I was cleaning up and.." he pointing the mirror that had a great hole and fissures of broken glass. "They almost succeeded.."

He gasped as he tried to steady himself with her help and said,
"This cannot all be coincidence.. these revelations about my mother and brother, and now this attempt on my life.. someone is goading me.. but why?"

Sir Narr gave chase, and lost the Attacker at the path to the under-levels. He recalled how he warned them not split up and so he broke off. At least he knew now where they were hiding, in the underbelly of the city, in the basement of this world.. lurking, waiting, and that was just was acolytes of the dark did.

Back at the house, Ash looking into Katarine's deep green eyes said,
"Tell me I am not crazy.. that this seems too much at once, that it has to be some sort of plot.. and yet the implications are.. are.. my Father.."
He began to breath heavily again, and he said,
"Or are we being lead away from the real culprit? The true cause of this murder and attempted murder?"

Ash was having a hard time removing his feelings from this, it was hard to with his family being involved, and now an attempt on his life. Though he was less unsettled than before, he needed to believe that this could not all be coincidence.

Knight Narr returned to the house where he found that the Brother Kadim was gone, and Lucinda was in the kitchen, talking to the cook and servers. He furrowed his brow, and made his way to the room where he found Ash and Kat together, he said to them both,
"I followed them, they are hiding in the lower levels.. in the shafts and ventilation."

 

[Kitty Kat]

can delete

 

[Asher Hodesh]

Edit, will post soon.

 

[Asher Hodesh]

Ash was beginning to spiral, he clung to Master Katarine Ryiah gaze as if it was The Force itself, he looked to her to help steady himself. When she affirmed that this could not all be coincidence, and yet voiced his own concerns that this may be an attempt to get them distracted, and to all this he gave a nod and then looking back into her soothing green eyes said,
"Yes Master.. I agree that we proceed with interviewing my Father."

Sir Narr drawing near to them for first time since his return said,
"I am afraid there is two approaches for us now. We either all dine with your family Ash.. or I go and hunt down this Attacker before they have an attempt to get away. I know I am the one who said never split up, but time is against us.. they will no doubt change and be back in the city and we will have no idea who they are again."

The Jedi Intiate looking to the Knight said,
"I think that possibility is already at hand my friend, they may have already have stashed their mask and robes, and are not detectable. Besides I think your initial advice we not separate is sound. What do you think Master?"
He redirecting his attention to Master Ryiah, he was so glad that Grand Investigator was with them, she gave Ash a sense of calm and authority that could help them make better decisions, after all he felt rather emotionally compromised, but all pretense of him leaving this invetigation was no longer possible, for the attacker had come for him, and if they had any hope of catching them, he would need to remain on this mission. Besides, despite the whirlwind of all this trauma, Ash drew on Master Ryiah's sense of mastery over the situation, and the stalwartness of Sir. Narr. They were the Three who could not be broken if they stand together, The Force was with them!

 

[Kitty Kat]

can delete

 

[Asher Hodesh]

Knight Narr began to nod,
"Of course you are both right, and I did suggest we stay together."

Asher keeping his eyes fixed on Katarine Ryiah's emerald eyes, he shook his head and said,
"My Father had the local authorities in his pocket. If anything they would inhibit our investigation, and even cover up tracks if he asks them."
As he spoke of his Father, the front door opened, and walking in was Mr. Hodesh himself, he came into the foyer where he was met by Lucinda who threw her arms around his neck in a gesture and kissed his cheek,
"Darling! You are so late."
He gave a nod and said,
"I know.. I know.. what did I miss?"
She became very solemn as she drew her hands back,
"I am afraid Ash.. well.. I told him."
Mr. Hodesh took a deep breath,
"How much does he know?"
She responded,
"That she is dead, and that he has a brother now."
Mr. Hodesh walking over to a fine crystal decanter said,
"I need a drink.."
He poured himself a fine hazel and orange looking liquor into a cystal glass and downed the whole thing, and then began to pour another.
"When is dinner? I need to make a few calls."
Lucinda grabbed his chin and said,
"No no.. you need to talk to your son. He was quite shaken by the news, and honestly my nerves are shot being the messenger!"
Mr. Hodesh put down the glass he had finished and said,
"Where is he?"
She pointed to parlor and said,
"He is in the guest room.. quite ruckus.. his Jedi companions are with him."
The Father made his way into the parlor, and he drew back the half cracked door to see the Three Jedi, one of them his Progeny.
"Hello.. is everything alright?"
He drew closer and saw that Ash seemed rather wet from sweat. The other two Jedi seemed pensive and as if they had witnessed something peculiar.
"I am sorry about my lateness, I had a meeting I could not get out of."
Ash looking at his Father as he rose said,
"Hello Father, I know business keeps you."
Mr. Hodesh squinted, and looking around he saw the bed in a mess, and even from there the mirror with a great hole and many cracks.
"Is everything alright? It looks like a scuffle happened here."
Ash drawing near his Father said,
"Nothing.. The Force.. well it has a mind of its own sometimes."
Ash could feel his Pater studying him, his eyes trying to fathom what was going on, he knew that His Father was curious at what had transpired, and even may know if he was in on it, but it was best to conceal matters, and not lead on to what had happened, for it could effect their line of questioning. Trying to solidify how unshaken he was trying to appear he said,
"I am sorry about Mother.. I wish I could have come to the funeral."
Mr. Hodesh paused looking into his Son's eyes and said,
"Yes.. well I doubt The Jedi would have allowed you to come. They are your family now.. arn't they."
Such cold words as he turned back to the door and the parlor, Ash made a fist that was shaking.