Not part of the plan

[Kyra Perl]

“...Yeah... Will there be a chance for us to go off on our own at all? There’s this reaaaally great food market over on Bespin and I would love the chance to some quality off world experience. You know. Cause padawans need that.” She beamed up at him, unconscious in the way she empathicly implored him to be endeared to her. It was part who she was and part what she could do.

The girl exhibited very little control as far as emotions were concerned.


Her foot nudged at Acaadi, urging for immediate back up. Pronto.

 

[Acaadi]

"I think we all understand we are getting thrown into this and that we're not really looking forward to listening to a trade deal."

That was an understatement. He had completely glossed over when Lex had explained the basics of what they were supposed to be visiting Umbara for.

"Even if the world is dark its not that dangerous is it? You could trust us to go out and get some time away from the academy? When our duties are done of course," Acaadi said. He raised his hands as he tried to make clear that he wasn't trying to shirk his duties. He truly wanted to, but if that was the price for some time outside of the Jedi bubble then he would take it.

 

[Lex Del'Fino]

He looked between the two, his expression devoid of emotion. Ah, so that was it. They were looking for a bit of freedom was it? He wondered if the two, well, if he was being honest, Kyra specifically, he wondered if she had listened to a third of what he'd just said. She seemed to think that their mission would be galaxy spanning, him almost chuckling at her mention of Bespin, which was no where near the two worlds, let alone on it's hyperspace route. Acaadi, to his credit, was a little more realistic in his wishes, though Lex was still hesitant to let them go off on their own.

Every planet had it's customs, cultures, and laws. Umbara would be no different, despite it's unique environment. Even if it was just the market, Lex winced at the thought of the two somehow offending one of the natives, causing a scene, or even just getting conned by a merchant and calling them out on it. Incident like that would be the exact opposite of what the three of them were there to represent. The Force help him, he was beginning to think an actual responsible Jedi. Mon-Ike-Do was again, a clever old man.

"I have some experience with delegations like this. A lot of it is basically being living showpieces. 'Look, we've managed to secure Jedi to accompany us. Look how important we are.' That sort of thing. While en route to Umbara, there'll be at least one dinner, an entertainment part, and chatting. A hell of a lot of chatting. So, here is my deal."

He let a smirk crack. "You two prove to me you can handle a few over-curious dignitaries for a day or two, and when we arrive on Umbara, I'll let you two have your little getaway." He paused, thinking, and then added, "-impress me, and I might even throw in a stipend. Within reason."

 

[Kyra Perl]

Kyra perked, a slow smile spreading across her features.

What? No way. She didn't push it, an excited glance shot to Acaadi before dutifully hitting back to Lex. "Deal!" She chirped, striking out her hand for a shake. Whether or not he took it, it didn't matter. Things were picking up for her, and for the first time she didn't feel guilty about what it took to get here. Neither padawan was stupid. The only reason they were on this delegation trip was because of the stunt they pulled with the wookies and the slavers. The world figured them heroes, even though the truth felt far from it.

Regardless, Kyra had Acaadi had slowly been finding themselves with more and more responsibilities gifted to them since their previous actions-- tests, no doubt. And perhaps a game as political pieces. But if it got them off that rock and out there, Kyra wasn't going to complain.

This was all she had dreamed for-- getting out into the world. Doing things.

So what if they had cheated to get there.

 

[Acaadi]

Acaadi could be quite single minded when a challenge was put in front of him. That applied even when there wasn't a reward at the end of it. This time there was definitely a reward.

Acaadi didn't even care if Lex secretly followed them at a distance. It was so long since he had been anywhere to properly explore. Just a city full of foreign culture would do for him.

"Definitely a deal," said Acaadi. "We'll be the most polite padawans ever put forward by the silver Jedi."

He even frowned at how boring that sounded. It quickly became a pointed look in Kyra's direction. All that had to do was behave for the boring portion. Can you do that? His gaze asked.

 

[Kyra Perl]

Kyra raised both hands at Acaadi, her unspoken 'hey what are you looking at me for, I'll be good' loud and clear.

She grinned back at Lex, the epitome of polite and reassuring all in one go. Her pheromones were subtle in the air, trying to relax the group and create an easygoing enviroment.

"The best you ever had," she promised, her voice sickly sweet.

 

[Lex Del'Fino]

With the deal between them struck, Lex left the two Padawan's with a curt wave, and advised them to get some rest and their preparations done, as they had a little more than a day before they arrived at Onderon. He himself made headed for his own room, letting Junior handle the piloting for the remainder of the trip. Once in solitude, he began his own preparations. In his wardrobe, he found his robes. He disliked them mainly because they were flashy, they stuck out in a crowd. The wasn't Lex's style of operating, being the overt center of attention. They were in good condition, no noticeable marks, scratches or damages to the fabric, though he'd be sure to run it through the cleaner just to be certain. Despite his disdain for the mission, Lex still took his role seriously. The Padawans might be able to slide by on the assumption of naivety and youth, but for veteran of the Order, there was a certain level of expectation in decorum and manners.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Location: Onderon Delegation Transport, "The Draxxon's Gift"
Gear: Silver Robes

In the fewest words possible, the delegation's ship could easily be the definition for luxury. Lex got his first glimpse of the star-yacht as he entered the port of one of Onderon's cities, and for the first time he felt embarrassed, if only slightly, by the "Vagabond's Solace". The ship wasn't by any definition pretty, showing its scars proudly on it's hull in the form of dents, scrapes, chipping, and faded paint. By comparison to the gleaming surface of the yacht, it might as well be scrap metal. He pushed the thoughts away though, leaving Junior to do the proper landing protocols and check-ins.

He met the Padawans in the cargo hold, looking them over briefly, before giving a thumbs up. "Well, you at least know how to put your robes on straight, so it's a good start."

The hold opened, revealing an awaiting guard escort that'd take them to the meet with the delegation, and then to the yacht.

 

[Acaadi]

Acaadi wasn't quite sure what it was about the way Kyra worded her promise that made his stomach twist in a not unpleasant way, but he couldn't think straight for the next few minutes. Pheromones, he told himself. Definitely not the cocktail of hormones his own teenage self was over producing.

---

Acaadi had been looking out of the window at the delegate ship before the cargo hold. Now he was scrolling through his datapad trying to find the model of the delegate's ship. The small terminal was tucked back into his robes. He couldn't understand why Kyra wasn't as interested in the manufacturer of that gleaming ship.

The guards outside looked fairly relaxed. There was little formality here. On closer inspection they looked like ex-soldiers. All in their mid forties, likely making up a retirement fund with this kind of work.

At the foot of the silver ship stood the delegation. A human man with a white bushy beard, a much younger woman with sleek, jet back hair and a bivall in a particularly colourful set of robes.

 

[Kyra Perl]

"Why do I get the feeling that yacht is gonna take off and we're gonna be stuck on it," Kyra mewed to Acaadi. For a moment there had been a glimmering hope of arriving to some bustling city with ports and shops and destination spas.

"What are the odds that thing has a masseur..." She murmured to no one, taking Lex's lead and following his gesture to walk down the planks towards the other delegation. She paused only to make an overdone gesture of straightening her robes, giving Lex a cheeky wink once done and carry on her way.

The little display stopped enough for the other two to catch up to her. And then doing her best 'i am a solemn master with a stick up my butt' impression, she approached the delegation, the guard's clumping the boots in rythm besides them. She bowed and said nothing once before them. Because she promised to be good.

 

[Lex Del'Fino]

The elder man approached the trio, ahead of the guards and his companion, and bowed. "Master Jedi, it is an honor to have you accompanying us on this trip. I am Elias Fairlight, ambassador of commerce and trade. My companion here-", he gestured to the younger woman, "-Is Lumari Mon'Sa, a representative of the MonBio Corporation, whose research and resources we are conducting the trade with." The woman nodded, offering a polite smile toward both Lex and the Padawans.

"It is good to meet you, Ambassador, and you as well, Ms. Mon'Sa. Were grateful you've invited us. I'm Lex Del'Fino, and these two are Padawans Acaadi, and Kyra Perl. They've been assigned to the trip in order to get some worldly experience." A he finished their introductions, Lex tried to gauge the reaction of the pair. Not because he expected malice, or some hidden agenda, but to see if they were disappointed in the fact that two-thirds of their party were made up of the equivalent of students. Fairlight remained his bright disposition, while Mon'Sa kept her face marked by a small smile.

"Ah, well isn't that a grand coincidence? We've also brought a pair of student to accompany us on the trip. For similar reasons of experience." Lex hid a smirk. The Padawans might not be so happy now, even with the warning he'd given them earlier. He wasn't even sure they'd been listening to him, not until the reward part, at least. "They should be waiting on us on the ship."

"Well, let's not delay then."
------------------------------------
Location: Aboard the "Draxxon's Gift", en-route to Umbara.

A few hours later, the group found themselves in the midst of hyperspace, traveling towards Umbara. Along with Fairlight and Mon'Sa, were the two interns the ambassador had mentioned before, both around Kyra and Acaadi's age. One, Sora Juniper, was a Miraluka female, while the other, Kal Novak, was a human male. They'd both seemed nice enough to Lex when they were introduced, though he'd only had a brief interaction with them before Fairchild suggested they split into two groups, one for the adult and one for the young adults, in order to better get to know one another.

That was how he found himself in a three-way game between himself, Fairlight, and Mon'Sa, of Dejarik, in the lounge. He and Mon'Sa had teamed up against Fairlight, as the old man was an aggressive and cunning player, showing that he possessed a devious side beneath his cheery demeanor. Besides them, was a unit of Onderon Guardsmen, totaling ten members, assigned as security during the trip.

 

[Acaadi]

Acaadi walked to the barrier on the next level of the lounge. From here he could look down at Lex and the older ambassadors as they played their game. He was too far away to follow the game.

He returned to a set of tables and chairs where Kyra was. He sat down and picked up a mug of juice that he'd already nearly finished. He tilted his head towards the two interns who were hunched over a datapad a few metres away, sending his jet black hair swinging towards them.

"Are we...supposed to be socialising with them?" he asked. Because if they were it was definitely Kyra's job to make a go of it.

 

[Kyra Perl]

Kyra gave a heavy sigh, an opaque glass hiding the dark red contents within swishing in her hand.

"What are we even here for?" She complained, taking heavy drafts. It was a pity she couldn't get sloshed easily. She had a feeling she'd want to after a night like this. Her usual extrovertedness had died in the face of such boring people. I mean who cares about numbers and data? Really?

Nerds.

"Tell you what. I know we're suppose to be on our best behavior but how about we make this interesting." She stood up, hips sashaying as she made her way to the self serve drink section. Naturally there were simply things. Juice. Water. Tasteful bubbly things. But also, naturally, you couldn't have a high class affair without a bit of the things that bite.

Kyra gestured him over, casting a nonchalant look around her as she did so. "Grab a flask."

 

[Lex Del'Fino]

"What? NO!" Lex suddenly yelled out in agony, collapsing to the floor and slamming his fist into it. At the holo-terminal, his portion of the board flashed red while those of Ambassador Fairlight and Ms. Mon'Sa flashed green, indicating the two of them had actually formed a counter alliance against him, and eliminated him from the game. The ambassador couldn't managed to stifle his laughter, bellowing out hardily, while Ms. Mon'Sa attempted to cover hers with her hand.

"You two are worse than some smugglers I know." He admitted, once he gathered himself. "Lucky we weren't playing for credits or I'd have to be spaced." Recovering from the shocking defeat, he took his seat once again at the table, settling in once more.

"Yes well, these diplomatic missions are often boring affairs, admittedly. Holo-games are one of the few joys I am able to experience on them." Fairlight said. He pressed the terminal, clearing out the holograms from the table. With a gesture from his hand, he summoned a service droid, which began dolling out drinks to the trio. "You have a preferred drink, Master Jedi?"

"You wouldn't happen to have Boga noga on hand, would you?" The look of confusion on the ambassador's face caused Lex to chuckle a bit, before waving off the request. "Heh, never mind, I'll just have what you guys are."

Mon'Sa seemed startled by this. "Uh, I don't that is a good idea, Master Del-"

"Ah! Good man! Good man! B3! Serve us a round of Breath of Heaven!" The serving droid did as told, leaving and returning with a large flask and three tall glasses, which it set down. It then filled them with a grayish milk liquid, which smelled faintly of honey and oats. The ambassador greedily picked up his glass, and Ms. Mon'Sa did some with reluctance, leading Lex to wonder just what this was. He picked up his own and the trio clinked them, and drank. The first sip smacked into him like a Wookie's fist, immediately heating up the insides of his stomach and blurring his vision. He brought the glass down and glanced at the others, seeing their faces were already flushed. Ah, so it seemed like this trip wouldn't be so boring after all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ha! What's in the flask, some watered down cider from your temple?" Kal Novak, one of the interns, had walked over to Kyra, a wide grin displayed on his face. "I didn't even know Jedi were allowed to drink, honestly. I thought it went against your moral code or something."

"I'm sorry for Kal, he can be a bit... well, a bit of a jerk." Sora Juniper had joined Acaadi at the table, clearly talking to him though not looking in his general direction. The upper half of her face was covered by an opaque visor, which glowed a soft blue.

"What! All I'm saying is, if your really trying to make things interesting, then make it interesting." Kal snapped his fingers, and a service droid approached them, offering a selection of noticeably alcoholic options. "I sliced into the ship's droids when we boarded. We've got all the options my uncle and your Master has. Are we doing this?"