Ask Ord Mantell: A small place

[Wayson Hanson]

Ord Mantell Outskirts
​

In neutral worlds, people keep their heads down worried only for themselves and those right next to them. So when trouble comes they counted on each other and no one else. The fishing village of the Ches Islands was a close-knit community where the people lived on what they made with their own hands. The people of Ches will live and die on this island not knowing a great many planets that hide behind the stars in the night sky. It was a lifestyle that Wayson could not live but he knew that for some it was peaceful and quiet which was what some people wanted. There were very few places to land but Wayson was able to find a spot just outside the village center, landing his Lantillian the Jedi reread the request put out by the mayor of the town.

'Requesting for aid, this is the Mayor of Ches my name is Hesker Dresden. We are simple people that live off the land and don't bother anybody. Lately, we have been having some people threatening our shops and people until they get paid. At first, we thought this would be it now they have taken one of our own. Please I beg you, if it takes a thousand credits we will pay whatever it takes to free our people.'

The request was pretty bare on details which meant that the Mayor knew any further details would scare people away from the job. Plus while a thousand credits could be worth it for a more local bounty hunter anything more than that wouldn't really attract that many people. Which was why this request had been sitting unanswered for nearly a month now. The fact Wayson had seen people walking around meant that they hadn't all been killed since the message was sent but who knows what evil has befallen the village?

Wayson got up, dressed in simple robes and tunic hoping to avoid appearing too well armed on his first approach. Wayson took both his lightsabers and blaster pistols and a comlink. He made sure before arriving to send the coordinates and the message to his new Padawan.

Did he really have what it takes to become a Master? Guess the council had already decided so wasn't much for him to decide. Just to do. Now, what should he expect? Perhaps just let the kid watch him work since he is still just a Padawan? Perhaps best to wait till he saw what he was working with? For now, he would let his Padawan figure out what needs to happen.

@Issachar

 

[Lonae Hatow]

The Ryloth Waltz's central console light up as a message was received, the soft blinking light slowly woke the pilot from his meditative trance. One eye slowly opened to see what the message was, and before long both were opened to soak up every detail. Luckily for him, he already was within the Mid Rim so it would only be a day or two before he would arrive. The craft slung around and automatically corrected its course, moving towards the hyperlink exit required as it prepared its hyperdrive.




After the few days of travel, the small craft arrived at its destination. Coming out from another trance, Lonae Hatow gripped both hands on the controlls and took control of the ship himself. The guttural engines of the Belbullab-22 growled out as the nose of the ship lowered, pulling itself down towards the planet.

He landed on the main landmass of Ord Mantell, and made sure to pay the dock keeper well to make sure they kept the craft in their port for a while. The young Twi-Lek moved around the port-side town, trying to find someone who could take him towards the near by islands. With some mind tricks thrown around, and several different conversations in several different languages, he finally booked passage on a small liner that would set sail within the planetary hour.

After nearly three hours the boat had finally made landfall on Ches. He was clad in a simple robe, which hid the tonfa hidden on his belt, and a soft veil over his face. This was less to disguise his face and more to make it seem like one of the entertainers of the planet. And now the young Twi'lek set out to find the one who would teach him...

 

[Wayson Hanson]

Wayson had spent his time trying to get to know the locals, and the best way he had found to do that was to go to whatever passes for a bar in this village. It was a small place an open-air bar that was connected to a small shack where the bartender would disappear where he got food and drinks. Worked by an older human man, who was dressed in just a simple tunic with a bandana covering most of his bald head cleaning a single glass mug. The man kept his eyes low purposefully, trying to avoid the stranger.

With a smile, Wayson approached the bartender noticing that there wasn't anyone else enjoying the shade and a cold drink. The bartender didn't seem to notice him even as Wayson sat down on one of the barstools in front of him. Grabbing a single credit from his pouch and laying on the table. Still not getting the attention of the bartender who now that Wayson was closer could instinctually pick up on his nervousness and how closed up the bartender was.

"Sir, I've traveled a bit how much would a cold glass cost me?" Now that finally got the bartender's attention, who seemed shocked that he was being asked such a question.

"I-its free. What do you want?" The man asked, as he almost shakingly lay down the mug as continued to look away from Wayson.

"Nah friend, I am going to spend some credits I just want a cold glass of whatever is your best." This seemed to ease the Bartender as he realized that this stranger was new and probable not connected to what has been threatening the town recently.

"Listen, you seem like a good guy. I would suggest you get into the nice ship you got and head out the place not safe right now." The bartender said quietly as he filled the mug he had just been cleaning with a dark brown liquid.

Wayson grabbed the mug and took a sip of the dark cider. It was rich and of course like all alcohol wasn't the most tasteful thing to drink but that wasn't the point with alcohol anyway. The bartender gave Wayson pleading eyes, encouraging the young man to leave his doomed home. But Wayson wasn't so easily scared off. So after his third sip, Wayson looked up at the bartender with a neutral expression.

"I came because your mayor asked for help. Where is he?" Wayson opened himself fully to the Force feeling its cool breeze kiss his cheeks. The people of the town were full of fear and defeat he couldn't sense much beyond that but there was a flicker of another touched by the Force in town.

Wayson almost instinctually understood that it was possibly his new Padawan and sent a mental nudge to the person with the Force to grab his attention. He trusted that his apprentice would be skilled enough to follow Wayson's signature.

@Issachar

 

[Lonae Hatow]

The Padawan had sensed the other Jedi shortly after he arrived, but the nudge gave him an exact location rather than a general location. He began to glide over to the bar, making sure to not move directly to it in case he was followed. The entire move must have taken half an hour, but he arrived. The young boy sat beside the other Jedi and, as he spoke, did not turn to face him. Only when he was finished did his eyes gaze upon the other being.

"Sihse, eti ohk selerki'ahi ar neo rarnork dan. Do ohk Lonae Hatow. Do retayed dei bakaev, vil Do ohk tlasi ar yaahk dan bo cea y cihna." spoke the being as he approached his master. The voice would have been mistaken for a droid if he had the mechanical rumble behind his voice, his speech was blunt, efficient, and emotionlessly straight to the point. He had the traditional accent of the Twi'leks: a vaugly Spaniard twist to his words.

The Twi'lek was rather short, standing at just 5'4". The robes that made his disguise was thin and soft, made from thin white cloth that matched the thin white mesh of his veil. His form was thin and spindly, atleast that's what the robes presented. Underneath was muscle that clung to his small form, much akin to a swimmer's build. It even seems the young Padawan had even tried to conceal the scar across his face with make up, which hid it unless one was mere inches away from his face.

 

[Wayson Hanson]

Wayson could feel his Padawan approaching and looked at his Padawan and saw the young Twi'lek barely away from being considered an adult. He was short but nothing was wrong with that, Wayson stood almost a whole head over his Padawan. He dressed in simple clothes which Wayson both approved and disapproved of depending on why his Padawan picked the clothes.

Lonae Hatow, Wayson said that name several times in his head doing his best to memorize the way the word sounded in his head. It was good that Lonae was prepared for work, as a Jedi there were too many calls for aid and never enough Jedi. So crossing his arms Wayson kept a neutral look when he was finished examining his Padawan. Giving him a courtesy nod before returning his attention to the bartender, who was also staring at the other Jedi. Now a look of confusion on the older man's face.

"H-he is away right now. I can take you to his home if you want." There was a tremor in his voice that gave Wayson a pause but knowing that his skills as a Jedi should be enough to keep him safe.

Nodding to the bartender to take them to the Mayor's home. He was slow clearly thinking of what he needed to do and Wayson can only hope that the bartender would not do anything dangerous. But as the bartender lead them Wayson looked to his Padawan finally speaking to him.

"I do apologize for the sudden mission. I am new to being a Master to a Padawan. I hope you understand that will mean we will both be learning something from this experience. My name is Wayson Hanson. I suggest you keep your mind open. If you feel the need to speak or act you can don't wait for my permission. Do you have any questions for me?" As they walked eventually the bartender took them to a small home on the edge of the village and knocked on the door before leaving the two Jedi.

--------

Frank was just a bartender he wasn't a soldier nor was he brave. He had seen his brother killed before his eyes by those scum pirates. But he wasn't willing to risk his neck out for even the newcomers. Which was why he left them in front of where some of the pirates played whatever card and drinking games they did.

He hoped the newcomers weren't killed but he knew that at least five of those brutes should be in that home, armed with blasters and vibroblades.

The knock disturbed the pirates in their card games, that knew that whoever was stupid enough to bother them when they were not doing their rounds deserved a bolt in the face. Three of the pirates were Zabrak, one a human and another a Rodian. The Zabrak's grabbed their pistols, the human an ax, and the Rodian his stun baton. It was one of the Zabrak that walked up to the door opening the slight of the door but instead of sticking his face out, he had the end of his blaster blasting at the Feet of the Jedi.

It was a sick joke and one meant to cause harm to those that annoyed them.

@Issachar

 

[Lonae Hatow]

"Ci meni anlte gen hai meni zyatari... akofeva. Sefak meni yetu taohlih atê m'setfa azza Ci hisa yol aris. Tuha Ci hiso kosta naut shureen tul hisa yol... lat'lah mu res pavat?"
came out of the Twi'lek's lips like a soft purr, his eyes half flitted as his eyelashes fluttered. Unlike the emotionless introduction, here he had thrown on an act of a Twi'lek entertainer. He had quite the grasp on Zabraki, and as he spoke he slowly but surley made his way inside.


Before he went further, he made sure to do something... a telepathic message. His new Master recieved only four words, but it was clear enough to be understood: wait until my signal. Before he could be searched, he rolled the robe from his shoulders. He made sure to dress the part, wearing a very revealing, yet still higher class, dancer's outfit. His frame was shown for all the world to see. He was not lanky, he was athletic. Abbs, calves, back, shoulders, everything looked as if he was a Da Vinci statue. And as he readied for his dance, he made sure to work the frame he had been blessed with to try and entrance the pirates, he had made a small area free for him to dance. And so he did, as elegantly and entrancing as possible.

Spoiler: Dance Rythem

 

[Wayson Hanson]

Wayson jumped out of the way of the bolts avoiding getting hurt and thanking that his Padawan hadn't gotten caught in any of the bolts. Yet his calmness and almost indifference to being shot at were commendable. Yet even Wayson was concerned with how he attempted to entice the pirates. Even still he managed to enter the building without much difficulty, drinking and a life of thievery were not known for making the smartest of individuals.

So Wayson grabbed a hold of one of his blasters and in his right hand his lightsaber. ready to act. Standing just outside the home, and feeling his Padawan's telepathic message, the Jedi Knight was impressed with his Padawan's skills in the area. Even for some Knights, he knew such an ability would be difficult to pull off. Moving to the door again quietly and without making any noise thanks to the power of the Force quieting his steps by stilling any noise he made.

Wayson listened inside and heard the disgusting groaning and cheering of the pirates and Lonae quiet and subtle movement. Wayson wanted to jump in, he knew that this wasn't the best situation for his padawan to risk himself but then when would that be? He knew that a Jedi had to be prepared and to be flexible something that even Wayson struggled with sometimes. Was this the right time for him to trust his Padawan or should he step in? It was just five pirates, and them being distracted meant that if he was to act it would be barely a few seconds.

No, he was a Master now, it meant accepting someone taking a risk while he watched. So he did. Ready to act extending his senses into the room and waiting to feel what happened next. Sending out calm emotions to his Padawan to signal his understanding Wayson waited.

-------

The pirates didn't know much other than violence and taking what they wanted when they wanted. So a young able body coming in offering services was just what they could want. The drinking had been heavy but they were still alert ready to jump and kill the boy if he were to act in such a manner that would threaten them.

Three of the pirates cheers and slowly tried to reach for the dancer while the other two, one of the Zabraks and the human seemed to lack any interest and returned to their game of cards. Now though those two seemed more alert ready to jump and act at a moment's notice.

@Issachar

 

[Lonae Hatow]

The young Padawan was graceful and ever moving as he danced, slow movements timed so faster ones would be used to pull him away from any grasping appendages. His movements were as careful and precise as they were beautiful, the Twi'lek using his body like a hypnotic weapon. His Lekku lightly bobbed as he moved, his eyes almost always gazing upon one of the guards half lidded. To the guard of the moment it may have been teasing, but to the young Padawan he was scanning the room. He located weapons, potential traps, other exits, useful pieces of terrain; he had to be sure he gathered as much information in his dance as he could.

He prepared for the opening of a new tempo by sending his master a simple emotion: readiness. As the tune changed in his head, his dance changed. He began to spin on his toes, bringing his leg up and knee out, resting his heel on his thigh. After a full rotation his foot would go down, only to do so less than a moment later. After a few of these spins he would drop down in a crouch, kicking for a few beats before doing a soft hop, raising his arms, and going back to the crouch kick, then returning to the spinning.

It was during one of the leaps he decided to break into action, his tonfa sliding out of his sleeves as he came down from the leap. He grabbed onto the hills tightly, squeezing them in his fingers, as he ignited his green sabers. He began to move to the beat, his blades spinning in his hands to block oncoming shots. As those close who would raise their blasters, the saber would simply aim for their barrel and cut the weapon in half. But if any got close, the blade would swing for a gutward blow. Of course Lonae would not let it connect, he was making them keep a distance. Now the real fun had began.

Spoiler: New Tempo

 

[Wayson Hanson]

Wayson waited and waited, he wasn't accustomed to doing that but could live through it if it meant his Padawan was safe. So as he waited he readied his mind for the violence that would take place. How would his Padawan handle taking a life? It should not be easy, it should weigh on a person. So when he felt his Padawan sent him a mental suggestion he knew that his Padawan was nearly ready. So walking slowly to the door he got his thumb over the switch and when he heard the noise of a lightsaber ignited the Jedi Knight throw out his hand and summoned the Force within him to come out sending a wall of energy into the door.

Throwing the door straight into one of the pirates, Wayson aimed at one of the pirates that had returned to the table and fired a single bolt straight to the pirate's back. It wasn't the kind thing to do but it was the necessary thing. While all life was important some life has less value just simply due to the actions that person does. Sometimes it isn't just sometimes they didn't have any other choices but at the end of the day, the protection of all life sometimes forces some life is ended.

"Leave one alive!" Wayson called out to his Padawan as he moved forward deeper into the room as kept his lightsaber up. The two-prong attack would hopefully disorient the pirates to the point that they surrender but like a cornered animal most will either fight to the death or surrender if given the chance.

----------

The blasters came out too slow, all three pirates jumped away avoiding the lightsaber. One of them got smacked with the door and fell to the ground unconscious from the force of the impact. The other two pirates either too drunk to realize the uselessness of their actions began to blast at the Jedi Padawan, both were standing behind him and each was aiming at his back, sending a total of five bolts were only three would hit and only one was have been lethal.

The two pirates at the time got up quickly but the surprise bolt to the back took out one of the pirates quickly leaving the Rodian standing and seeing the Jedi grabbed his stun baton and charged the Jedi Knight hoping beyond hope to somehow survive the fight. The Rodian had his baton out straight in front hoping for a jab into the Jedi's Knight's chest and a quick knockout.

@Issachar

 

[Lonae Hatow]

The bolts flying at the Padawan were more than expected, yes, but he knew they would fire at his back. With each spin, he gained momentum. Time to stop. As the song slowed, he stood still, which just so happened to be facing the guards. He bent down his knees slightly, his torso swaying with the beat as his dance seemed to have him in a trance.

Lonae knew that most likely this was not his first kill, the Pyke guard was. The one who scarred his face. The one who held on. The one who he pushed off the ship. The one who made him realize what he was. Even without looking into their own eyes, he could still visualize them: wide in shock and awe, wishing for something to save them. The young man was haunted by that one, but not because he killed them. On the contrary, he knew he was in the right to do so. It was... just the first action he did as a free boy.

His sabers slashed at the bolts rhythmically, the thought merely taking a nanosecond to flash in his kind. Two were redirected back at the guards, with the third being directed upwards to harmlessly blast into the ceiling. He was nearly finishing the song in his head, his gracious form, spinning again as he swiped the bolts. The whirling dervish quickly moved over to the Rodian, the spins now at a near 90 degrees as they were now overhead strikes. They were clearly aimed at the shock baton, and would be close enough to behead it but not close enough to graze either of the other beings.

 

[Wayson Hanson]

Of the two pirates behind Lonae only one of them managed to avoid a bolt to the chest, taking the bolt into his right bicep causing him to drop to the ground crying out in pain. The other pirate just dropped his life leaving his body as the smoke coming out of his chest began to rise out of the hole in his chest burned.

The Rodian jumped back avoiding the Padawan's attempt to disarm him. Hearing the cries of his companion and seeing that he was the last one standing he walked backward grabbing the edge of the table he was just playing cards on and throwing the flimsy table and all its cards and credits at the two Jedi. After that, Rodian ran to the door to the back of the hut trying to escape his fate. Swinging open the door and rushing out of it within just a moment. The back of the hut was an open space and about a thirty feet distance from the treeline.

The Rodian plan will be to rush straight to the tree line.

Wayson saw this all occur and figure that it would be best to let the Rodian run they needed to learn where the main base for these pirates are. Looking to his Padawan, Wayson spoke quickly as he rushed to follow the Rodian.

"Knock the other man out. Follow me." As Wayson said that he would be just at the entrance to the door, turning his lightsaber off.

He stayed back allowing the Rodian to believe that the Jedi was unable to keep up with him. It wasn't hard for a trained Jedi Knight even if the Rodian was going at full speed Wayson would be able to keep up with just a little effort with the Force. So Wayson stayed just behind the Pirate, hoping that his Padawan would understand his commands without taking any actions that would make them lose their chance to find the Pirates.

@Issachar