First Reply The Shadows of Peace

[Mak Manto]

Mak's Quarters - Bottom of the Jedi Temple

Leaning back in his chair, Mak took a deep sip of his scotch as he idly twirled his cane in his third hand. The room was dark with the fireplace allowing shadows to dance from the flames that occasional leaped up from the wood logs.

He was just beginning to slip into meditation when a firm knock interrupted the stillness. The door opened to reveal Master Halco, her expression serious as she entered. "Mak, we need to talk. There's a critical situation on Balmorra that requires your immediate attention."

Mak shifted his posture, his curiosity sparked despite his earlier lethargy. "What's happening?"

"There is a situation brewing on Balmorra," Halco replied, urgency threading her voice. "Several factions are trying to usurp control over the foundries on the world, and with the weapons and droids that they produce, we can't allow for the planet to turn to enemies of the Galactic Republic when the planet falls within our territory."

Mak raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "And I'm expected to help mediate this chaos?"

"Yes," she affirmed, meeting his gaze. "You'll be working alongside someone else on this mission, someone that will complement your skills as you will to theirs."

"Sounds thrilling," Mak responded, a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "Just what I needed — more chaos to navigate."

"Your ability to investigate is why we need you," Halco insisted. "Master Noble wanted you specifically. There are dark forces abound, manipulating these conflicts from behind the scenes. She believes that there may be more at play here than just politics."

Taking a moment to process her words, Mak nodded. He might not have been eager to jump into the fray, but he understood the importance of his role. "I'll do my best," he said more earnestly, feeling a flicker of resolve spark within him despite the chaos. "So, who am I working with?"

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

The door chimed, and Master Malco pressed the button for the door to open. On the other side, wearing a patchwork corduroy jacket and a pair of denim jeans, and no shoes, was a gray-blue Cathar Padawan, who was currently trying to rip up a particularly stubborn piece of jerky by holding one in her teeth and pulling on the other with all her might.

Gem-in-Trash's eyes widened when she realized the door was open; she'd accidentally hit the chime. The jerky snapped in half towards the bottom, and it flung itself upwards, whipping her on the forehead. It surprised her, and she took a couple steps back.

"Uh, hi," she said through her teeth, not wanting to risk the jerky escaping her mouth, "I'm Padawan Gem-in-Trash, are you Master Mak Manto? I've been told to report to you for some kind of mission?"

She held out a claw, wrapped the jerky around it, and pulled, using her claw to slice it; the effort only got partway through, forcing her to repeat the motion several times before she managed to cut it in half all the way. Once successful, she offered the unbitten bottom half of the jerky to Mak Manto with a toothy smile while she chewed.

 

[Mak Manto]

Mak stared at the Padawan for a moment, caught off guard by her unconventional introduction. His lower left hand reached out and accepted the jerky without thinking, a bemused expression crossing his face as he turned back to Halco. He ran a hand through his beard, incredulous at the unexpected arrival.

Halco's lips curved into a smile at the sight, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "May the Force be with the both of you," she said warmly, before stepping back toward the door. With a final nod, she exited, leaving the two of them in the dimly lit room.

Turning back to Gem-in-Trash, Mak regarded her with newfound curiosity. "So, Gem-in-Trash, is that really your name?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Sounds as if you've got quite the story behind it."

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

Gem bowed to Halco as she left, loudly chewing on the tough, but delightfully flavorful, jerky.

"Ahnd also wid you!"

She looked to Master Manto and smiled, stuffing the half-chewed jerky into her cheek so she could speak with clarity.

"I was born in a dumpster," Gem offered, and shrugged, "I'm not really clear on the details, I was a little busy at the time. I had a lot to do, what with the crying, pooping, and drinking milk. Baby business."

Gem had a bag with her, and she presented it to Mak Manto to inspect. In it, Gem had datapads, maps, a couple of canteens, and a few books. It was mostly snacks. Strapped to the bottom was a personal repulsor-tech vehicle known as a Skimboard, popular with teenagers.

"They told me to research Balmorra, past and present, so I downloaded a bunch of information onto these Datapads and wrote a couple of report briefs. I figured I was just helping someone with their mission prep, I didn't expect to be part of the mission? But after Yavin, I guess I must have left an impression. I wrote the reports quick and dirty yesterday, it's nothing too detailed. I can do more on the way there. Everything else is just in case. Never be caught without water, and if you're bored, you can always re-read a book. Oh, and snacks."

She opened her jacket to reveal she had her own Lightsaber, "And I've got my own Lightsaber. I think that should cover just about everything except a ship and maybe Landspeeders for when we get there."

 

[Mak Manto]

Mak leaned forward, peering into the bag that Gem-in-Trash had presented with an arched eyebrow. He scanned the contents, a mix of datapads, maps—marked with colorful doodles—and an assortment of snacks spilling out among the practical items. His lips twitched in amusement at the sheer variety.

"Impressive collection you've got here, Gem," he said, pulling out a particularly questionable-looking energy bar before setting it aside. "You certainly come prepared, though I must admit, the balance between snacks and research is… intriguing."

He straightened up, a smirk creeping onto his face. "So, let me get this straight. You were born in a dumpster, you like to chew on jerky, and you've somehow managed to write quick and dirty reports on Balmorra while considering snacks to be essential supplies?"

He gestured towards the lightsaber at her side. "And you also wield that? I'll admit, it's not exactly what I expected when I heard I'd be partnered with someone, but I have to say, I rather like your style. It sounds like we might just get along famously."

Mak chuckled lightly, then gestured for her to follow as he moved toward the fireplace. "I suppose we should start preparing ourselves for this mission, then. If you've done your homework, we should see what else we can dig up about the situation on Balmorra. But first…" He raised the half-eaten jerky towards her, "You wouldn't happen to have more of that, would you?"

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

Gem shrugged, "I mean, water is the most important thing I made sure to bring. But yeah, if I ever end up getting locked in a room by a bad guy, I don't want to be without books to read, water to drink, or snacks to eat. And these datapads are totally loaded with stuff, so there's more research than it looks. I like to think ahead."

Gem offered him another stick of jerky for Mak Manto to chew on as she found the softest chair he had. She curled up on it, definitively claiming it as her own.

"My report's not that interesting, just the kind of thing I'd write for an open book essay in class. They told me I had a day to write it, so I just threw something together, mostly about its old history because a lot of people pretend to agree on older things than newer stuff. Balmorra's built weapons for the Republic for-ever, like, literally from the beginning of the Republic. It's so old there are factories that are considered archaeological sites. Some people claim that they invented the modern Droid, but that's wrong because the Rakatans built the first confirmed modern style Droids. Anyway, it's basically always been part of either the Republic or the Galactic Alliance in the current era, though the collapse of the New Republic was pretty rough on them. They have their status quo and they like it that way - build walkers, droids, and guns for the Republic, whatever it's going by, and get paid to do it. A lot of corporations, old industry, that kind of thing," Gem explained, reciting the big points of her report, "But since the collapse of a couple of Imperial stellar states, there's been a huge demand for weaponry and Balmorra has been selling it to whatever Imperial Warlords are capable of paying, and that's shaken up the status quo. A lot of opportunities to sell weapons to anyone who wants to stuff hired guns into Stormtrooper armor right now."

 

[Mak Manto]

Mak took the offered stick of jerky with a grateful nod, chewing thoughtfully as Gem settled into the chair, instantly claiming it with the confidence of someone who'd made herself at home. He leaned back on his tail with a small smirk, listening intently as she delved into the history of Balmorra, her excitement palpable even through the casual manner of her delivery.

"Your report isn't just interesting; it's quite revealing," he said after swallowing a bite. "It sounds like Balmorra is at a crossroads of epic proportions. Old alliances frayed, new opportunities tempting the vulnerable — classic recipe for chaos."

He slithered closer to the fireplace, putting all four hands to it so he could get warmed, his thoughts racing as he processed her insights. "You made a good point regarding the Republic's dependence on Balmorra's industry. With the recent instability, it's clear the potential for exploitation is significant — especially if those old factories become battlegrounds between factions."

"You mentioned that the factories have historical value as archaeological sites — could be something we could leverage. If we can remind factions of Balmorra's legacy as the backbone of the Republic's military might, we might sway some of the more sensible leaders back to their roots."

He turned back to face Gem, intrigued by her sharp mind and adventurous spirit. "As for your homework, I'd say you did more than just write something together; you've given us a strong foundation to work with."

"I've been a Jedi for over two hundred years; my entire life. I've been a Jedi Master for the vast majority of them. I don't give a damn if even a padawan has a better idea than I do when it comes to our work. If we're going to Balmorra, then you're my partner, Gem."

Partner...

He hadn't had one of those in a VERY long time...

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

Gem beamed at the praise; she liked her reputation as a troublemaker, but placed a bigger emphasis on having the trust of her teachers.

Or in this case, partner. Mak Manto had yet to be one of her teachers as a Youngling or a Padawan.

But she also knew not to let it go to her head. However, she did begin to purr without realizing.

"I can't say I've ever been on a diplomatic mission before. I've only been on two missions, both times as an archaeologist. Second time turned out weird, to say the least. I don't know much about the modern factions on Balmorra, it all seemed too complicated for me when I wrote my report. I couldn't figure out who was who and what everyone wanted. What should we expect when we get there?" Gem asked. It occurred to her that she didn't really know many people outside the Order. On Coruscant, there were a few Younglings she went Skimboarding with on occasion. Then there were a few people in the GADF and the navy that she had met on her mission to Chiron. Finally, there were a few archaeologists that she'd met through her mother. She really didn't know that many people.

"Do we start by, like, meeting people? Will the companies be expecting us, or will we work our way up form the time we arrive?"

Gem knew that the key to learning wasn't merely just having questions and not being afraid to ask them, but trying to sort out which ones were the most important - the ones to ask first.

 

[Mak Manto]

Mak leaned back in his chair, his demeanor shifting to a more focused but still relaxed state. "Alright, Gem, here's the plan. We need to approach Balmorra cautiously. If we go in waving our Jedi banners, we might as well be asking for trouble. The last thing we want is to get caught in the middle of a power struggle—some factions might view us as heroes trying to intervene, and that could land us in a precarious situation."

"Before we even think about mediating, we need to investigate the factions competing for control. We should connect with locals—factory owners, workers, and perhaps some lower-level operatives. They'll help us uncover the true dynamics at play, as they know the stakes better than anyone else."

Turning back to Gem, he held her gaze with measured enthusiasm. "Your report gives us a solid foundation to start from. Balmorra is filled with complexities we'll need to navigate carefully. Let's take a detective's approach: gather information first, and then we can determine who to engage and how. Listening before speaking can reveal insights we might not expect."

A hint of mischief sparkled in his eyes as he added, "And I wouldn't underestimate your ability to connect with people along the way. That little spark of troublemaking spirit you bring might just work to our advantage—if we use it wisely." He raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk appearing. "So, does that sound like a plan to you?"

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

As Mak Manto spoke, Gem's worries faded away. He had a strategy ready to go that made sense to her; the whole point was to clear up any confusion going in. Her fears were getting ahead of where they actually were, and she was glad he reminded her of it. She needed to keep her mind on the objective on hand, rather than worrying about something that hadn't happened yet.

"If we're just merely visiting tourists, then there's no problems for anyone to worry about. Balmorra's an important world, and I hear they've got a righteous Skimboarding scene I've been wanting to check out," Gem said, and she winked, "That's what I heard, anyway."

Gem didn't know if that was true but it also didn't have to be. If there wasn't one, well, then she would have to start one, wouldn't she?

"If we start with the workers, see what the general populace is seeing, then we'll have an idea of what the real divisions are, and they'll know if anything particularly weird is going on. What kind of news people are hearing and sharing, rather than what the corporate executives might be yelling about," She scratched her chin as she thought, "What about smugglers? People who might be buying weapons on Balmorra without being on the record? They might know something, too. Do you know any? Actually I think my mom used to date one that would procure artifacts for the EduCorps. I don't know why she hid it from me, I liked her.

"Am I overthinking this? I can't tell if I'm rambling with too many ideas and not just getting started. When do we go from 'research' to 'going to the place and doing the mission'? How do you know when you're ready to go and do it?"

 

[Mak Manto]

Mak extracted a pipe from the interior pocket of his robes, the glint of its polished surface reflecting the flickering flames of the fireplace. With a flick of his hand, he conjured a small flame from the tip of his clawed finger using the Force, effortlessly igniting the pipe. He took a deep, contemplative puff, savoring the rich aroma as smoke curled gracefully into the air.

"Sometimes, Gem," he began, exhaling a gentle plume, "the best way to approach a challenge is to dive right into it — just like with your skimboarding." He paused, letting the warmth of the fire wrap around them, fixing his gaze on her.

"You can't truly understand the ride unless you jump on, right? If you stand beside the board overthinking the air currents, you might miss the thrill of catching them. It's the same with our mission."

He leaned back slightly, maintaining a relaxed yet attentive demeanor. "By immersing yourself, you begin to sense the currents of what's really happening."

"Sure, there will be times you wipe out and land flat on your butt," he added with a mischievous smile, "but every fall has its teaching moment. It's about trusting yourself and your instincts, and that's where genuine understanding unfolds."

Mak took another puff, letting the smoke swirl around them as he continued. "So if you ever find yourself caught in overthinking, just remember you have a solid foundation to build upon. Be like your skimboard — flexible, adaptable, and ready to make quick adjustments when needed. If we approach this mission with open minds and the willingness to act, we'll be able to navigate Balmorra just fine."

He leaned forward, a spark of enthusiasm in his eyes, a playful smirk inviting her to share in his excitement. "What do you say we gather our gear, and get ready to plunge into this mission together? I have a feeling it's going to be quite a ride."

With a final puff, he tucked the pipe away, looking down at Gem with anticipation for the journey ahead.

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

Gem didn't want to be rude, but the last time a snake-like, long-lived Jedi Master with four arms lit something this smoky around her, she ended up sneezing on an ancient Jedi statue, as well as the Jedi Master himself, so she leaned back in her chair and tried not to inhale too much of it.

"Skimboarding is all about motion. It's harder to stand on your Skimboard when you're standing still. When you're moving, your weight becomes its weight, and it all comes together as one," Gem said, extending the metaphor. She didn't know if there were Skimboards built for people as large as Master Mak Manto or for those with tails instead of legs, but she was sure that if they had them, he'd surely shred.

"I think we're on the same wavelength on just getting started, but I think I might be ahead of you, unless you can think of anything I might have overlooked? Skimboard, water, snacks, research, Lightsaber. Maybe some Binocs? We definitely need a ship, though," Gem said, sliding off her chair, "They won't allow me to do that yet. Something about not having a license. Or any kind of training flying a Starship. It might take a while to get there on Skimboard."

 

[Mak Manto]

Mak nodded at Gem's enthusiasm. "We're taking a public shuttle. I prefer not flying ships myself, and it's wiser to blend in with a group rather than draw attention as Jedi."

He stood, adjusting his robes. "A public shuttle will allow us to navigate the situation with greater discretion. We'll blend in as ordinary passengers—just two travelers heading to Balmorra."

As they moved toward the door, he glanced back to ensure Gem was following. "I have my lightsabers. and the only thing else I need is my holocron." Using the Force, he pulled it off the table until it fell into his hand and was safely in his pocket.

Once outside the Temple, he gestured for her to keep pace. "It'll be a larger public transport, bustling with locals. We can overhear crucial conversations that will reveal the dynamics at play."

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

Gem followed diligently; the moment they were out of the temple, Gem was on her Skimboard to keep up, weaving between people as impromptu obstacles. She would continue to ride her Skimboard as long as physical circumstances prevented her, or until she was yelled at by some kind of authority figure that she didn't want to cause a scene with.

"Well, you should wear something other than robes, because there's really only two kinds of people who wear anything like Jedi robes: Jedi, and people trying to look like Jedi. I would say that's why I wear this jacket, but that's just because I don't like wearing robes and I like this jacket," Gem said, holding her arms out. The jacket's arms were clearly too small, as her wrists and part of her forearm were sticking out, "Dangit, not again!"

She dropped her arms back to her side, conceding defeat to her inevitable growth spurts.

"I don't like the idea of lying to people, but what do we say if someone asks us why we're traveling together? I guess saying you're my teacher isn't that far off. 'Family uncle' would also kind of work, too. When you're raised in the Jedi Order, everyone is your aunt or uncle. I think 'Teacher taking student on field trip' is close enough to the truth that we should go with that. That, and I want to check out the Balmorra Skimboarding scene, which is absolutely true. I wonder if they have, like, a tourist advisory board that might know? I should have looked that up first. From now on, I'm never overlooking information about a skimboarding scene on a planet. When I went to Yavin - that was a time and a half - I didn't bother because, well, nobody really lives on Yavin except other Jedi. But those pyramids! I should have skimmed down them when I had the chance. There was a lot going on, though. And I don't think the Chironi on Chiron were big into Skimboarding because they're pretty big and have a lot of legs, but I think we should try to find some kind of accommodation for them anyway because that's a bogus reason not to Skimboard, just because someone didn't design one for you. I've gotten pretty good at repairing my own, I've been thinking of looking up how to work with Repulsorcraft just to know more, but I guess that would be super practical, a lot of Jedi study engineering and stuff like that."

It was pretty clear that unless Mak Manto spoke up and over her, Gem-in-Trash was going to continue to chatter on whether he responded or not.

 

[Mak Manto]

As Gem continued her enthusiastic chatter, Mak took a moment to center himself, tuning into the flow of her words. He quietly reached out with the Force, channeling his energy to create an illusion that masked his true form. While he remained a Thisspiasian on the inside, to everyone else around him, he now appeared as a Human.

A second later, he was projecting the image of a typical human face — flesh where there were once scales, and limbs in a more standard shape. This transformation was subtle yet convincing, ensuring that only those with a deep familiarity with him might discern that something was amiss.

Mak glanced down at himself, adjusting his now Human-like attire with ease. "The robes definitely attract attention," he remarked, altering his voice slightly to match the persona he was projecting. "And a change of outfit can be quite beneficial. Much more... universally accepted."

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

Gem cocked her head, and shrugged, "I mean, that works. I don't think you should have to change to Human though. You should be who you are, just not in Jedi robes. If people get weirded out by a Thisspiasian, that's their problem. And we'd learn something important about them."

Gem continued to ride her Skimboard as much as possible, though she did dismount once they reached the Starport. She'd never travelled on anything but a Jedi-sanctioned vessel before, so she wasn't sure what the proper protocols were. Under normal circumstances she would have been happy to use anything and everything as an obstacle to use to do tricks, and then go on a long chase through the streets where she would eventually lose them and have an epic story to tell.

But she was on a mission today, and she wasn't going to compromise herself or Mak Manto for the sake of a little bit of fun. Besides, there was plenty of trouble to make on Balmorra when they finally got there. As they approached the pre-boarding scanners, her ears went up as a thought occurred to her.

"Oh, no, our Lightsabers! How do we check those? Do we get an exception for being Jedi or something?"