STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- City in the Clouds

"You are certain she will be arriving soon?"

"Positive. She originates from here. She has family here."

"That does not mean she will go there."

"We believe it does."

"I need more than that. The Council will not condone a mission outside of the Republic without sufficient..."

"The Xi family is missing, Master Jedi."

"Missing?"

"Yes. They were abducted from their home. By force."

There is a brief silence from the other end.

"Await further contact from me," says Myraline. "I appreciate your message, Captain Zalt."

"What should we do if she arrives, Master Jedi?" asks Zalt.

"Cooperate with her," Myraline instructs. "Help her find her family. She has gone rogue, but she is a talented Knight. She will help your investigation."

"Roger that. End transmission."

"We're going after her?" Ciira asks.

"Yes," Myraline says.

-

Welcome to "City in the Clouds," an episode of the Retrospection games. As an episode of this series, “City in the Clouds” will be a very personal plotline, exploring events involving the player’s character. Going off of Ushgarak’s ever-popular Star Wars roleplaying game, these mini-episodes occur in game-play’s past. In this case, we will deal with the events leading up to the final act that brings Rianna over to the Dark Side- the slaying of her mentor and others.

After receiving a rather distressing message, Rianna has fled the Republic in order to rescue her family on Bespin. They have been taken captive by Vash Bloodcarver, a Dark Jedi and a criminal under the instruction of Master Rand.

The time period is set in 32 BBY- simultaneous with The Phantom Menace. While things are happening elsewhere that will change the Galaxy forever, events are being set in motion that will change life as Rianna Xi has known it....

Space

You see a city in the clouds...

You snap awake when a klaxon inside the ship sounds.

"Master Jedi, we have arrived at Bespin," says the pilot.

It has been nearly a week since your assignment to handle the escaped prisoners aboard the Imperial prison vessel of the Empire of Pity. You would have come sooner had Lord Geful not insisted that you utilize his medical facilities before going on any rescue missions. At first you refused... but you sensed that whatever it is that Rand is up to... he will wait for you to be ready.

As a thank you for handling Borm, Lord Geful has tasked a ship with delivering you to Bespin. However, you are doing this alone- it is not an Imperial matter, so Geful has not sent any hitmen to assist you.

"Please report to the cockpit," says the pilot. "Star control is hailing us."

Rianna will head to the cockpit, still mildly irritated and impatient with not being able to set out as soon as she defeated Borm, and answer the hail.

The controller welcomes you to Bespin in a friendly matter! She wants to know what your reason for being here is.

"Coming to...see my family," Rianna simply replies.

The controller now cheerfully asks for identification.

Rianna grimaces slightly, before giving her real name. Sadly she doesn't have Lying to back up making up an identity or anything like that, even though she doesn't particularly want to make it known she's there.

"Oh! Wait just a moment, Miss Xi."

There is a pause on the controller's end. A long pause.

"Did you already make enemies here?" asks the pilot uneasily.

"I haven't been here since I was an infant. I don't remember this place at all," Rianna replies. "I only have enemies here if Rand has made them for me...or if the Jedi Council has been tipped off."

"Okay then..." says the pilot.

"This is Captain Zalt of the Wing Guard," comes a smooth male voice on the comm unit. "Did the person I am addressing give their name as 'Rianna Xi'?"

Rianna sighs and bites back a sarcastic comment. "Yes, I did. Why?"

"Land on pad 1138, please," the man says. "I have much to discuss with you, Miss Xi."

"Great..." she mutters quietly, before turning to the pilot.

"May as well do as he says," she says. "I don't like this, though."

The ship- a small transport- is flown to the designated landing pad with an escort of orange twin-pod cloud cars. The graceful airspeeders gladly fire off warning shots to alert the pilot that they are armed, and he does not veer from the course they direct him on.

When you land, you find a squad of men in blue uniforms with peaked caps waiting for you, outside the ship.

"I'm off as soon as you are," the pilot says. "Geful's orders. Good luck."

"No such thing as luck...thanks, though," Rianna says. She'll gather whatever few things she has with her, and step off the ship.

"Can someone please explain to me what's going on here?" she asks.

One of the men steps to the fore. In addition to his blue uniform and peaked cap, he is adorned with a gold-colored metal pauldron on his left shoulder. He removes his cap and holds it to his chest; the other hand rests on the butt of his pistol, snapped into the holster at his hip. He is rather handsome, with wavy brown hair and a strong jawline.

"Good day, miss," he says. "I am Zaltus Quar , Captain of the Wing Guard, protectors of Cloud City. I trust your journey was well?"

"Fine, though I would have rather it not been necessary. Obviously you know something of why I'm here," Rianna says.

"... you are aware of the situation here?" Captain Zaltus asks, puzzled.

"I received a message that my family had been taken hostage...that was about a week ago. And I know that the one responsible for it is a Dark Jedi. Is there more that's happened?" Rianna asks. "I only came for personal reasons."

"Oh, no," Captain Zaltus says. "I thought you would be unaware of the situation entirely. You seem to know more than I do, Miss Xi."