"Thank you for your time, Kir," Gundark responded politely.
Okay, Kellan...you don't have much more information than what you walked in here with. Other than the discovery of that functional Astrolabe...
She had to send the Supreme Chancellor an update on the investigation. Perhaps he had acquired some additional information since they had left. She allowed the block of granite with two legs to show her and Sieri out....
Persis does indeed show the two of you out, with no improvement in mood.
You have much to think about. There is clearly something dodgy going on here. The Avalar reference on the Astrolabe cannot simply be a coincidence- you KNOW it isn't, you can feel something is not right here. Yet you felt no hostility from Ascar. In fact, you felt very little at all- he had a very calm mind.
Unlike Persis, whose mind was vicious and unpleasant. And almost STUPIDLY stubborn- when he met you, you are certain that he would have tried to take your weapons by force if necessary- knowing full well you are a Jedi Master! Maybe he has been brainwashed. That would explain his complete resistance to the mind trick. Regardless he had no reservations about striking a blow against you at all.
NOTE FOR ALL PLAYERS: Motan contacts you all at this point and says he has put out descriptions of all the DJs you guys have described to him. If they are spotted anywhere, you will be notiified at once- police units have been ordered to observe only.
Gunday, you know the Astrolabe and the maps, together, in Kuylen's possession would be very dangerous. But he must have something specific in mind, rather than just trying to follow to every planet on the maps he recovered, which could take him years. What does Kuylen have in mind? Whatever it is, that Astrolabe alone is reason enough for him to be on Malastare- you doubt there is any other like it.
And then you receive a communication, brief, and impersonal, asking you to come to docking bay 1138 at the main spaceport.
There is a ship docked there, on private charter. Three people are there to meet you.
The two behind you have not seen before- one, in faded Jedi robes, with fierce red hair and a red scarf tied to his right arm. To his right is a young man with the braided hair of a padawan.
The one in front you recognise at once.
"Kellan!" he says, with his arms wide. It is your old friend, Jesi Master Scovione.
"I wish I could say it were just to see you, my dear Kellan," he says, "but I am here on business, just it is my fortune that my business is with you! But let me not forget my manners. First, some introductions." He ushers the Padawan forwards.
"You always said retirement didn't suit me... the Council asked me to take on young Corelay here as my learner, and I agreed... and MUCH trouble he causes me as well!
"And this is Master Marcus. I do not believe you two have met. But as it has been decided that you two will be working together, I think now is the time for introuctions!
"Come. Why don't we walk the streets together? It will do Corelay good to see this place, and we may talk business."
"Studying, meditating, and yelling at younger Jedi I see in the Temple corridors," says Scovione. "They get younger every year, a wonder of the Force I cannot decode, I am sure...
Corelay seems to almost ooze eagerness as he listens to the three Masters around him!
"Now, Kellan, news of your rescue of the Coruscant Star reached home quite quickly. It only hastened our need to come see you in person as soon as possible. The Chancellor himself approved us 'interfacing' with your mission, as it were. I understand there were two significant developments you found on the liner- a link to the Red Lance pirates you thought destroyed, and the presence of the man named Balek."
"Indeed we have," says Scovione, "But I am afraid I have worse new for you about Balek.
"Master Marcus here has been following up pirate lead in the Outer Rim; it was he who discovered the Red Lance is somewhat more intact than we thought. They must have recovered all the gold from Avalar that Faylar did not have.
"Back on Jaglon Beta, the Red Lance were commanded by a man named Pelloran. It was he, along with Kuylen and Faylar, who ran that entire operation. We assumed that neither of the two who betrayed Kuylen survived. I understand you and your team never met Pelloran in person?"
"Yes, I did hear," says Scovione. "And of the enormous fight on Jaglo9nn Beta that resulted. I did know Kuylen once; he used to work in the Archives, after all, though Madame Nu had little time for him.
"Well, it seems that Pelloran unexpectedly survived that fight. And he has re-grouped quickly. Kuylen being a possible link to discovering more about the Red Lance is why he is here; the Chancellor has asked ho, to join your investigation.
"But I am afraid I have grave new for you, Kellan. It seems that Pelloran took the destruction of the Jaglon Beta base, his men and his equipment, rather personally. Now, you had learnt of the bounty that Faylar placed on the heads of your targets. When Faylar died we assumed it was the end of that matter, but it seems Pelloran does indeed have access to the monies required, and he has honoured that contract.
"But he has extended the terms. Pelloran is now paying one million credits for the deaths of yourself and Lance Windu. And the information we have suggests that Balek intends to collect that contract."
For a moment, Kellan faltered. In her lifetime, she had left behind more wounded opponents than she could count. She had become used to half looking over her shoulder for any number of disgruntled humans and aliens coming after her to settle a score. But to have a certified bounty on her and Lance's heads in the amount that Grevor was talking about was more than a little unsettling.
"Grevor....we've got to get this information to Lance," her mind was going in five different directions. "Pelloran....where is he operating from ?" She suddenly grabbed Grevor's arm. "We've come across a functional Astrolabe here. Its been used recently...." The words tumbled out in a blur. Get a grip, Kellan...get focused...
"I... err..." says Scovione, overcome for a few moments. "Stay calm, Kellan. You and Lance are in no immediate danger. Let's deal with things one at a time. First of all, Pelloran. No-one knows where he is operating from. Marcus here hopes to find out some time but for now he will work with you.
"You can tell me about what ytou have discovered in a few moments. I have with me the information we have on Balek; do you wish to hear it?"
"Here is what we have.
"Balek was born on the world of Gauda Prime. Republic law is almost non-existent there; anyone who survives there does so the hard way. By the time he escaped that forsaken world he was a man of considerable skill and extreme danger. He lived the life of a rogue and scoundrel, finding fun and money where he could and not being afraid to kill to get any of it.
"He found himself one day on a rather backwards world in the westen quadrant of the Galaxy. There, after an altercation, Balek badly beat and raped a young woman. Not surprisingly, her brother took great exception to this and had Balek arrested. But the planet had some rather... backwards ideas about legislation, and women in particular. There, a woman was no more than a droid, or other piece of property. Balek could not be done for assault as the woman had no rights under which this could be done. Instead, all he received was a 500 credit fine for 'damaged property.
"The brother was very upset, naturally. He tried to appeal the case to the Republic Courts but you know how impossibly clogged they are. He saw no legal recourse, and went to hunt down Balek himself. This would have been a dangerous thing for any man, only here is where the story turns less pleasant. Her brother was a Jedi.
"He tracked down Balek to that same world and confronted him. In an unfortunate moment of... weakness, he gave into his anger and struck at Balek. His sabre neatly severed Balek's arm. He then belatedly regained control of his emotions.
"Balek became rather hoist by his own petard; by the backward laws of the planet, the Jedi;s actions were legally ruled as being a legitimate blood feud- all he had to do was pay the fine back. The Order, of course, was not happy. The Jedi to this say is still receiving... counselling... for his lack of emotional control. I doubt he will leave the Temple again.
"Balek survived, of course, with his replacement arm, and since then he has become one of the most feared bounty hunters in the Galaxy. And... Kellan... he hates ALL Jedi. ANYONE with a lightsabre, in fact. It is why he has been so keen to take on these contracts that other bounty hunters will not go near.
"However, Balek is careful and clever. Legally, we cannot at this point accusde him of any crime, nor do I think we shall ever do so. He will not try and take you or Lance on a Republican world. You are safe while you remain in civilisation. But should you venture out again, he will follow. He knows you are dangerous. He will take you alone, fighting on HIS terms, not yours. With your current mission already dangerous this is not something you should be expected to deal with. Maybe it would be prudent for you to restrict your movements for now- maybe even to return home."