It is still about an hour before the sound of oncoming speedes comes over the hills toward the Manor. Sarkley called ahead saying that he let nothing slip and that the Mecrossans had landed. Geful is annoyed when Sarkley informs him that they put the parking fee on Geful's tab.
Three speeders come hovering over the high hill and swoop down into the Manor's valley, coming fast. A little black speck races alongside them; an assassin probe, the same kind that attacked Vera-Kin on Ord Coridari.
You are with the welcoming party when the three speeders pull up outside the Manor's front door. Tanic is wearing a fine suit, with his lightsaber and pistols concealed under the jacket. Slate is wearing a more business-like suit, also hiding his pistol. His gunmen did not make any effort to appear presentable.
The Mecrossans disembark from their speeders casually. Rand and Gallador (who had been driving) emerge from the first speeder as the assassin probe floats past. Rand does not seem pleased to see you and has gone for his lightsaber.
"What are you doing here?!" Gallador asks, also reaching for his lightsaber. He is more alarmed than Rand, who is just angry.
Rianna smiles smugly at Rand and Gallador, despite the fact that she is highly nervous. She does not draw her lightsaber, though her hand is tucked into the fold in her skirt where it is currently hidden.
"Lord Geful has requested us to act as advisors," she responds, amused at how surprised and displeased they are.
Rand activates his lightsaber, flashing the crimson red that you remember all too well. Gallador does as his Master and produces a purple blade.
"Normally you are my objective," Rand snarls. "Today you are simply in my way. Leave now or die! Both of you!"
Tanic has his lightsaber in hand, and everyone has drawn blasters on each other- even Geful's butler. However, one person has drawn something unexpected. Sir Oskar Calthell, a fair-haired but ugly man, has drawn what appears to be a lightsaber with a shorter, thinner blade.
"Now, now, let's not be hasty," Sir Calthell comments, stepping into the center with his blue-bladed energy weapon. "This is a diplomatic meeting! And I see already it is not going well. You were to designate your advisors and inform us of their identities well before our arrival... Lord Geful."
Lord Geful did not go for any of his weapons. "Your Order conveniently forgot to tell us that two of your attaches were former Jedi. Sir Calthell."
Calthell frowns. "That is not important to the nature of the diplomatic..."
"Yes, it is," Tanic interrupts, activating his lightsaber. "Back off."
"Sometimes things come up at the last moment," Rianna adds, looking directly at Rand as she does so. "The best thing to do is to just adjust as best as you can."
Her hand is still on her lightsaber, but she hasn't drawn it yet. Her smile has vanished, though. And she is curious why Calthell has something resembling a lightsaber.
Calthell smiles.
"Very well," he says, putting away the strange lightsaber. "Rand, Gallador. Put away your sabers."
Gallador does so. Rand does not.
"Rand?"
"I will not take orders from you," Rand snarls.
"I believe that you..." Calthell stops when Rand starts to lift a fist toward him. "On second thought, how about some friendly competition? My attache against your advisor! Non-lethal, of course."
Rand grins unpleasantly.
"I can't allow that..." Geful says.
"Not confident in your Jedi allies?" Gallador sneers. "Perhaps you should send them away if you are so worried that they will get hurt. They are weak. Cooperating with us can be beneficial to you, my Lord."
Geful looks at you.
"This is nonsense," Slate says. "Drop your lightsaber or I'm dropping you, squid."
There is a very tense moment where everyone remains frozen, guns and swords trained on each other, before Rand puts away his lightsaber.
"Shall we proceed with the meeting?" Rand asks.
"By all means," Geful says. "I will ask that weapons be left with my butler. Anyone unwilling to comply can return to wherever they came from. That means everyone, myself included."
He unbuckles his rapier sheath and gun holster, handing both to the butler.
Though unfortunately one can never disarm the weapon of the Dark Side...
Rand and Gallador hand in their lightsabers, and Sir Calthell his energy weapon. The Mecrossans are carrying an assortment of sleek pistols and rifles. Geful's men have bulkier guns. All are placed in a large bin that the butler carries with the help of Slate's gunmen.
Everyone goes inside then.
"I admire your manor, Lord Geful," Rand says. "It suits my tastes."
"I hear tell you have a taste for fine wine as well," Geful says. "I shall have some brought to the meeting room."
Rand grins.
"What a nutjob," Tanic comments to you.
"Perhaps," Gallador says. "I saw through the veil that they drape over the eyes of their disciples, telling us that we were the most gifted and just. I know the truth; they are blind and frail, a shell of the Order that was. Master Rand has vision enough to begin anew. You will help him, one day. So I have foreseen."
Gallador turns to Tanic.
"You too. Darkness already touches you. I sense much fear in you."
Tanic shakes his head.