"Closer than that," says Grevor, "but further out than some. One of the more aristocratic worlds... I am sure you know the one..."
Of course! Seronno. It's one of the traditional Republic worlds, with titles and royalty and so on. Part of that area of space that starts with Alderan, as the most core of such worlds, then out past Seronno, then you are into Tasker's Crown and Charnel, where Kulyen came from, and eventually all the way out to Naboo as the most distant. A wing of the Galaxy dedicated to the old ways, to varying amounts- most are actually democracies with fancy titles now.
But not Seronno; that's a place where the old notions of inherited wealth and titles are still part of the birthright for some. Not to give a false impression- Seronno is a proper democratic Republican world, but somewhat quaint by modern terms, with many forms of hierachial power still in dynastic hands, and plenty of money and influence to boot.
The Seronnese have a reputation for fierce independance and for somewhat rebellious ways- but not rebellious quite in that sense; it is more like they often take great moral objection to some of the worse points of the Republic, and they are very vocal in their opposition to rising bureaucracy. Some love the Seronnese for this reason, others say they just pine for the days when Kings and Queens ruled the planets.
None of that is why you have heard of it, though. That reason is far simple. Seronno is the birth planet of one of the Order's most famous Knights- Master Dooku. As Master to your old friend Qui-Gon, and so from the same generation of Jedi as Grevor, you had met Dooku a few times, even been on a mission with him when you were a young Padawan, when he paired up with Grevor. Actually, that's how you MET Qui-Gon...
Not a Master any more though. He resigned his post shortly after you returned from Zeiton- the first fully ranking Knight to do so in living memory (unlike Ascar who left as a Padawan, and Kuylen who faked his own death as opposed to retiring). Actually, you understand Dooku has a title of his own, back home.
Hmm... the Trade Federation prefers the traditional worlds, as they are a traditional people, aside from technology. They don't like worlds like Corellia- probably why they chose Naboo as their target, the remotest and weakest of such worlds that was still large enough for the episode to be noitced. By why, of all such worlds, he would want to talk with the Seronnese, you have no idea.
-
The rest of you on Coruscant- Grevor speaks truly, this has been another wasted day, frustrating for you all. Still, the news has come through that Gundark has survived, which is something. Time to take the Viceroy back again.
OK Xeth, I need you and your flying charge NOW! (Or next sequence...)
Ohh... I feel a plan coming on!
Can I use speed to get behind the turrets so they can't fire at me? (Those are gonna be the things that are gonna be the most problem for us)
No cleaveing on supermooks right......
Ok Strine is here, We're gonna wanna talk to him. Soo try not to kill him yet....
Other than that... EVERYONE UP TOP NOW!
Sunda I'll deal with later
Kellan was nonplussed. "Since Naboo, the Viceroy's name is lower than dirt amongst those systems. His communications with Seronno; I can make no ready sense of," she said aloud, more to herself than to Grevor. "Perhaps we can draw the Viceroy out with a ruse, a fabricated message...." Her mind raced with thoughts, despite remnants of a foggy brain. "I've got to get back to work, Grevor. This is an important lead and must be followed up on quickly."
"Not yet you're not, Kellan," says Grevor., "You need a night's rest minimum. And meanwhile, there is quite a waiting list of people to see you, now the Court is out of session... ah..." says Grevor, as Ki-Adi Mundi walks in. The two of them nod amiably to each other.
"I am glad to see you well, Master Gundark," says Mundi. "Master Scovione here has been talking to you for these last 12 hours. I have never met a man with such reminiscent stamina..."
"I'm not sure retirement suits you, Grevor," says Mundi.
"We must all know the times when to say enough is enough," says Grevor. "If still wanting to work in in old age is frowned upon, someone needs to have a word with Master Yoda..."
"There may be times when we are all called upon to work regardless of age," says Mundi. "But let us hope it does not come to that. The situation appears to be becoming more uncontrollable, Master Gundark. We are still waiting to hear some news from Marcus, but nothing as yet I am afraid. You are well enough to take visitors?"
"Very well," he says. "First off. young Jeb wants to see you. He's been rather anxious."
"If he hadn't spotted those needles first, Kellan, you might not be here right now," says Grevor. He smiles. "I told you taking a Padawan would be a good idea... he wanted to stay here with you, but I told him you would be far more impressed if he had carried on with his duty regardless of his personal feelings."
Walkway from the court, Gallagher.
"They've tightened up the air defences," says Ithrorn. "We may as well take the most direct route back; any other could only be more perilous for the Viceroy...
... I agree with Master Clarion. The Viceroy is playing his own game; we'll see if he gets enough rope to hang himself with."
As it so happens, you get back to the safehouse with no trouble at all.
"Seriously," says the Viceroy, "if I have to spend one more hour listening to that inane prattling reptile I shall strangle him with my own hands!"
Darn it... always tricky when you sympathise with him...
... which reminds you of Ascar's gift. You've not sussed it yet.
-
Difficulty 13, Roan. And I can't let you have any more time from your current predicament... so your defences against attacks from six pirates, two field guns and a Taskmaster, please.
Densk, yes- basically, anu move that puts you to zero frames or less finishes you for the sequence. Which means acting on frame one is very efficient, as a three frame move there is just as legal as a three frame move on frame 3, but both would frame you out. There is a limit to that though- any move that would take you below -2 frames, counts the excess off from next Sequence.
-
"I had better go," says Grevor. "I've done my part here, now you must take the helm again, Kellan. May the Force be with you."
Jeb arrives soon after he leaves.
"Master? Are you well?"
-
"On the murder itself?" says the barman. "No more than what I have said already; the Viceroy's man left there, bumped into someone, got blasted in the front, that was that. It didn't happen in here, so why would I care what actually happened? He's dead, that's all there is to it."
"Well, if you want to make your appreciation for good service all the more well known, that suits me just fine," says the bartender, billing it up on his receipt, "but I cannot tell you more about the murder itself, I was not there. But I am sure the circumstances of that murder, which are more a matter of forensics, are not all that you have come here for..."