High Noon (Ashi; Open)

[Karl the Unfettered]

A shuttle touched down at one of the Temple landing pads, at the hottest part of the day. It wasn't a vessel to stand out, being any one of countless armed planet-hoppers found throughout the galaxy; one couldn't tell from a distance, but this one was modified for much greater speed than normal.

In the vessel were two beings; a Miraluka, and a Gungan. The Miraluka was a Sith, known to most all as Shard; the Gungan wasn't a Sith, and his name was Lee Ru. No one knew him, not around here anyway, but Shard aimed to rectify that.

It had been quite a while since the gathering on Farrfin, and much had happened to the Miraluka and his plans since then. He had no idea what Lee Ru had been up to; the Gungan had his own ship, ostensibly, and was free to come and go as he liked. Today, however, was different.

"Nobody knows about my pet Gungan!" Shard had complained earlier in the day, dragging Lee Ru down the halls of the Midnight Sun to the hanger bays. "Today I intend to rectify that. You're coming down with me, Sir Bass, and no whining!"

Now they were landing, and the doorway slid open with a hiss. "Don't be more of an ass than you usually are, cully," he told the Gungan as he led the way down the ramp. "Not everyone has a pet Gungan, you know." Outside the shade of the ship, the sun beat down heavily upon the surface of the red planet, and he sighed as he leaned back to feel its rays on his face. "This place already feels like home..."

[Ashi]

Lee Ru was not particularly proud of being called a 'pet', in fact he bristled at the thought. But he was along for the ride, and crossing his employer wasn't exactly the smartest idea around. That much was rather obvious to him. For now, Kojii had been told simply to keep her distance. The several thousand credits that they'd taken from the crowds of Coruscant before this new venture had begun would be enough for her to easily last another few months on her own, and Lee Ru saw no need to let his ace-in-the-hole show up without cause.

The shuttle ride was filled with the seemingly chaotic ramblings of his boss, giving him all kinds of information and new insights into the world he would be entering, just by what his instructions were. "No whining" implied that his employer was not at the top of the food chain, and Shard's insistence at calling him "pet" made it obvious that he was being paraded as a status symbol. Disa day goin to bein fun. he thought to himself sarcastically.

The planet that filled the front viewport on the way down was barren, utterly devoid of the lush green and blue hues that implied vibrant plant life. Lee Ru could easily imagine the dry, dusty surface.He looked on with disgust as the small shuttle landed in a cloud of dust, not that the slightest of this was obvious. On the surface, Lee Ru was, as always, a chipper folk with good humor and a moderate temper. Very few were those who could guess otherwise. For an instant, Lee Ru thought that Shard, as he insisted on being called, was one of those who could. But the idea was quickly dismissed as simple paranoia. He had no proof.

He got out of his seat, taking his feet off the console in front of him and unstrapping himself from the restraints. The airlock slid open, and Shard gave some final instructions. "Whosa? Mesa? My bein da ass? When my bein an ass?" he replied naturally, the facade having been so well practiced over his many years of using it, that he no longer felt even the slightest discomfort. He stepped out of the shuttle behind Shard, and his face contorted into a grimace. "Disa da placen? It bein lookin mighty invitin to mesa." He scanned the horizon comically, raising his hand to shield his eye stalks from the glare. "Where bein da ocean? My bein needin a bath." He chuckled mildly, amused at his own joke. Disa goin to bein berry fun indeed.

[Hotel]

Shandari sat upon the ledge Shard had shown her. Often came up here when not with the man, just to think. She did a lot of thinking these days, especially after meeting Shard. He confused her like no other person ever had. He made her feel strange things, made her seem to for once care about her appearance, even managed to make her blush once or twice. This was something the Rilan was not used to, so whenever she was alone, she would come out here to process it.

Suddenly a shape in the sky appeared, and Shandari saw a ship slowly coming closer until it landed down near the temple. She recognized it as the ship Shard had left in. Curious, she raised her wings took off, basically just gliding down until she was near the ship, but still out of view of the occupants. The woman then tucked her wings back into her robe once more and pulled up her hood. She then walked around, seeing Shard with.... some strange big eared being? Shandari had never seen this species before.

[Mara]

[...from Walking Down the Streets with my ....'s on]


((Karl said I could drop in, so yeah....))



A lot had happened since the yellow Twi'lek had arrived on Korriban. Most of it involved constructing the new Temple, but Looma had met a few new beings as well. But despite all this, she was still a bit fed up with her time here. After being her about a month and a half, she still was nowhere closer to her goals, the reason she had decided to leave Bakura with Caleb and the others in the first place. She had just been there for slave labor and a few conversations. Interesting ones, but still, only talking. Is that what the Sith did? Stand around and discuss things? They were worse than the Jedi!

It was about a week after the promotion ceremony and her meeting of Novus that night in the dark. Another interesting conversation, to say the least, but that was all it was. A pleasant diversion for when she couldn't sleep. Sleep that hadn't wanted to come because she was still thinking about her future, something brought into focus by the promotion of Novus, Eurachis and the others. They were moving on in the ranks, but Looma was still stuck. The only change was that she had been lumped into the large group of 'initiates.' But after that, nothing.

She supposed she should have been more patient. After all, the Temple had only been completed about a week ago, everyone still adjusting to their quarters and all the rooms inside. But Looma wanted to get started. She wanted to learn something, to train. To get back at the Jedi. The Twi'lek wanted to fulfill all of Darth Iniquitous's grand ideas.

And so she found herself outside the Temple, once again wandering around its grounds, wiping some sweat from her brow. Korriban was such a trial in contradictions. Hot as Bakura during the day, cold as Hoth at night. Looma was just considering going back to the cooling presence of the stones of the Temple, when she saw something in the sky. The small ship came down and landed a short distance away from her.

With nothing else to do buy wander around the Temple bored and her curiosity piqued depite the heat of the sun, Looma headed away from the Temple and towards the landing areas. The vessel disappeared from her sight for a few moments as she climbed around some rocks. When she could see it again, the hatch was opening, revealing its passengers. Though she was still quite a few meters away, she recognized the first being. Shard. The Sith she had met a couple of works earlier during the construction. He had had some interesting views about the galaxy, the Jedi and the Sith. Looma hadn't been sure she agreed wtih it all, but he had given her a lot to think about.

The other being, though, she didn't recognize. Not even from seeing him around the Temple. And he looked... strange, like nothing Looma had seen before, and there had been quite a variety of beings at the Jedi Temple and on Bakura. But she felt nothing from the Force that would suggest any malice. Plus if Shard trusted this thing enough to travel with him, Looma would be well to trust him, too.

Glad for her torn work clothes, clothes she had modified more as the construction wore on, Looma approached the pair closer. Her brown leggings no longer came down to her ankles, but were ripped just above her knees. Her tunic was sleeveless now and showed her midriff. It didn't help during the cold nights, but her room did have a sparse blanket to use. The Twi'lek had already realized her mistake in wardrobe days earlier: one could always remove clothes but couldn't ever put them back. She was sure if she had been able to find Cal, he would have approved.

Right now it felt good against the unrelenting rays of the sun, though, as she pushed thoughts of her human companion away, coming to stand a few paces from the ship, Shard and the strange-looking creature. With her Force awareness, she surveyed the area, feeilng the two before her, plus another. With a glance, she looked around, but couldn't see the other presence, though it was strong. Trying to be casual and not look like she had come to meet him, which she hadn't, Looma kept on going, heading past the shuttle.

[Zaine]

Syaoran was seated in the far end of the shuttle by himself, having had a troubling encounter not long before. He sat back, enjoying the quiet and darkness with the exception of Shard and Lee Ru arguing comically up front. Syaoran was never actually briefed on where they were going, but it quickly became clear when he saw the ginormous reddish brown orb appear in the front viewport. Korriban.. he thought to himself as he unwittingly scowled at the back of the seat Shard sat in. He was sith, then. 'twas a good thing, too, as Syaoran was nothing but a lone, self-proclaimed Dark Knight. It would be interested to get involved in the new faction he had heard so much about in the past several months.

A wave of heat crashed down on him from the front as the shuttle the three were seated in abruptly hit the atmosphere. The heat and brightness rapidly came over him. He nearly was blinded by the bright fires that trailed on all sides of the tiny vessel. Soon, however, it was over. The brightness and heat both remained, but were more subtle now that the shuttle crossed through the atmosphere. The word Korriban constantly popped up in his head as he stood up and strode casually in between the gungan and the miraluka's seats.

"I haven't been here in a long time.." he admitted, lowering his head. To think that he spent his life in a camp in the plains of this godforsaken wasteland. It made him feel almost pathetic. He felt envy at the very thought that the other two had less troublesome, yet emotionally rewarding pasts. Syaoran felt a shift in his stomach as the shuttle came to a landing. He stepped out of the ramp, almost relieved to be in the sands he remembered. "This.." he began, but let out a sigh in replacement. "Sorry if I trail off.. This place just brings back memories.."

[Karl the Unfettered]

Shard glanced around, a pleased smirk on his face as things developed; somehow he always had an air about him like everything was going just according to plan. Which, for all anyone else knew, it exactly was. "If there is an ocean, the water is tainted," he told the grumpy Gungan. "Fortunately for you, we have something much better at the Temple." He gestured grandly at the enormous edifice, situated across the valley. "We have..." and his voice took on a dramatic tone, "...tap water!"

As if on cue, Shandari of all people flew down from their secret spot high in the mountains, alighting behind the ship so she could put her wings away, supposedly. "Shandari!" he cried gleefully, with genuine glee for once, as he hurried over and clapped his hands about her waist, lifting her up and spinning about a few times. "I have the most interesting people for you to meet!"

He set her back down and led her over to Lee Ru and Syaoran. "Shandari, meet Lee Ru Bass and Syaoran Tanso; Lee Ru is a Gungan, a former slavemaster and now, my very own pet Gungan!" He tilted his head in Lee Ru's direction, the sort of tilt people with eyes did when they were winking. "Tanso just hangs around the ship... sometimes he comes out and kills things for me. Nice enough fellow, I suppose," and the Miraluka shrugged.

"Anyway," he went on in a more serious tone. "Cullies, this beautiful young thing is your new Second-in-Command, Shandari Banaan. She's crazier than I am, so you'd best watch your manners around her." That wasn't quite true; very, very few people were crazier than Shard, and the Rilan wasn't one of them. Or was she? The others would have to find out, at possible risk to their lives.

Then Shard noticed someone else approaching, and looked over. "Miss Looma!" he declared, going to intercept the young Twi'lek and dragging Shandari along behind him. "It's been far too long, how have you been? You've thought about what I told you when we first met, of course?" For some reason he had the Rilan's hand in a casual death grip and wouldn't let go; what was he going for, anyway?

All in all he seemed unusually cheerful for a fellow who was supposed to be a complete psycho baby-eating serial Jedi murderer. Or, something.

[Ashi]

OOC: Sorry it took me so long. I never really expected Lee Ru to be in a half-way 'normal' social situation, so it took me a bit to sort out a means for him to react in according with his personality.

IC: Lee Ru's active mind produced an almost instant retort to Shard's comment about tap water. And mesa was bein tinkin dat hesa bein good and pickin uppen on da sarcasm. On a physical level, Lee Ru just rolled his eyes. And then he was forced into an awkward social situation. People started showing up. People he didn't know, didn't care for, and could honestly care less about meeting them, no matter what fancy titles they had. Hold on der. he thought to himself, suddenly noticing something about Shard's introductory speal that he took interest in. Sincen when did shesa bein second-in-command? Dat bein mesa role!

He bristled. Obvious annoyance filled his eyes for a moment in regards to Shandari, before Shard ran off again. Lee Ru pulled his disdain-filled gaze from the woman, following Shard with his eyes and predicting where he was heading automatically. Lee Ru was one of many people who could actually ascertain a twi'lek's social status in addition to their potential market value, and the yellow-skinned twi'lek that Shard was heading towards would have had only average social status on her homeworld, and her potential market value was a good bit worse. Now, if she were a rutian like Kojii....

Lee Ru caught himself. heh... some of dem habits bein dyin hard. Lee Ru shook his head slowly, glanced at the building crowd, and turned around. The pet gungan was far from amused by current company. "My shoulda been payin better attention to Kojii. Maybe den mesa bein able to fly disa bucket of rust." he muttered, kicking the copilot's console as he sat in the seat in front of it. He flipped a switch and the hatch closed itself. The life-support system returned the temperature of the cabin to a setting of 65 degrees Fahrenheit (about 18C). "Aaaaah. Muoooie better." He leaned back in the moderately comfy seat and set his feet on the console in front of him. Perhappen disa trip not bein so bad after all.

[Hotel]

Shandari had barely walked into sight when Shard was upon her. He grabbed her waist and spun her around. A smile touched her lips, and had she been able to laugh she would have. She had not realized just how much she missed him until they were close once more. Once he set her down, she rested her head against him for a moment. Her mind melded with his. "I missed you." Her eyes closed as she just rested her head there. Shard soon began to speak, telling her there was people he wanted her to meet.

She followd as Shard led her over to the strange being she had seem him with not even a moment ago, and another, who was exiting the ship as well. He introduced the strange one as a Gungan, and a pet. "You have a pet?" Curious, her mind touched the Gungan's, trying to sense it's feelings and thoughts, not paying too much attention as Shard spoke of the other. Then Shard introduced her to them, and the Gungan grew angry within his mind. She heard his thoughts, but made know movement to show such. So the pet didn't like her. She spoke to Shard once more. "I don't think it likes me much."

Soon Shard led her away, and she tore her eyes from the angry Gungan. He led her over to a Twi'lek woman, though he didn't really introduce either of them to one another. All she managed to catch was that the woman's name was Looma, though Shard seemed to have an unusually strong grasp on her hand. In response she leaned against him once more, her chin resting on his shoulder from over his back, her pitch black eyes lookint the Twi'lek over curiously.

[Mara]

For all her intents and purposes, Looma was prepared to continue walking on by, heading for another entrance to the Temple. But something made her stop in her tracks and turn around to look back at the shuttle and its recently departed occupants. Something she had to see with her eyes that her ears weren't believing. Shard was... chipper? Almost, joyful? Though her contact with him had been brief, none of their conversation had held anything to suggest a personality like that.

Her jaw snapped shut with a click, making her realize it had gone slack in shock. The yellow Twi'lek's mind barely registered the next few moments: being joined by the powerful presence she had felt, seeing a third figure stepping up by Shard and the strange humanoid. The Miraluka's actions and words had made her speechless. And she would have turned and backed away if her feet hadn't gone immobile. Did this Sith have a personality disorder? A very real question sped through her mind. The same mind dredging up what she could remember from a month earlier during the construction when she had met him. The past and the present didn't mesh to her. Looma reached over and pinched herself.

The inner retrospective stopped when she heard her name being spoken aloud, quite cheerily. And by Shard. Her eyes cleared and she focused the purple orbs on him. All she could do was nod in answer to his questions and glance briefly in the direction of the woman that she had felt as a powerful center in the Force he had dragged over with him. Looma choked out a "Hi" in the female's direction before looking back over at Shard, hoping that this strange nightmare would end. Or that he would remove his blindfold and turn out not to actually be Shard, though his presence in the Force was definitely that of the Miraluka she had met before.

[Zaine]

It was just moments before Shandari appeared that Syaoran contemplated temporarily abandoning the group, overcome by the desire to explore. However, when the woman came upon them, he could only freeze in place. Despite his infatuation with her, he kept an emotionless gesture plastered over his face, or so he thought. When the Miraluka master introduced her, he simply smiled and nodded his head. However, once he was introduced as the guy who kills things for him, he was pissed off. Syaoran understood the reason he was labeled as such, however. He was never one to act the way his personality begs him to, out of fear that he will be punished. The man's insanity and cheerfulness seemed to help him relax, though.

Syaoran listened to the explanation told by Shard and nodded his head respectfully. Second in command, eh? Typical. He thought to himself. He always remembered second in commands to be more insane than the leaders. Judging by her posture and look, she was crazy to a certain degree. A crazy woman, a blind child-at-heart old man, a walking fish, and a sane and serious young man. Nothing weird about that at all! he thought as he snickered to himself.

At the same time, he noticed a yellow-skinned Twi'lek. Of course, Shard was the first to react. "Miss Looma!" Shard exclaimed, gripping Shandari by the wrist and dragging her toward the new arrival. Syaoran listened to the greetings and once again nodded his head in a respectful, yet rushed manner.

"Good to meet you both," he said respectfully.

[Casual]

There it was. Right in the portview of his small craft. Korriban. The planet with such a great taint about it, even a wary Jedi could fall just standing on its surface. Xzun "Jack" Grozmick descended down upon the planet, in hopes of finding what it was he sought. Perhaps there was a leader here who could direct him. After a slight search and opening himself up fully in the Force, he located a place that held the highest concentration of dark-side energies. This led him to the Sith Temple.

He gasped to himself at the structure. He had heard information of this place that he'd merely brushed off as rumor, but to see it now. It was difficult to contain his suprise. After taking in the sights, he decided that he would land at the landing pad, at which another craft was already resting, he was, after all, a General of the Sith Empire, if he was out of line, he would simply explain himself.

As he brought the ship closer to towards the pad, he noticed a small gathering near the ship. His curiosity was piqued and he decided this was a great oppertunity for him to introduce himself and request what information he would be needing. It was with confidence and a slight shade of hope that Jack landed his ship.

Upon landing, he walked towards the back of the small ship and lowered the door, and walked out. The warm air practically assaulted him as soon as he took his first step. It felt good to him, as it carried with it an ancient and powerful air of the dark side. Anger blew in these winds. After taking a deep breath, not to center himself, but to enjoy and partake in the aspects of the planet, he stepped around his ship and began to walk towards the crowd, his deep voice boomed out towards those gathered.

Hello, my name is General Xzun Grozmick of the Sith Empire, but you can call me Jack. Pleased to meet you all.

[Karl the Unfettered]

((OOC: Sorry it's so short. I have the flu. x.X ))

Everyone nodded and said hello; all well and good. Unfortunately Lee Ru had to slink off, annoyance in every pore of his being, and Syaoran was all tongue-tied. Doubtless it was because of Looma or Shandari, or perhaps both, but it wasn't going to stand. "Shape up, Tanso," he said sharply, stepping on the lad's foot. "It's impolite to stare, especially at a lady. And you're in the presence of two."

Just then he became aware of Grozmick, streaking through space and sky toward them. "Another one," he muttered, glancing upward. He didn't actually have to move his head to look around, he just did it so others could keep up. "Tanso, Shandari, deal with that one when he lands... Miss Looma, stick around and learn from them. I'm not in the mood for another of his sort."

With that he turned and went back into his ship, stepping inside the cockpit with Lee Ru. "What's your problem, Sir Bass?" he began, pushing the Gungan's feet off the console and sliding into the other seat. "I brought you down here to get you off my ship and away from your brooding, so enough of your stuck-up routine. I saw how you looked at Miss Looma."

He regarded the annoyed Gungan with a smirk. "Are you, perhaps, jealous?" he went on. "Did you perhaps misconstrue your station around here? You wouldn't be the first to make such mistakes." His smirk was replaced by a serious expression. "But really. You're an intelligent fellow, and intelligence is what I need around here. But you need to learn to take a joke, alright? Laugh, sing, dance, whatever; I'm a nutcase, and so is everyone else. Loosen up yourself a bit and have fun, alright?"

He stood up and clapped Lee Ru on the shoulder in a friendly manner. "You can be my other second-in-command, how's that sound? You and Shandari should get along just fine, but don't surprised when she talks to you in your head; she's mute, after all. Also, when do I get to meet Kojii?"

[Ashi]

OOC: The grammar sucks, but it's fitting enough considering Lee Ru's state of mind

IC: Lee Ru was rather perturbed at this intrusion. he was just thinking about turning on some music when his secluded sanctuary was invaded by the person he least wanted to see. Lee Ru more or less ignored the whole speech. He took note that he was more or less being kicked out of his climate controlled paradise and once more into the too-dry expanse of a planet. He took mild note of the attempt to make things seem less bad by making him the 'other' second in command. Which really meant he was third in command, which he already knew. And he didn't really care about whatever it was that was being said about the other chick. He'd have to deal with that soon enough, but he didn't really care right..... the hell? How did he know? His mind began reeling.

It's not exactly difficult to track his thoughts thru their logical progression. How did he find out about her? When? Did someone else tell him? If so, who? If he discovered it on his own, had he told anyone? and then he came back to his thoughts earlier: Hesa bein a telepath. an' a good one. The realization dawned on him suddenly, after about fifteen seconds of thinking. During this time, surprise was quite evident on his face, he had barely kept his jaw closed. But then, there was a slight chance that Shard wasn't able to read Gungan body language and facial expressions, but with him being telepathic it wouldn't really matter much. And that's what it had to be. there were very, very few records of Kojii's existence. As far as he was aware, only one official record included her name, and that was a hard copy onboard the Xijulba, and he knew for damned sure he hadn't mentioned her in the slightest.

"My not bein knownin." He said after he recovered. "Shesa bein repairin mesa ship last time mesa bein talkin to hersa." He was being honest enough. His concerns lately were all about trying to contact her without being discovered and keeping her undiscovered as a kind of 'ace-in-the-hole'. An entirely mute point now. It would take him a bit to adapt to having his every thought monitored, and he'd likely be in a state of shock until then.

[Hotel]

Shandari watched as the ship landed, barely registering the strange man that couldn't stop looking at her. Shard asked her to deal with it, and she would. She remembered what happened with Raeg, but unlike the guard that the mutant falleen had killed, the Rilan was no novice.

Shandari walked up to the man, her hand resting on the double sided hilt at her waist. He introduced himself in a friendly enough way, but she would not take any chances. Her mind intruded on his. "Why are you here?" The moment she sensed any hostility from the strange man, she would either subdue or kill. He would not be a second Vashin.

[Casual]

As Jack drew nearer he saw as one man in sunglasses said something to the others and left with... a gungan? A few stayed behind though, one of which directed their attention to him. She didn't seem out of the ordinary, merely a dark Jedi in standard robes, hopefully though, this female was someone who could direct him where he needed to go. Though just after introducing himself, she did indeed do something out of the ordinary. She spoke to him within his mind. Though such things were not unheard of, it merely caught him off-guard.

Why are you here?

Fair enough question, he thought. He considered his answer as it would be the one guiding his next few.

I am here for the same reason I presume you are. To better yourself in the Sith teachings and the Sith ways. To become the best that you can be, as it were. I would like to add that I am, once again, pleased to meet you.

Extra flattery couldn't hurt, as since he'd drawn nearer, he could feel that these people here were much more powerful than any novice of the Force would be, and surely must be among the "higher-ups." With his last statement, he made a sharp and precise bow, as he'd learned to do in the armed forces, and in the audience of those political officials he'd been forced into contact with. He then added his ulterior motive, believing that those gathered could point him in the right direction.

I am also wondering if this Temple is under the command of any Military or military task forces? I would like to add my expertise in the such a field to the Sith's efforts.

[Mara]

Shard spoke again then, giving Looma something finally to concentrate on. Hopefully something to shake loose her feeling that something was very, very wrong with the Miraluka Sith. Not wanting to leave the group and feel rude, especially she had come up to them by way of curiosity, she followed along with the orders. She wasn't sure what Shard had made by "his sort" but gathered around by the other two who had been identified as Shandari and Tanso.

Stepping towards the young human and the beautiful humanoid--the female didn't look completely human to Looma--the yellow Twi'lek then noticed what seemed to be troubling Shard. Now that she had something else to focus on and wasn't feeling as awkward, the Force was leading her to the presence in the sky, a ship that was coming down to land nearby.

The figure from the ship approached the trio as they waited. Looma stood behind the other two, doing what Shard had asked: watch and learn. She didn't know this people, but the Miraluka seemed to trust them, and so she would do well to give them a bit of trust as well. And so she just stood there silently, waiting for the man to come near them. He did and introduced himself as 'Jack.'

Minutes seemed to tick by and yet the powerful female didn't seem to speak. Confused, Looma walked forward a few paces to join the other two. Without seemingly have asked a question, the newcomer began answering Shandari. The Twi'lek almost thought it would be better to hang out with Shard; though he was acting weird, it was better than some stranger who could read minds. At least that's what it seemed to be. However, she just remained there, waiting, listening, watching.

[Hotel]

Shandari continued to watch the man as he spoke, her outward appearance never changing, her stance never moving. He tried to flatter her. Flattery didn't often work with her, and as usual, it didn't even phase her. Those that flatter often are trying to either get you to lower your guard, or butter you up for something. She wouldn't fall for it.

And there it was. Apparently this man was after some kind of military control here. Her voice once more echoed in his head. "I don't bother myself with the military. I have no need to." Her face still remained passive, her form never moving. "Before you even take one more step, prove to me you are not hostile." Her hand still rested on her saber, should he try to do anything unwise.

[Karl the Unfettered]

Shard didn't care what the Gungan did with his people, but he didn't expect the alien to understand that. So long as the more resentful members of the crew didn't find out, Bass wouldn't have to watch himself aboard the ship. "Good to know," he said aloud, patting the Gungan on the shoulder as he turned to walk back and join the others outside.

Outside, he walked back over to the others, straightening his robes out as he went. "Good afternoon, stranger," he called out, the sunlight flashing on his glasses. "Come to plunder our knowledge and join the boundless ranks?" Casually he slipped a possesive hand around Shandari's shoulder. "Don't harass the fellow, Shandari, he just got here. We have to be hospitable to the polite ones, remember?"

He smirked at Grozmick. "Jack, was it? Or do you prefer General Grozmick? Anyway, if it's the military you're after, just go up there," and he pointed at the grand Temple at the other end of the valley, "and ask for Darth Eurachis. You can't miss him, he's the big guy with the aura." He favored Jack with a glance, which the Sith general would feel more than see. "We've had a few incidents recently, General... I strongly suggest you mind your manners."

His glance slipped away, and he regarded the others. "I assume you haven't been introduced? Let me address that." He let go of Shandari and stepped back. "I myself, am Charlill Sylvorr, but call me Shard," he intoned, bowing with his usual grace and gravity. "The lovely lady next to me is Shandari Banaan, and the cross-eyed idiot back there is Syaoran Tanso. He kills people for me sometimes, so watch yourself around him."

The Miraluka turned to Looma, and his expression softened. "And this lovely young lady here is Looma Isana, my... future apprentice." He smiled gently, then turned back to Grozmick as his face hardened again; the general would miss the significance of the event. "That should be everyone... any questions, then?"

[Mara]

In the growing silence, standing there by Tanso and Shandari, Looma found herself opening up more to the Force, wanting some inkling of a clue to what was going on. Though the appearance of this man--Jack--should have made her suspicious in the first place, the thing that was troubling the yellow Twi'lek the most was the un-conversation that seemed to be happening in front of her. Only one of them spoke, but it had all appearances of a two-sided conversation. She wasn't sure what was going on between this Shandari and Jack.

Looma was more concerned with this, than with the actual topic of conversation, something that she had slipped to the back of her mind. She knew she was supposed to observe and listen, but the young humanoid couldn't help but wonder about what was going on, using the Force to lead her somewhere. There was a power emanating from the woman Shadari, but Looma couldn't tell if it was just her natural presence or if she was exerting herself in the Force. She hoped the latter, because if this was her normal state, Looma would hate to be in the area when she was actually using the Force.

Her best guess, as of earlier, was that this Jack was reading Shandari's mind, though it didn't make much sense. If he could read minds, wouldn't he have said so, instead of just starting to talk and assuming the other would think their thoughts, not voice them as normal beings did? This lead Looma to believe that it possibly was the other way around. Perhaps this female whom Shard seemed so close to was reading Jack's mind, communicating to him without speaking. Whether it was reality or not, it still gave Looma the creeps, just a little bit.

She wasn't sure what Shandari was saying in response to Jack's question, but by looking at her face and seeing her hand go to her weapon at her belt, it couldn't be very friendly. The whole silent conversation gave her chills, and she looked over at Tanso, the third member of their trio. The young man seemed unconcerned and so the Twi'lek turned back to what was happening, or what was in lack of happening.

Thankfully then, Shard interrupted them, finally concluding his business aboard the ship with the strange being with large ears she had seen earlier. Looma began to feel more comfortable as the more familiar personality of the Miraluka's came out, not akin to how he first presented himself when she spotted his ship. This was the Shard she knew better, in the limited time she had spent in his presence.

A part of her hoped there wouldn't be a quiz; she had made a rather poor show of actually paying attention to what Jack said. Doubly hard when she had no idea what Shandari had said in reply. But the Sith took hold of the situation, seemingly forgetting about his earlier order, calming down everyone and pointing Jack to one of the Inner Sanctum, Eurachis, whom Looma had briefly met the same time she had spoke with Shard the first time.

Then quite quickly he held formal introductions, which Looma appreciated, though she had deduced the names earlier of the two she had been assigned to hang out with. She nodded briefly at everyone when their names were said, trying not to bring too much attention to herself. She had, after all, wandered into something she shouldn't have, fairly interrupting something that appeared to be important. Looma wanted to leave as soon as she got a chance. Maybe she could find Caleb again, or practice some telekinesis on her own.

She had been about to take her leave then, after the introductions, when her whole body froze at Shard's last introductory words. For a moment she couldn't speak, her lekku plastered to her back, unable to move or respond. Was it a joke? What did the Mirakluka mean by calling her his "future" apprentice? And in hearing of everyone around them? Surely it had to be in jest...

But there was something about the way he had said it, something about what she felt flowing through the Force, which she was still quite open to from earlier. Gradually her muscles came back to serve her and she swallowed hard, hoping a second later that no one would notice the noise. Her lekku twitched in agitation as her mind tried to wrap around the idea presented to her.

Looma had so many questions, but she couldn't voice them, even if she had had a chance. She was grateful for the fact that Shard had turned his attention back on Jack, leaving her to herself, still trying to figure everything out. Why this obviously powerful man would ask someone like her, someone he barely knew, to be his apprentice. His action left her speechless and her mind baffled.