STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Brothers

Anastazia left, right? You impied that Janus wouldn`t do it, and Gurka is useless, I think.

Anaztazia has returned to Solstheim and Gurka to Alderaan, so yes, Janus can help! He has been a loyal friend and supporter for some time.

Didn`t you say that Janus would believe Einar?

But indeed, Melkor will go to his estate, since it seems best option availible.

My apologies if I made that unclear. No, Janus would side with you!

The Pivane Estate, where Janus usually can be found, is actually not located within Maurenburg. Instead, it is down in the golden fields that you are coming from, the black mountains looming over it. A servant allows you into the Estate and informs Janus of your arrival.

Janus comes out as you pull the landspeeder up to the archway.

"What happened?!" Janus asks, eyeing the shattered windshield and the blastmarks dotting the hull of the speeder.

"My brother decided I was about to be accidentally shot by his hunting rifle." -Speaks Melkor grimly, sweating.

Janus helps you out of the speeder. You notice that one of the engines is smoking lightly.

"Take it away," Janus tells one of his servants, and they do. "How did you get away? What happened to Einar?"

"I escaped on a landspeeder, leaving Einar away. He has communicator though, and I bet he has ordered my arrest already. He has enough power for this now, even if father wouldn`t allow for my execution, or at least so I hope." He responds bitterly.

Janus sighs.

"It seems you have over-stayed your welcome, friend," Janus says.

Janus seems to be right, however.... Einar is still in the field, right? Wouldn`t Janus`s men get to him before he gets out?

Yes, they could. But then what?

Well, if Einar dies Melkor would be a heir... but Melkor isn`t sure Janus would go with it and whether we can conceal the fact he was murdered( though there were assasination attempts recently, on Melkor as well) So maybe it is indeed better to just leave.

Janus concurs. He is unwilling to be involved in the murder of any member of the royal family. Luckily, that includes you, and he is willing to provide a transport that will take you to Coruscant so that you can continue your studies in safety.

I quess unhappy and angry Melkor will settle for this.

"I hope you will be safe. Einar is aware that you are my friend." -He warns Janus.

"I am an important member of the nobility," Janus says. "I have not wronged Einar and have no quarrel with me, nor him with me. I'll be fine."

"I would not be so sure. He seems to be becoming mad with power." Responds Melkor grimly, preparing to leave.

"If that is so, then let the nobles discover for themselves," Janus says. "I will stand against him, but not now. The time is not right. In your absence, I will spread dissent and find allies to help us. I promise you, the title of Castellan will be yours."

"And I will try to make useful contacts on Coruscant. Know that if I become Castellan, you will end as Regent. Farewell my friend." -He speaks solemnly.

"Farewell," Janus says. As he wanders off, you hear him testing out the sound of "Regent Pivane" under his breath.

Janus provides a pilot for the silver torpedo vessel that brought you here. Shortly after your farewell, the starship takes off and speeds silently away from Erengard...

-

A few hours later...

"He was here, wasn't he?" Einar asks.

Standing on the steps of the Pivane estate, Janus has his arms folded behind him, calmly staring down the length of the rapier being held at his throat.

"Of course he was," Janus says. "My estate is closest."

"Where did he go?!" Einar snarls.

"I returned him to his studies. On Coruscant."

Einar goes red in the face.

"Relax, Einar. You know he will return. It is only a matter of time..."

For a moment it seems as if Janus is about to have his throat slit open, and the young Pivane heir is unsure himself... but Einar removes the blade from his neck and sheaths it.

"Ludicrous," Einar says. "You should have killed him when you had the chance. I thought we had a deal."

"And sullied the Pivane name and your own? I think not. Besides, I am his friend, not his executioner."

Einar merely snorts. "Give me transport back to Maurenburg. Now."

"As you wish, sire," Janus says. He turns to walk into his estate, and a slight smile creeps onto his lips.

-

Coruscant

A few hours later, the silvery torpedo sets down at the starport, not far from the Imperial Academy of Coruscant. As soon as you have disembarked, the pilot tells you that Janus will send along your things. He then departs, the silver torpedo glinting in the afternoon sun before vanishing into space.

Melkor slowly returns back to his campus quaters, sad and angry that recent events ovetook his pleasant memory of Anastazia. It is terrible that mother died, and perhaps he should not dishonor her memory by plannning to overthrow his brother. But if he led to her death, such things cannot be forgiven....

Upon returning to your dormitory, you find two things sitting on your bed. A package and a letter.