USH'S GAME EPISODE III- 'ARTIFACT'. Dark Side area

"They brought a Master named Kellan," says Ascar. "Her instincts are strong and she suspects. However, her suspicions are not enough. Logic tells her that you and your friends are here to steal the Astrolabe. She does not know of the Mausoleum but she knows you have the navigational data that it is used with, and so you must not be allowed to have it. They have gone for now, with my promises to keep it secure in their ears, but they will inevitably keep an eye out for it again. It is not safe for you here any more."

"don't worry, we're only here for one thing and hopefully we'll be taking off soon. I wouldn't call it...stealing...the astrolabe. More like a .....deal. I'm sure we can settle something"

"Takuan, normally a deal would delight me, but the current circumstances dictate a certain amount of caution on my part.

"Please, take a seat...

"Dealing with the Dark Side is a dangerous business; I say no long enough and your feelings tend to take control which is very dangerous for me. So you understand when I say I that the astrolabe will not be given away to anyone under any circumstances, I intend that no to be absolutely final and understood, yes? So I do not have to KEEP refsuing you."

(i can't just make decisions/deal proposals on my own without consulting kuylen, no?)

Takuan is seated
"yes, i see...can never be too cautious. but in the end, we should be more trustable then the jedi."

(Actually, Kuylen gives you a very great deal of autonomy. You just have to judge whether anything you say or do will piss him off or not. See, I can't have Kuylen with you all the time or he will just solve all your problems for you; that being the case you get a lot of freedom to act under your own authority)

"What an ironic idea," says Ascar. "What I can trust is that each of you will act for your own selfish interests, and that if you hesitate to kill me it is for no reason other than it being more trouble than it is worth. Which is why I keep friendly relations with Kuylen. But the actions of your friend Galder in here earlier show that I am wise to take such precautions with you people. As a gesture of goodwill I will return the being Rura too you, unharmed and without cost. In return I will expect you to leave Malastare and get the Jedi off my back. I think as far as deals go that is most reasonable, yes? Other than that you have little to offer me."

Well, Takuan, here is crunch time. Galder has little concrete evidence for you but he has suspicions, and maybe his instincts are good. You have to decide how best to put all this now.

(i ment i can't just say ..i'll give you 5% percent of what we find if u borrow the artifact..and so on)

"Ascar...this doesn't count much, but if our goal would've been attempting to your life, we would've tried it already, no? And us leaving wouldn't get the jedi off your back. Besides...we could both be advantaged from this situation" says Takuan

(Well, he doesn't seem interested in what you find anyway)

"Leaving WILL get them off my back!" says Ascar. "It is only your presence that keeps them here. And as I say, you won't kill me while you still find me useful, and I have no idea when you may change your mind about that. You can be so... tempermental... frankly, I find it hard to see what advantage there can be for me now in dealing with you at all."

(He's a shrewd businessman, is he not?)

(Oh, my mistake about the Mogarian. Though I do trust that it is Persis behind the mask.)

Well, you can have communicated that fact to Takuan if you wish.

"temperamental won't get me anywhere" Takuan hesitates for a second while focusing persis.
"persis...i noticed you like to play around with sabers. I'd ask myself if it's worth it in your place"

"Suits me just fine," says Persis, with a growl.

"You have a point to make?" asks Ascar of you.

Takuan looks at both of them. "Ascar...i don't like to talk just for the fun of it. I always have a point. Persis's little piece of work is looked upon as we speak."

"Piece of work?" says Ascar. "Something I should know about?" The question is open ended to either of you, but Persis does not reply.

"actually...several pieces, Ascar....the wonders of what a saber can do. A nasty looking picture. I'm sure persis told you all about it" Says takuan

"My my," says Ascar, flatly. "What HAVE you been up to?"

"Nothing," says Persis.

"Mmm. That's a lie, though, isn't it?" Persis sighs.

"Just one of the students at the dojo mouthing off to me. He won't be missed." Ascar closes his eyes.

"Somehow I cannot help thinking the timing could have been better."

"If these cretins had just gone when they should have it wouldn't have been a problem," says Persis, angrily.

"Nonetheless, now I am in rather an uncomfortable position. No matter, I am sure I can deal with it. Did you have anything else to say about it, Takuan?"

"ah..deal....with it. Ofcourse. i'm sure cleaning after your...minions is rather unpleasant, this would be a serious acusation. it could get in the way of your...profit. though, this incident can stay ...let's say low profile.
Don't you agree?" takuan eyes Persis one more time.

"I do agree," says Ascar. "So what is this, blackmail?"

Persis starts to take a step forward, but Ascar gently waves him back.

Takuan grins seing persis worked up. anger is good for now he thinks. "Ascar...words tend to generalise things. You can call it however you want. But the mutual advantage of an agreement is visible"

Ascar fixes you with a stare.

"I won't give you the astrolabe for your silence. I would have no guarantee and I am confident my contacts here can silence the problem in any case. But if it would help make things easier... what sort of deal did you have in mind?"

"A deal that would involve the astrolabe ofcourse. That's basicly it. guarantees are out of discussion. What interest would we have, what would we gain to not keep our end of the deal. We can use as many....friends as possible. And i'm sure we can make things difficlut to silence Ascar."