Part 2: Escape artist. (lmr, Jake)

[Dr. Jake]

The situation was more grim than Lana had anticipated. But Dhelados was correct about one thing. A compromise would be absolutely necessary if Druckenwell was to survive unhindered.

Lana nodded with understanding, silently agreeing with Teer when she spoke. The Echani deeply hoped that the aging Togruta was correct. It was completely up to them now.

Not a minute later, the speeder came to a stop. The Humans got out, and Lana's door was opened. The silver-haired padawan emerged to find herself surrounded by a sea of skyscrapers. Before them was an enormous hotel, ornate and beautiful compared to the dull structures surrounding it.

Eric met the triad of Jedi, reaching into his pocket and giving them each a key card. The young Human then motioned for the Jedi to follow him and his compatriots.

Lana took the lead, trusting her Togruta companions to keep pace. She followed their hosts through the grand entrance of the hotel, apparently named DeBois Hotel and Resort according to the golden sign.

The scene she entered was completely different from the one outside. The setting was that of refinement, elegance, and inevitably, wealth. Plush purple carpeting, stylish furniture, and the wealthy tenants were only a few indicators of that.

Mister Dhelados excused himself and left the lobby for via a corridor to the left. Once the three Jedi were on the same page Eric turned to address them.

"This is the DeBois, one of the finest hotels on the planet. The key cards you were given open a single suite on the 17th floor. There you will find your quarters. The first meeting will commence in an hour and a half, in the East Room on the 20th floor. It is my recommendation that you arrive a bit early so that you can be acquainted with the representatives. If you need anything, feel free call the front desk and ask for Mister Dhelados's suite."

The young man made a quick bow and scurried off in same direction as his boss.

Lana turned to address Master Ka.

"So...shall we Master?"

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

Gharassk was the first out of the speeder to let Lana out as he was the last one in. When he stepped out onto the landing zone he took in the tall hotel and slung the backpack over his shoulder, and read the be golden sign.

DeBois...

Gharassk fallowed Lana when she started off and didn't stop tell the lobby of the DeBois it did it's job of being a nice building, it looked like a royal palace from Naboo almost.

Gharassk took the Key-card and read the number on it,
Room 32,

He then peaked at Lana, and Teers cards as well to make sure they all had the same number.

"This is the DeBois, one of the finest hotels on the planet. The key cards you were given open a single suite on the 17th floor. There you will find your quarters. The first meeting will commence in an hour and a half, in the East Room on the 20th floor. It is my recommendation that you arrive a bit early so that you can be acquainted with the representatives. If you need anything, feel free call the front desk and ask for Mister Dhelados's suite."

Gharassk nodded his head as the boy only a few years older then he was stared walking away.

Lana spoke then,
"So...shall we Master?"

And Gharassk turned his attention to Teer to wait for her orders.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Master Ka pocketed her card after it was handed to her and nodded when the description was complete. It was all the basics, those trivial little prerequisites.

The opulence of the surroundings did not appeal to her. Velvet curtains and gilded ebony desks were fine for Coruscanti Senators, and marble floors and plush carpets were fine for the rich and famous, but they were Jedi. To be a Jedi was to embrace a simpler existence.

The Togruta Weapons Master sincerely wished they were on some quiet world instead, with trees and grass underfoot. The smell of a campfire... The taste of meat cooked on a skewer...

Those were more appealing to Teer, but you couldn't always choose your mission. This was important, and it was up to her to see it done.

After Eric had left, Master Ka looked to the pair of Padawans.

"Go up to the suite and get settled in while I get familiar with the hotel."

Teer turned and walked out of the lobby into the east wing of the hotel, beginning a very methodical pattern that would take her completely around the facility, from bottom to top, reaching out with her senses to search for dangers.

Thoroughness was important, and she didn't want to risk interlopers. Those with ill-intent could often ruin delicate situations, and a hefty amount of the time they wore their auras on their sleeves.

Hopefully everything would go smoothly this time.

[Dr. Jake]

Lana only nodded at the orders, remembering Teer Ka was a woman who appreciated professionalism and brevity. She turned to speak to Gharrask, who seemed to be handling the whole situation very well. Some Padawans were uncomfortable when exposed to so much foreign culture at once.

"I suggest we move along then. I think the turbolift is that way."

The Echani padawan pointed to a ridiculously ornate lift, of which a small group of well-dressed Humans exited. Motioning for her fellow Jedi to follow, Lana made her way to the same turbo-lift, excusing herself as she came close to the small crowd of passer-byes.

Though she had to put her arm in the elevator to keep the doors from shutting, the Echani Padawan made it just in time. Allowing Gharrask enough time to get in, her pale finger selected the 20 on the control panel.

Seeing that they were very much alone, Lana spoke to her Togruta companion.

"Was I the only one that noticed the stares? It's like they have never seen a Jedi before."

---

Upon the parting of the metallic turbolift doors, Lana stepped out of the spacious elevator, and into an ornate hall. There were various pieces of artwork, lamps, and windows with their drapes on the walls, all to dressy for the Echani girl, used to the plain setting of the Temple.

The long corridor had only a few doors, leading Lana to believe that the suites were spacious. Trusting Gharrask to follow, she walked down the hall and stopped at number 32 giving her fellow Jedi a look before withdrawing her key card and unlocking the door.

The door opened to reveal a small foyer, with a coat rack and a service terminal. Lana proceeded down the short corridor attatched to the foyer to find a reasonably large living area, with a holonet receiver, a couch, and a pair of large chairs. The entire area was very well furnished, having several imitation paintings Lana could recognize.

Connected to the room was a kitchenette, and four doors as well. Lana opened one of these to find the master bedroom, which she left for Teer out of respect.

Seeing Gharrask in the common room, she spoke.

"These are quite the accommodations. If you'll excuse me, I am going to get situated in one of the smaller bedrooms."

The silver-haired Padawan did just that, turning and entering the next door, which she found to be a small, but cozy room. Putting her bag on the floor, she sat down on the bed and surveyed her surroundings.

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

Gharassk gave a nod to Teer after her orders, and then let Lana speak,
"I suggest we move along then. I think the turbolift is that way."

He fallowed to the turbolift and after Lana but her arm in the door he stepped in and held it open for her, she was the one to hit the 20 and the turbo started up. With it a song started Gharassk listened for a few seconds, I hear it's a wonderful galaxy out there, a Perfect time to be alive... Gharassk chuckled at the song that he hadn't heard before. Then Lana asked a question toward Gharassk,

"Was I the only one that noticed the stares? It's like they have never seen a Jedi before."

Gharassk responded,
Some people haven't seen us before, other few us as a higher form of life, others believe we make the universe unbalanced. But we are neither higher nor unbalanced.

Gharassk sighed a bit at the thought of being disliked, being hated or viewed as a godlike creature, and started wishing people could see Jedi for what they really where.

The floor was reached and Lana took the first room, Gharassk opened the door to the other small room and going back into the main room real quick, another thing he had learned on a mission before this one, always check for listening equipment. It wasn't common but if there was one party that wanted the trio out of the way it was possible that they wouldn't play fair.

Gharassk started with the remote to the holofewer and after extracting the power cell unit saw no device and put it back as it was.

After checking all the cabinets and pillows he felt satisfied and moved onto his room. Where he found nothing. And then made sure every thing he needed was in order then went to the main room kitchenette and made a hot cocoa for himself and then a pot in case anyone else wanted any.

Then waited on one of the seats checking the Holo news for any local events that might be of importance at least until Teer would return.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

OOC: Skip me for one round, I'll be back after that.

[Dr. Jake]

It was just about half an hour later when Lana stepped back into the central room, fresh out of the shower. She had changed into fresh robes, and fixed her hair in an inoffensive, orderly ponytail. She was careful to position her lightsaber on her belt so that it was seen easily. It was there not as a weapon, but a symbol of authority. She may have been a young Padawan, but as a Jedi Lana held authority and respect.

Seeing that Teer Ka had yet to return, the Echani checked the chrono on the wall. It told her that the meeting would begin in less than an hour.

Noticing Gharrask on the couch, Lana made herself known by taking a seat beside him. The holo was on some news station, DDN (Druckenwell Daily News) to be exact. There was a middle aged man interviewing a Gran labor analyst, and they were discussing the latest wave of labor protests.

"How delightfully appropriate..."

She listened closely for the next minute or so, but the men just seemed to discuss nothing. Another crucial point that she noticed was the bias of the media. Though there motto was "Fair and Reliable" DDN had a considerable corporate leaning.

Looking over at her companion, Lana saw that the Togruta was also watching the interview.

"Um, Gharrask. Have you ever been involved in negotiations like these?"

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

Gharassk had been through at least 7 different news channels finding nothing that really helped the situation.
Just before he turned it off he heard the door behind him open a few seconds later Lana sat on the couch,
Nothing to useful... He pointed at the Holo viewer with his right hand and then handed over the remote, and then she spoke,
"How delightfully appropriate...
Um, Gharrask. Have you ever been involved in negotiations like these?"

Gharassk shook his head,
A few smaller negotiations, and i know this isn't that big either but still not this big, my former master was in a lot of ways like Teer...i mean... 'Master'... Teer. He didn't seem to like talking about problems, it wasn't tell a while after i noticed that, that i found out why.

He took the last sip of the hot cocoa, then stood and walked over to the pot and poured another cup for himself and then picked up and empty mug and showed it to Lana,
Want a cup?...Full pot. And no this time I'm not the one who cooked it, i put it in the auto cooker.
He said with a touch of humor as he was starting to get used to, and pointed to the cooker.

He looked at the clock, he was aware of the time but he noticed that they where now indeed not going to get there at least too early.

Wait? Where is she any way?
He looked to the door hoping that Teer would rush in.

He stepped to the door, something didn't sit right with him.
He popped it open and looked into the hall way only one person was walking by, a Bith from what he could tell.

Gharassk sighed as he looked up and down the hall again.
Then he re-entered the room and checked the comm system on both the wall and his personal in his belt.

You think the hotel is that big that it would take her this long to check the whole thing?
Gharassk was now visibly concerned, that she had ran into trouble, not that she couldn't handle herself, but something certainly wasn't in order. His senses where also concerned, and if he could sense it something was defenatly wrong and Teer would have already known long ago. That or it was a flase alarm.

Did you get a message from her?

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Teer swiped her keycard and emerged through the door into the suite for the first time, summing up the plush interior in a quick glance. Clearly no expense was being spared in their housing.

The Togruta master moved past the entry and into the main area of the suite, stopping next to the Padawans. She looked between them carefully before glancing at the chronometer on the wall. Fifteen minutes to go.

"My security sweep went well, there were no hazards I detected."

"Are you both ready?" She asked in her usual slightly husky voice, the words rolling off her tongue with a subtle accent. "The meeting starts in fifteen minutes."

Teer paced her way further into the room and stood there expectantly, awaiting a reply.

[Dr. Jake]

Nodding as Gharrask enlightened her on his former master and his past experience, Lana remained seated even as the Padawan stood and went into the kitchenette. She politely declined when she was offered the cocoa, which she never did care for.

The Echani only watched as her Togruta compatriot began fretting over Teer's absence. She silently wondered about the same things until Gharrask rushed over to the door.

"Did you sense something?

Once the younger Padawan closed the door, she heard his second question. He was fretting for no reason at all, and the Echani knew this.

"Gharrask, calm down. She is a Jedi Master, and one of the most accomplished members of our Order. I believe that Master Ka is more than capable of handing a simple security sweep."


Though she sensed the senior Jedi approaching, Lana was a bit surprised with the abruptness of Teer's entry. She had always been impressed with the Togruta's confidence and the way she carried herself.


"I'm ready when you are Master."

Lana playfully flashed Gharrask a look as if to say,"Are you convinced now?"

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

"Gharassk, calm down. She is a Jedi Master, and one of the most accomplished members of our Order. I believe that Master Ka is more than capable of handing a simple security sweep."

It isn't her, I know she can handle herself...i feel something else is wrong here.
He said in a slow almost unsure tone.

With that Teer entered the room unharmed as he had expected.

"My security sweep went well, there were no hazards I detected."

"Are you both ready?"

Ready.
He said almost wanting to ask if she had thought anything was off, but she would have said something if she had known.

"The meeting starts in fifteen minutes."
He wanted to make a joke but he already knew that Teer would most likely not be amused.

Yeah.

Gharassk caught Lana's look that she shot at him, and returned with two looks, the first was a wide eyed "i know" look, the second was unwilling, half minded look still catching a glimmer of some puzzle piece that still didn't belong.

With that he fallowed Teer and Lana out of the room and locked the door behind himself. As he left the saw the same Bith he had seen before. He let the two others take the lead and stayed a good two or three feet further then normal behind them but kept up still. When they rounded the corner he stopped at the edge of the wall and peaked around to see the Bith now basically stealthy his way up the hall toward them.

And i wonder who you're fallowing.
He said sarcastically under a whisper.

he then was about 20 feet behind the others as he sped up to meet them, I think we're being fallowed. He whispered to Teer as the pointed back to the corner.

He noticed the Bith peak his head around the corner and pull it back around fast most likely hoping he wasn't seen.

He would wait to make the "i told YOU so" look back at Lana until he was 100% sure he was right, though things look like he was.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Teer walked through the plush hallway with a measured stride, brisk and unyielding, but kept just slow enough that others could keep up with her. She promptly noticed the younger of the two Padawans whisper words to her, which her sensitive hearing could pick up quite well.

Immediately she reached out with the Force and felt for nearby presences, isolating several in rooms, but only one in the hallway behind them. She wasn't enough of a telepath to tell whether or not his intent was good or ill, but she wasn't inclined to be lenient on him. Yet.

Master Ka, like most Togruta, was capable of extreme stealth when needed, and this occasion seemed suited to it. She held up a hand to stay the others, then moved a single finger to her rusty lips. Only then did she advance towards the watcher, hugging the wall as she creeped her way towards him in absolute silence.

When she reached the corner, Teer paused for a moment as she reached out with the force, gathering distances, and calling upon force sight. Peering through the wall, she saw a Bith, stationary against the wall, no weapon in hand. With all the facts ascertained, she sprang into action.

In a single movement of muscle and speed, Teer spun around the corner and grabbed the Bith by the color, spinning back around and slamming him against the wall on her side none-too-gently.

Commanding him to remain still and not resist, Teer kept him pressed against the wall with one hand and patted him down with the other, verifying he had no weapons. Only then did she ease off her pressure and allow him to back away from the wall, with wounded dignity and bruised ego.

"Account for yourself. Why were you spying on us?"

(OOC: Zett, since you introduced him it would be nice if you NPCd him.)

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

((OOC---=NPC/Speech is in the Bith language but is translated.))

The Bith would wait a few minutes before starting to fallow the trio of Jedi again. However before he peaked around the corner again he had been grabbed by the oldest of the three who had Come up behind him, and before he could blink was pressed up against the wall. The hunter had truly became the hunted.

The green Bith named Jando Quando, No longer look so threatening, In his native language that he was unsure if the Female Togruta would be able to under stand he whimpered,
PLEASE....please...have mercy do not harm me!
When he was pulled away from the wall slightly the unarmed Bith put his arms up to shield his face from the Togruta he ever so feared.
Speak...yes Speak....I was hired by someone rich to track you and report on your movements i know no more.
Let me go now? I will leave and run and hide...please release me? Jando pleaded with the woman that still held the scruff of his shirt, with his face still hidden away by his arms.

[Dr. Jake]

[Skip me guys, Lana just silently observes]

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

The Bith spy babbled up a storm in his native language, which didn't help Teer at all. She didn't speak his language, or even understand it. For all practical purposes the man was spouting gibberish, incomprehensible gibberish.

Master Ka released her hold on him but kept her piercing gaze trained on him, making it very clear he wasn't to run.

In her mind the severe Togruta woman ran through her options. The diplomacy was due to begin in minutes, and she had an obligation to both security and the overall mission. Her own presence would be required at this meeting, and her absence would not be approved of.

She would have to send one of the Padawans to take the spy into the custody of the authorities. But on one hand, Gharassk was too young for her to entrust such a task to fully. Lana she did, but she had been counting on her aid in the meeting.

Safety had to come first though.

Teer looked to the Padawans entrusted to her. Then she issued her orders.

"Gharassk, find a comm and call the prefecture of police, alert them to our spy and have them send officers to take him. Lana, take the captive to the entrance of the hotel, and wait until the police arrive. When both of you have completed your tasks, return to the meeting. Quietly."

Master Ka turned and walked briskly back in the direction they'd been going, the heavy robes of the Jedi Order trailing behind her as she walked along. In mere seconds she reached the conference room and entered, nodding to the various representatives before taking a seat at the head of the table.

Then the talking began.

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

Gharassk held his hand to his chin standing only a few feet in front of Lana,

Gharassk couldn't under stand the Bith, but could make out certain things like "please" When the bith flailed his arms.

Then Teer gave her orders.

"Gharassk, find a comm and call the prefecture of police, alert them to our spy and have them send officers to take him. Lana, take the captive to the entrance of the hotel, and wait until the police arrive. When both of you have completed your tasks, return to the meeting. Quietly."

Yes.

He said taking his card out he remembered the comm systems in the room,

As he passed Lana he spoke, Careful he might have friends.

He had nothing to disagree with Teer about, he had been given orders and so far he didn't get the impression she was in a vary good mood, of coarse he had noticed that back on the shuttle.

And even though Lana was slightly older, Gharassk did have slightly more Saber expertise, but still, he didn't think there was any cause for concern.

He opened the room door, and made a sharp left seeing the panel and started up the comm,

Security! This is one of the Jedi here for negotiations, we have apprehended a Spy Possibly here to tip the ruling in favor of one group, Request you Send security officers to take him into custody!

Ahh...Another? This is security, and i believe i under stand, but 90% of the time these calls are bogus.

Gharassk wanted to use a mind trick, but wasn't sure this was a good situation or if it would even work over such a long distance.

Yeah...tell that to the Bith out side who was just spying on us...

Fine i shall send police.

Good. And you have our location?

Yes and their on their way now, only be a few moments.

Gharassk shut the control off and then stepped back into the hall, seeing that Lana had already left.

Then jogged down to the conference hall, and then slowing to a walking pace entering the hall slowly and side stepping out of the way and making his way around to where Teer was sitting arms folded into the sleeves of his robes.

By the time he had made it the discustion was well under way.

[Dr. Jake]

Lana said nothing as she watched the scene play out. The Bith had been a fool to spy on a trio of the Republic's peacekeepers. The alien would come to regret it more than he ever anticipated.

The Echani nodded and gave a minuscule, cordial bow before the older Jedi turned. A few seconds later, Gharrask was off and running as well. She hoped the younger padawan was paying attention when he was issued his orders, as she wasn't in the mood for babysitting a Bith felon.

Speaking of the perpetrator, he was standing before her with a rattled look about him. She didn't speak his language, and she doubted he would be willing to speak hers. Using a universal sign, Lana pointed toward the lift. He just stared at her as if she was stupid.

The Jedi Padawan blinked. Then she withdrew her silver lightsaber hilt from its place at her belt. She pointed it toward the lift, and it worked this time. A little intimidation here and there couldn't hurt a thing.

The pair got into the lift and descended to the lobby. Once the doors opened, she stepped out with her prisoner. The Echani noticed the room become suddenly quiet, interrupted by a few gasps and murmered whispers.

Luckily, the security officers were waiting for them at the entrance. She approached the pair of humans before handing off the perpetrator.

"I trust you will be able to handle him, officers."

A quick, "Yes ma'am" came from one of them, and then they left.

Realizing the time, Lana returned to the lift (which, to her great irritation, took several minutes to arrive) and ascended to the right floor. Once the lift doors parted, she stepped out into the carpeted hall and quickly, but elegantly made her way to the conference hall.

A pair of security personnel were guarding the door, one of them opening it for her upon recognizing the robes and weapon at her side. The silver-haired Jedi entered the room, realizing that the meeting had already begun.

Maintaining a perfectly neutral, but not cold expression, Lana joined Master Ka and Gharrask at one end of the table. She seated herself opposite the yonger Togruta, to the left of the weapons master.

Lana leaned over, whispering to Teer.

"Master, what do you think we should begin with?"

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Luckily, the two sides had done little more than introduce themselves with lengthy and self-serving statements when the Padawans had both returned. Teer had little recap to do for them, and determined they would pick up the details as the mediation went along.

"Jawn Buracrosis, continue with your statements," Teer instructed with a wave of her hand before interlacing her fingers and staring intently at the man.

"Unionization has never been permissible under the policies of Druckenwell, and no precedent exists for allowing these employees to form a union. We must trust the Corporate leadership and the free market to dictate reasonable prices through competitive wages, in a Druckenwell solution to a problem. We will never succeed in..."

Bla bla bla. Bla. Bla bla bla...

His words rambled on and on in a never-ending flow of words that threatened to swamp the ears of any listener. He just kept talking in one long incredibly unbroken sentence moving from topic to topic so that no one had the chance to interrupt him.

It was really quite hypnotic.

At long last he finished talking and Master Ka resisted the urge to applaud, not of any support for what he said but merely out of thanks he was done saying it. Instead she had to listen to the other side.

"Your turn Mister Ranalli."

"Thank you Master Jedi. Now, I respect my opponent. He's a good man, if slightly pudgy and very disagreeable... But he's woefully out of touch. If he thinks the free market can dictate livable wages he's sorely mistaken. He's also balding and not likely to inspire confidence any time soon."

Bla bla bla. Bla. Bla bla bla...

More personal attacks, and somewhat less dreary, but equally miserable. Nevertheless, Teer kept her dark eyes trained on the man until he was finished speaking, then she shot Lana a look that asked how exactly one was supposed to endure this.

She looked to Gharassk to see if he was bored.

After her little check-in, she decided to ask her first question.

"Mister Ranalli, what would your union do? What issues are you seeking to resolve? And Mister Buracrosis, would you be willing to address these concerns?"

(OOC: Feel free to NPC these guys)

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

Gharassk was trying his utmost to pay attention to both partys. Trying to see which side was most likly and desperate enough to send in a spy, even a sorry excuse for a spy.

But about an hour into the talks, all he learned from this meeting was that he could sleep standing up!

He almost fell over several times, and on the last time he looked at the seated Teer who was looking back to him to see if he was still awake.

Gharassk still had his arms folded over into the sleeves, but he couldn't tell anything about who would have been so desperate.
He opened his mind serching for deception, of coarse there was plenty of that already on both sides. That was a fact that didn't surprise Gharassk at all.

But he found nothing concerning the spy, he had his lack of expertise in the force to thank for that, not that he was blameing it, just that on his to-do list now was to study...and meditate.

He looked between Lana and Teer, with a questioning look seeing if either of them had a beter outcome with their serch.

[Dr. Jake]

Understanding both sides of an issue had always been one of Lana's strong points, but it took all her patience not to yawn or lose interest in the rambling dialogues offered by the representatives. It was one of the less spectacular aspects of diplomatic life. Still, a solution could never be reached without both sides voicing their concerns.

It was evident that both men were strongly opinionated and would not settle for compromise. Gervar had always taught her to pay close attention to body language and facial expressions, as they revealed more than any number of words. Putting those lessons to good use, the Echani watched the men.

Both were superbly confident, Mister Ranalli the more aggressive of the two. The other man, Mister Buracrosis, though slightly more reserved, seemed no less passionate about his position. Lana reached out with the force, feeling the surface emotions of the men. Both were rather collected, but her initial observations seemed to be correct.

Ranalli was the first to speak, not a surprise to anyone in the room, responding to Master Ka's question.

"The United Labor Association of Druckenwell will be focused on protecting the workers and their families from repressive and even oppressive corporate policies. We would petition the government for a sensible minimum wage, common sense safety regulations, and a shorter work day."

The man, who had been leaning forward over the table, leaned back in his chair and seemed to relax somewhat. The Human had good ideas, but Lana had a feeling that there were some ulterior motives interlaced within Mister Ranalli's goals, more than just the "good of the workers."

Next, Mister Buracrosis addressed the Jedi.

"While we also have the best interests at the workers at heart and are willing to compromise, these proposals are simply too much. Not only would the minimum wage create an unemployment crisis, but these heavy-handed regulations would make it more difficult to expand. This would mean less jobs, and therefore less pay for the workers of Druckenwell."

Once the corporate representative finished speaking, Lana flashed a look at the older Togruta, as if to say,"May I?" Finding no resistance in the master's black eyes, the padawan spoke up.

"If I may gentlemen, both of you have presented strong points. However, we are not here to choose one side over the other. We are here to forge an agreement between your respective parties and to ensure equal concessions are made by both sides. "

Lana paused and surveyed their reactions. These two middle-aged men probably weren't too keen on being lectured by a Jedi 20 or 30 years their junior. Still, she continued.

"Mr. Buracrosis, would you be willing to lower the work day by say...two hours over the next two years? How about addressing some of the safety concerns brought up by Mr. Ranalli?"