I wasn't dead, just sleeping.

[Matt]

Nar Shaddaa always had a really odd smell, like a million pairs of underpants had been thrown down a garbage compactor, then exploded showering the planet with all manner of weird and dangerous things from different underpants.

Well at least that was the thought process of the business man sitting on a rather uncomfortable bar seat waiting for one of his very oldest and probably only friend in the galaxy to come in, he couldn't help but wonder whether she would actually come, his message was rather mysterious and odd.

But then he had had it forwarded from his company, it's not every day the CEO of compact industries tries to get in contact with a random Jedi and he hadn't hidden the fact of who he was, well other than his name and previous occupations but a mere tidbit! A mere tidbit...Hopefully.

He asked for another drink as he sat there, crisp suit and all looking intently at the door...waiting.

 

[Padmé]

Ahh of course he would select Smuggler's Moon as the meeting place.
The former Jedi Prime Envoy thought quietly to herself while docking her ship on
Nar Shaddaa.

Maier couldn't believe her ears when she received news of her former master and confidant's whereabouts. For all Maier knew, the man was dead. In fact, she was so sure of herself that she along with her good friend- Ebberla Daw literally went after Noble's killer- a one Kolya on this very Force forsaken planet.

Ship now perfectly positioned, Gracleyn Maier made her way off the her personal ship. Upon exiting, she couldn't help but shield her face from the pungent odor that assaulted her sense. How on earth does one survive on this moon, the former Alliance councilor thought quietly to herself. Moments later, her rented speeder arrived at which point she securely placed the few belongings she'd brought with her. Hear gear, however, remained hidden beneath her non formal robe. Maier found all of this rather taxing, and beneath a rank, however, for the sake of her former master she swallowed her pride and continued on to the designated meeting place.

Finally now at the meeting place, the Kaalian aristocrat gracefully made her way inside the building- albeit cautiously- hopeful about the pending meeting.

 

[Matt]

He smiled as Maier entered the bar promptly finishing off his drink and doing a quick scan of those around him, none of them looked particularly dangerous or likely to cause to much trouble so he stood up and took big strides towards her, a smile across his face as he was coming at her from a blind angle hiding his presence in the force but then that had become second nature to him over the last decade.....Constantly hiding in plain sight was his mantra now. Hiding in plain sight and getting rid of ghastly and horrible things but that didn't quite roll of the tongue as well.

''Maier''

He said in his actual accent without the Correlian twist he had incorporated into it for many years, which really didn't do him any favours as everyone seemed to hate Correlians but by the time he realised that he could hardly change his fake accent!

'' Someone once said when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. Now tell me how much you've missed me!''

Christian Noble smiled warmly at his old padawan before bursting into raucous laughter.

 

[Padmé]

Her head completely shielded by her elegant attire, Maier gracefully walked inside the establishment. Upon entering, she felt almost out of place. Had the meeting place been left up to the former Prime Envoy, this location wouldn't be her first choice of meeting a long lost mentor/companion. Nevertheless, she swallowed her Kaalian pride, and kept walking.

Merely meters inside the building she sensed a faint presence; a rather familiar one too, though she couldn't pin a matching name. Seconds inside the establishment a rather bold man called the aristocrat by name. Her surname. It was then that the Jedi realized exactly whom she'd sensed through the Force moments ago. If one could see behind her shielded face, several drops of saline liquid would be seen. At that moment she was glad she made this trip alone.

"Noble?"
Gracelyn whispered into the thin air. Seconds later, her peripheral view caught on to the man. The man bore the same undeniable swag, and confidence. He lives!- Maier thought silently to herself midway wiping the tears from her face.

Now turning to completely face Noble, she listened as she gave yet another tidbit. A pattern indicative of Maier's former master.
"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

"That would be Sherlock Holmes,"
Maier quickly interjected.

"...your favorite Holonet character."
The pair smiled.

"Now let's see how have I missed you?"
Maier quarried while securing her head covering.

"You had me-"
She quickly corrected herself as she thought of the former Sigur, Grandmaster, and her friend Ebberla Daw.

"..more like you had us worried. However, I'm certain there's a story behind your decision to vanish."
As much as Maier wanted to verbally reprimand her former master, on behalf of the former Grandmaster, Sigur, and her friend, Ebberla Daw, she couldn't. Thus along with Noble, Maier burst into the most hearty laughter she'd engaged in years.

Moments later, the woman caught herself, and then quarried Noble.
"Tell me how you ended up on this hell hole. You've got a lot of explaining to do, Mr."

 

[Matt]

Christian took a seat at a recently vacated table, letting Maier take a seat first before ordering himself and his dear friend another round of drink's. Christian didn't really know where to start but he thought it best just to go from the very beginning and let it all out in one go, it would be like pulling off a wax strip, like those upper market girls from the core used to do when the sun was beginning to shine.

''Well, I was shot by some hairy rascal and left for dead in some ghastly place, the hairy beast thought I was dead and my word I very nearly was! I can say with complete confidence that being shot hurts a great deal, much more than stubbing your toe on the bottom step and even more annoying than stepping in fresh Bantha dung!''

Christian stopped for a moment as he lost track of his thoughts, he still had a habit of doing that from time to time but he had managed to bring it in somewhat, it was a bit of a giveaway as there weren't many former Jedi in the galaxy who could have a twenty minute conversation about stepping in bantha dung.

''Anyway, after some young ruffians decided to rob me the authorities came and found me as life was incredibly close to leaving me so I was whisked away to a hospital about as clean as the underside of a Bantha's belly but I always had a hard head so made a full recovery but this recovery took a rather long time. By the time I was ready to leave that infernal place the galaxy had gone to pot with every other bugger kicking several shades of Bantha dung out of each other!''

Why on earth did he keep using Bantha's as a metaphor? He must have been nervous or something but he couldn't seem to get bantha's out of his mind which was in itself rather worrying....He paused as the drink's arrived taking a sip before giving Maier a toothy grin and returning to his train of thought.

''So, anywho with the Jedi up the swannie and the Alliance in a ever so slightly bad way I did the only thing a man could do. I took out all my funds and set myself up as a garbage contractor as I figured there was alot that needed cleaning up after all the mess you people had made. Needless to say I was right and after several years of furious work I have made my company the best garbage collection and removal company in the core world.''

Christian smiled, proud at his achievement but he knew himself that frankly it was incredible luck that allowed him to make his company so profitable. I suppose he was making money on the misery of others but he didn't really have a choice as he had no idea how to get in contact with any non baddies and he had to survive.

''I can assure you I have gotten rather good at masking my presence in the force but after doing that for years I have found my life has grown rather dull...In fact it's about as interesting as watching a Gamorrean trying to work out a maths equation....Short term gratification but makes you want to take a hammer to your head after a couple of days. Any who so I sold the company last week to some hateful Rodian and thought I'd go find some of you lot, join up again and start hitting the baddies....They really have gotten hatefully arrogant without anyone to give them the old heave ho....So here I am ready to heave and ho till the cows come home''

 

[Padmé]

The former Prime Envoy sat next to her former master. Hands neatly tucked onto her lap, she watched as Noble ordered yet another round of drinks. After the drink arrived, Maier merely touched hers. She couldn't for she was most interested in what Noble had to say.

Soon, that moment came and Christian Noble gave the most intriguing account yet. Maier frowned, and sat a bit taller in her seat at the mention of garbage collection company. In fact, her memory went back to two decades prior. Noble during a training session saw fit to 'teach' the then prissy Kaalian teen a lesson. Said lesson occurred in a garbage recycling center....

Now thoroughly --- Gracelyn reached for her drink and consumed the entire contents in one gulp. It was quite unbecoming of her, but she needed an escape from the memory Noble's tale had triggered. Within seconds, the woman's face contoured back into a somewhat pleasant one. She continued to quietly listen to her former master's account. If her memory serves her right, Noble's capitalization n the Imeperium's deciet concurrently occurred while the Galactic Alliance made efforts to divert a war. Unbeknownst to the Alliance, and Maier, their efforts would turn to naught as evidence by the drastic turn of events which led to the Tythonian Temple, Empress Teta and Coruscan'ts fall. Gracelyn's thoughts drifted back to her own personal efforts within her office as the Prime Envoy. The plethora of meetings and diplomatic trips she made. The final last effort diplomacy meeting crossing her mind again. She gave a soft sight as her memories drifted back to the fateful day- she and her other constituent, Senator Liile Glegor, narrowly escaping the Chiss trap....

Reaching yet again for her drink, Maier became quickly disappointed. She'd already forgotten how fast she consumed the drink. As though on cue, a male serve quickly rushed to her aide.

"More drinks Madame?"
The man inquired. To which Gracelyn nodded and uttered-

"Give me something stronger this time."

Noble on the other hand kept talking. Just like old times. The man had one track mind, and couldn't be stopped until he was done. Thankfully, Noble moved on to other matters aside from his lucrative garbage collection company. As it turns out his singular reason for contacting Maier was to return back to The Jedi.

"Any who so I sold the company last week to some hateful Rodian and thought I'd go find some of you lot, join up again and start hitting the baddies...."

Gracelyn's former master's words nearly left her in shock. Who would have thought that after nearly a decade of silence, Noble would return? First her mother out of the blue decides to re join the Jedi and now Noble too. For a split second, Maier entertained the thought of her protégé, Orlaan Ghess, fighting along side Noble. She quickly dimissed that thought as another unpleasant memory of Ghess crossed her mind.

"I'd say now is a rather perfect time to join the Order. You and my mother would both make an excellent addition."

Pausing, Maier thought of what her dear friend, Ebberla Daw's, reaction would be to this news. At the thought of the feisty Jedi, Gracelyn smiled.

"Given the current state of the Galaxy, Kaal remains my main base. You're welcome to join me there until I get in contact and make arrangements for your return. Ebberla Daw will most likely meet us at the rendezvous point when the arrangements are finalized."

 

[Matt]

Christian was never the best at hiding his emotions, something he always used to get in trouble for. Thankfully the jedi weren't quite as dictatorial as they were in the days of the old republic because he would have most likely been chucked out but he still used to get the odd slip around the ear for being as open as a Correlian girls legs after to many drinks.

The reason he couldn't hide his emotions this time was because he was very intrigued by the idea that Maier had a mother! Well he knew she had a mother as she hadn't come from a swamp but the idea of her mother being a member of the jedi intrigued him greatly.

''Sounds rather smashing to me but your mother? I look forward to meeting her as I'm sure you have told her many things about me...None good of course! Let's go! I have wasted far to long doing profitable and logical things so I need to get myself in trouble again.''

 

[Padmé]

The Kaalian could tell Noble was not only intrigued, but surprised that Maier's mother had returned back to The Order. A small smiled graced the woman's face. Of course no one could tell, not with her head covering! That smile, however, quickly became a frown;a disappointed frown as Gracelyn raised her glass. The contents were gone. Sighing, she gently placed the glass down, and embraced the present moment. Noble's rantings.

''Sounds rather smashing to me but your mother?"
She heard.

To which she quickly interjected,
"Yes. Mother. I know. I suppose she's trying to-"
Gracelyn paused, though only momentarily. Her thoughts drifted back to her childhood.

Unlike most parents Jacquelyn spent most of her days organizing and participation in the most lavished gatherings. Growing up, Gracelyn hardly spent time with her mother. The Maier patriarch, along with several nannies, were unfortunately left with the burden of caring for Gracelyn. In her early teen years, there was a slight positive change, but nothing as shocking as Jacquelyn Maier's return to the order.

"...trying to redeem herself.
Mother even rescued and is currently training a young teen from some obscure planet."
Gracelyn concluded while thinking of the task ahead of her.

Noble's affirmative response will soon fill the air.
"Let's go! I have wasted far to long doing profitable and logical things so I need to get myself in trouble again.''

"After we settle our bill."
Maier reminded her former master while removing and placing a credit chip on the table. The credits will be enough to cover their bill and more.

Soon thereafter, the former Prime Envoy led the pair to her ship. While on board, en route to Kaal, Gracelyn called upon her good friend and current leader of The Jedi remnants, Ebberla Daw. Of all people, Maier counted on Daw to lead the pair safely back to the current location of Jedi. For all Maier knew her last diplomatic attempt had not only ended in failure, but also garnered new personal enemies. The last thing Gracelyn needed was to walk into yet another trap.

 

[Matt]

''Yes, I can imagine the old woman is probably quite desperate to make amends after doing such a rotten job bringing you up, frankly a pair of banthas could have done a better job then she did. I take full credit for you becoming such a fine rounded lady''

There he was with the bantha's again, he really needed to come up with some new metaphors because he was trying his level best to stop any board room speak leak back into his vocabulary that he used up most of his brain power trying to keep that out and thus it suffered so much. Oh well.

''So, we off to Kaal...Or is it keel or somewhere like that anyway! Sounds like a ghastly place and by god do I love ghastly so off we go!''

Christian sat himself down on the rather lovely ship as he begun to play around with the folds of his suit, he really couldn't wait to take this ghastly thing off and get back to wearing smelly old clothes that no one would be caught dead in, truly he couldn't wait for that.

''So, tell me who is left of the jedi that I would have known? Most of them were pretty thick so I'm guessing most got there head's chopped off?''

 

[Padmé]

Smiling Maier quickly interjected:

"You'll meet Jacquelyn after your return to the Order. AND FYI, Kaal is the most picturesque place on the galaxy. You'll see."

Pausing she allowed her master to finish his thought. Gracelyn couldn't help but think how easily her father would take a liking to Noble. They both in a way share the same mannerisms and about the same age. The Maier patriarch at times seems a bit reserved, but behind that reserved persona is a man quite down to earth. Unlike Maier and her mother, her father doesn't exhibit the stuck up aristocrat demeanor.

When the time presented itself, Gracelyn answered Noble's poignant question.

"Well, many Jedi did get their heads "chopped off" during The War. I nearly perished at the hands of the Chiss during one of the final War negotiations/diplomatic meetings. Insofar as deaths, Council members wise the Grandmaster, Sigur Vainikainen during the final battle at Coruscant. The former Battlemaster, Darix Talohn perished at the hands of a Sith Lord. Like you, who faked your own death, we thought Sage Master Skhai Rolan-Baatch was dead. But alas she's resurfaced and is back with the Order.

The are many other Jedi who since The War have perished, but I'll fill you in once we actually return."

Once the pair landed on Kaal, Gracelyn took Noble straight to the Maier mansion. Just as she'd imagined her father took a liking to Noble. About a week later, Maier's long lost apprentice/son returned to Kaal. Along with Noble and Maier, the three Jedi made the journey to the rendezvous point on Sullust, where they were met by the Grandmaster Ebberla Daw.