Sea Murmurs

[Noire]

Lamaredd. Lamaro System.
Outer Rim Territories.

For a Jedi, being tucked away underground on a rather remote planet obviously had its perks; for one, they were nearly undetectable by the Imperials, which meant relative safety, for two, they could congregate in larger numbers and debate about whatever needed to be done. But Caden Ansgar looked visibly uncomfortable here, the latter part of such "perks" being the sole reason why. He didn't like waiting around for something to happen so that they could then chew it over; personally, he counted himself amongst the most proactive warriors that the Order had to offer and waiting around wasn't something he found himself doing often. He had taken it upon himself to help where ever he could; he'd fought to establish a base for the Jedi and the Rebels on Endor, and again on Meto Mundus, and had saved countless lives from the wrath of the Imperials on Cato Neimoidia and Tatooine. However, here on Lamaredd, there wasn't much of a pressure to...well do anything. He was a staunch believer in the notion that the responsibility of protecting the galaxy from the advance of the Empire rested with the Jedi, regardless of how fragmented their Order was, and the fact that he saw no such action to do so bothered him. The Lamaredd Outpost simply wasn't what was he expecting it to be.

The young Padawan was standing near one of the numerable cavernous entrances to the hidden Outpost, arms folded, and eyes locked onto a pair of younglings sparring some twenty feet away from him. The both of them couldn't have been any older than fourteen, yet they exchanged parries and dodged blows better than some adults Caden knew. That thought brought a slight smile to his lips, but the sudden beep from his commlink served well to erase it. Turning his attention away from the spar, and lifting his wrist closer toward his face, Caden's brow furrowed as watched a bluish holographic form of Jedi Master Larik Novan manifest before his eyes as the link was securely established. He smirked, but the renowned Master wasted no time with pleasantries, "Ansgar, worrying communication has been intercepted. The Mayor as well as the Town Council will be in imminent danger during their next meeting. Warn them. Protect them at all costs. Novan out." Caden was barely able to nod understandingly before the hologram was terminated and its sound replaced once more by the constant clashing of lightsabers echoing off of the cave's walls.

For the briefest of moments, he considered whether or not he should bring along another Jedi. It wasn't clear what the danger was yet and if it proved to be too much then that could very well mean the end of his life. But he decided against it almost as quickly as he'd thought of it; he was more than capable of handling himself. After all, he'd gone on missions alone before right? This wouldn't be different. Caden grabbed his folded black cloak off of the floor and hurriedly slipped it on as he began to jog towards the tunnel that led to the surface. Though he wished to, as it was no doubt a dead giveaway, there was simply no time for him to change out of his Jedi robes. And although he had infused bits of armor into the standard attire - including gauntlets and a single shoulder pad - it was still unmistakable and a problem he was hopeful the cloak would conceal. His lightsaber hung from his belt as well, jolting back and forth on the right side of his hip as he sprinted, and his blaster was holstered on the left. But despite his many concerns, Caden was ready.

​

One of the many advantages to living on Lamaredd and knowing it like the back of his hand was that there were countless places to meet in definite secrecy and he knew each and every one of them. Cliegg Ral had arranged a meeting between himself and several questionable characters of ill repute. It was within a small and quite filthy drinking establishment that the group he'd gathered nearly three months ago to the day found themselves having their final meeting for today was the big day. Cliegg wasn't like the other men around him though; he was a rather simple individual, a fisher by trade, and hadn't ever had in any run-ins with the law in his forty-six years of living. He'd lived on Lamaredd all of his life and savored the idyllic existence maintained even as a bloody war was waged across the stars. But things had changed. That bloody war now threatened to arrive at his front door step any moment now. He wouldn't let that happen.

Cliegg had heard the whispers. He'd heard the rumors near Bartyn's Landing; there were people with special powers, in large numbers, hiding out. They called them Jedi Knights. Personally, he had never heard of them and he wanted no part in any Jedi or any Knights bringing Imperial destruction. Though the elected officials remained in denial about the rumors, Cliegg had a strong sickening feeling they were lying through their teeth and he had to protect his home at all costs. That was why he'd gathered the most wicked, vile, and blood-thirsty scum he could pay for to carry out his wishes. Cliegg planned to beat down the Mayor and every member of the Town Council until the truth was revealed to everyone on Lamaredd. That was his goal. He would see it through.

There was a rugged man a few feet away from Cliegg, no more than forty years of age, no younger than thirty, who was leaning against a wall shrouded in the darker recesses of the very same establishment. He stood even beyond the shadow cast by the dim lights, as he often did. He was draped in a tattered cloak, armed with a set of blaster pistols, and hidden by a pockmarked hat whose brim was tilted so low that it revealed nothing but a smug grin and a death stick wedged in between a set of yellow colored teeth. His name was Daxel. Or so he claimed, and he was the man Cliegg had put in charge. He abruptly spat out the death stick on the ground and wrapped his fingers slowly around his blasters, "This stinkin' place has hid the smell of our treason for long enough. It's time to do what we're getting paid for boys. You first...boss," Daxel said with snide arrogance as Cliegg slowly rose to his feet. Without a word said to any of them Cliegg led the men out of the bar and toward the building where the officials would be meeting in exactly eight minutes.

The time was now.

 

[Arcangel]

The Lamaredd outpost was truly a gift for the Jedi, a place where they could congregate and train in relative ease, safe from the menace of the Sith Imperium. Calcus was exceptionally grateful, glad to finally be able to let go of his worries and paranoia, having spent the last six months running from the bounty hunter who had killed his master, playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse in which he was the mouse. Even with the safety of the outpost, he had yet to have a chance to settle in, training non-stop since he had arrived. Now that he finally had a day free from training, Calcus was planning a little social gathering for later that day, wanting to meet and get to know some of the Jedi who had taken refuge at the outpost. In order to do this he had to get some of the goods he had brought from Naboo, most importantly a couple of the bottles of Corellian whiskey that he had managed to acquire.

Calcus whistled a popular Corellian song to himself as he walked down the rough hewn stone corridors of the outpost to the underground dock that held the submersable pods. Seeing that there was only one pod left he hopped into it and powered up the watercraft. As he was about to close the hatch Calcus saw a tough looking padawan sprinting into the underground dock, looking to be in a hurry to get in to the surface. "You look like your in a rush, you need a ride?" Calcus called out, not wanting to impede the determined looking Jedi by taking the last submersable.

Once the Jedi got in the submersable and closed the hatch, Calcus began to pilot out of the cavern and up to the surface. "My name is Calcua Raynn," Calcus said, introducing himself before asking, "whats the hurry?"

 

[Noire]

"Yes." Caden answered though he had already flopped down into the passenger's seat and began pulling the straps across his chest and buckling himself in. He watched in silence as the other Padawan quickly closed the hatch over their heads and waited until the small submersible began its ascent to the surface before answering. "Caden Ansgar," He finally replied over the low rumbling hum of the pod's small engine. Then he hesitated momentarily. Caden wasn't sure if it was wise to tell others the nature of his assignment. It was not that he didn't trust his fellow Jedi, he just simply didn't know Calcus nor had he ever seen him. But as the slowly fading light from the surface began to peek through Caden was reminded of the other Padawan's generosity, and so he chose to respond.

"I'm in a hurry because the city officials are in danger. I've been ordered to protect them." He said as he swiftly unbuckled his seat-belt and opened the hatch as the pod broke the surface of the water. Practically leaping onto the wooden docks, he immediately began to peer out into the town and survey the surrounding market, his eyes alert and searching for anything amiss, his mind regarding every vendor and shopper, every merchant and fisherman, as a potential enemy. Even while keeping his eyes locked onto the shifting crowds of sentient beings, Caden began to scratch at the growing stubble on his face absentmindedly as he tapped his foot for a few seconds.

Then he looked back down towards Calcus as he nodded to himself thoughtfully. For a brief moment, before he spoke, he looked uncertain, as if he hadn't completely convinced himself quite yet of what he planned to say. "I could use your help." He stated rather bluntly and abruptly. "If you want to do a Jedi's work then you have to follow me. ...And quickly," Caden finished and adding the last bit as he slowly pulled the hood of his cloak over his head and turning away once more from the pod. Whether or not Calcus chose to follow was entirely up to him, he just secretly hoped the other Padawan had a weapon of some sort if he did. The sun's going to set in less than an hour, he judged as he began to walk quickly in the direction of where the Town Council would meet. Under the cover of darkness, he thought to himself, how predictable. Even as he continued to trudge toward his destination, he wasn't sure yet what his plan of action was. He'd already dealt with his fair share of low life scum in the past before the Jedi; growing up on Nar Shaddaa and Corellia he had practically lived amongst and broke bread with them on a daily basis. But as a Jedi, he'd found himself ending their lives far more than sharing meals.

But Lamaredd was a peaceful planet. Caden Ansgar didn't want to shatter that illusion.

 

[Arcangel]

As Caden explained the situation, Calcus immediately understood his urgency and as Caden hopped out of the pod Calcus joined him on the dock, the scent of saltwater and fish filling the air. As Caden surveyed the market Calcus secured the pod and was ready for action when Caden bluntly asked for his help, seeming unsure as he pulled up his hood. "Im ready for anything" Calcus stated, confidence in his voice as he quickly double checked his gears, his father's heavy blaster secure in its holster on his hip as well as two extra powerpacks, his lightsaber safely hidden in a secret pocket.

Calcus easily followed Caden through the crowded market, being used to making his way through jam packed spaceports. As he weaved through the bustling market, dodging a small group of playing children, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise. Looking around to find the source of his alarm he saw a tough looking scar-faced Rodian, a blast vest barely visible beneath his sleeveless shirt and a blaster carelessly tucked into his waistband, obviously out of place in the fishmarket. Keeping an eye on the Rodian he came to the conclusion that the shady character was following them, noticing how he kept a steady distance from the pair as he walked up to each market stall, acting as if he was perusing the goods for a few seconds before glancing at the two Jedi and moving on. After he saw the Rodian repeat the process a few times Calcus got Caden's attention and quitely said, "i think we have a shadow, scarface over their" as he leaned his head slightly in the direction of thr Rodian to subtly point him out. "Any ideas?" He asked once Caden had noticed he shadow.

 

[Noire]

That didn't take too long, Cliegg thought to himself with a slight scowl. If he wasn't surrounded by miscreants already he would've cursed aloud, but he felt the need to distinguish himself from them to remind himself that he wasn't one of them. One of the lesser members of his makeshift band of crooks, a rather irksome and inexperienced Rodian, had broken off from the group once they'd reach Bartyn's Landing and had already discovered a fairly suspicious pair of young men heading towards the Town Council's building - one of whom was concealed by a cloak. Of course it wasn't a guarantee that they were even "Jedi" but the clues were damning enough to be proof in Cliegg's eyes. His response was curt. He'd told the Rodian to simply "handle them" and ended the line of communication immediately after. The two men the Rodian had discovered were of no true matter, though, all it meant was that they would have to speed up their little trek. And so as Cliegg suddenly quickened the pace of his jog his men did too. And the group darted through the streets under the veil of increasing darkness.

_________________________________________

​

Caden ​​glanced over his shoulder, spotting the Rodian several feet behind them, yet moving increasingly closer, and sighed. He had assumed they'd have a much larger window of time to work with before they were discovered. It was evident they did not. But for now, or for the moment at least, it was important that the pretense of normalcy was maintained. So instead of going on the offense, Caden merely nudged Calcus before he virtually vanished into the crowd of shoppers. Almost certain that the other Padawan would be able to keep up, he weaved in-and-out of the throng and clusters of sentient life-forms until he was sure the Rodian had been eluded. As the two Jedi continued to make their way, the town's dirt paths began to converge, and Caden peered up ahead as their destination was unveiled and came into view; the City Hall was a two-story wooden building, purposely designed to look stylistically ancient, and was built upon a slightly steep hillside partially overlooking the ocean.

He could see the Mayor and the other Council members as well in the moonlight now. They all looked rather somber; fatigue shone clearly in their eyes and there were bags under them, their lips curved downward, and each of them shuffled about as if conducting the meeting wasn't something they were particularly keen on doing. For the moment he was convinced that the Rodian had been lost, so he strode forward swiftly to meet the officials without bothering to conceal his movements. Hopefully, Calcus was only be a few steps behind, if that. "Mayor!" Caden called out as he sprinted until he was right beside them. "You're all in danger. Me and a fellow Jedi have been sent to ensure that you are kept safe." He said.

The Mayor's face twisted in an expression of confusion - his eyes distant - and then it abruptly became one of fear. For a second - that seemed to drag on for an eternity - no one spoke. Caden looked at the faces of one official to the next, utterly puzzled by the fear etched on their faces, and then it registered that they weren't looking at him. They were looking past him. Caden swiveled around, spotting a group of dangerous looking men running forward, and he immediately yanked his blaster from its holster. His eyes narrowed and his glare was one of grim determination as he ensured all of the officials were behind him. "I figured this day might-might come Mas-Master Jedi," The Mayor stammered as he watched the Padawan in front of him grip the blaster in his hand tighter, "The people have been - " A blaster bolt zipped past the Mayor - striking the building - and the charred mark it left spurred Caden into immediate action.

"Inside. Now!" He shouted. He looked down at the Rodian, he was one who had fired first, and he was the closest. "Calcus! I'm going to get them inside. Deal with him and then join us in the building. They're here." With that said, Caden rushed inside of the building with the officials, and retrieved his lightsaber as he did so. He would need it before the night was over.

 

[Arcangel]

Calcus remained silent as Caden spoke to the mayor, preferring to let the obviously more experience padawan handle the city officials. As Caden swiveled, drawing his blaster, Calcus turned as well to observe the group of obviously dangerous looking mercenaries rushing towards the building. The mayor stammered something before being cut off by a blaster bolt flying past his head. As Caden burst into action, shouting orders, Calcus quickly drew his heavy blaster pistol, taking aim at the Rodian and snapping off a shot before the thug could assail them further. The ruby bolt sped out and took the Rodian square in the chest, its powerful impact treating the blast vest as if it were made of paper.

As the dying Rodian fell to his ground, clutching his blasted chest, Calcus reached out with the force and, before it could clatter to the ground, pulled the thugs blaster pistol towards him. As the pistol flew through the air Calcus deftly caught it and turned to face the approaching group of mercenaries, some of them now drawing their blasters. Calcus took aim at the obviously hostile men, and began to empty both of his guns as he backed towards the City Hall, a flurry of bolts raced out towards the group as they dove for cover, one man screamed and slumped to the ground as he was caught in the hail of blasterfire. Firing off his last shot just as he arrived at the entrance to the City Hall, Calcus ducked through the doorway, closing the door behind him before stopping to reload. As he tucked the Rodians blaster into his waistband he asked Caden, “Do we have a plan?”

 

[Noire]

Daxel shrugged with clear disinterest as the Rodian took his final breath; utterly apathetic in every sense of the word as his comrade became ever so still. His eyes narrowed and turned hard as he imagined just how much more difficult their scheme had become. I might need a raise after this, he thought to himself as he turned away from the body and toward the Town Hall. "Come on boss man!" He shouted aloud as he shifted his cold gaze toward Cliegg. The man was sweating, more than what even seemed normal, and was shaking so much it seemed as though he was shivering. Cliegg must have not expected any one to die. But it was far too late to turn back now, or at least it was for Daxel, who had already swaggered up to the building, blaster pistol in hand, and began to whistle. The others followed suit, like mindless drones, and raised their own crude blasters as they approached the Town Hall. "Wait a minute. What are you planning?" Cliegg asked Daxel - someone whom he'd paid good money to and someone who was supposed to be following his orders. - exasperatedly. Cliegg had noticed several of the town's inhabitants had began to come outside or peek out of their windows to see what all the commotion was about and was becoming even more nervous and regretful. This was quickly becoming something it wasn't ever intended to be.

But Cliegg had no way out.

"Send the blasted bloody Mayor out here!" Daxel exclaimed shaking his blaster and completely ignoring the very man who'd lined his pockets with credits. He simply didn't care. He'd been paid. He could do what he pleased with the Mayor and whoever else was inside and there was not a damn thing Cliegg could ever hope to do about it. At that he began to fire, repeatedly, into the sky to "make" the point that he was deathly serious in his demand. They would come out sooner or later. They didn't have a choice. Daxel had a very limited amount of patience within him and its fuse was quickly burning short. He would've long barged his way inside had it not been for the fact that, unlike his employer, Daxel knew exactly who the Jedi were and the tremendous powers they possessed at their fingertips. He wasn't afraid, no, but simply far more cautious than he normally would have been. But regardless of his weariness, if the Mayor was not sent out soon he would find his way inside.

Daxel left no job unfinished.

Inside the Town Hall, Caden kept his eyes on the Mayor as he paced back and forth in the hallway outside of the Council room. It was obvious they were attempting to keep it together, but the threats and the blaster-fire was unnerving enough to wear away their thin resilience. Anxious and impatient himself, Caden turned to Calcus and shook his head. "I don't have any bright ideas that's going to save us from an all-out battle. As much as we must protect ourselves and the Council at all cost," Caden said as he gripped his lightsaber tighter, "We need to try to prevent more bloodshed if we can. We don't want the people of the town turning against us too." He finished. Then he nodded towards the staircase. "Guard the second floor. They'll probably no doubt try to get in that way. I'm going to go outside. May the Force be with you." With that, Caden began to make his way outside, each step he took filled with doubt and uncertainty.

He could only hope he was doing the right thing.

Outside, Cliegg watched as the three thugs Daxel ordered to scale up the Town Hall building finished their climb and entered the place of democracy firing their weapons blindly. He felt his stomach clench. Making every effort possible to control his increasing rage, he stepped beside Daxel. He was finished with his modest protests. Yes, he had been the one that had constructed the now shattered "plan" and had hired the weapon-laden gangsters to carry it out, but seeing that his plan had never ever been wasn't to outright kill those who ran the very town he'd lived in all his life he felt the need to stop Daxel himself. "Daxel!" Cliegg snarled as he forcefully grabbed the man's shoulder. Not another word left his lips. Daxel whipped around and in a blur of motion knocked Cliegg over the head with the butt of his blaster and the man crumpled to the ground and lay deathly still. Daxel was not to be touched. He'd stated that very clearly months ago. Daxel would've finished the job had it not been for the snap-hiss of a lightsaber igniting. He'd waited a long time for this.

It was going to be delicious.

 

[Arcangel]

"May the force be with you as well." Calcus replied as Caden stepped out of the door into the night. He eyed the frightened town officials. "Is there anyone upstairs?" He asked as he drew his lightsaber, the close quarters of the city hall being no place for a blaster. The terrified mayor stuttered out his answer. "J-ju-just my s-secretary." With the knowledge that an innocent bystander might be in danger Calcus turned and sprinted up the stairs, his senses screaming danger with every step. As he reached the top of the steps he detected a spike of fear so strong that he could sense it even though he wasnt actively trying to, a womans scream echoing down the hallway followed by the sound of blaster fire. Running towards the sound he nearly bowled over a middle aged woman who was franticly dashing through the corridor, her eyes crazed with fear as she screamed at the sight of him.

"Im here to protect you, quick get behind me!" Calcus blurted out as he saw three thugs come out of the doorway the woman had just left. Quickly interposing himself between the panicked woman and the thugs he ignited his lightsaber with a snap-hiss, the vibrant yellow blade throwing shadows across the hallway, the thugs expression turning from violent glee to one of doubt. "Surrender now and i will make sure you get a fair trial, fight, and i cant gaurantee you wont end up like your rodian pal." Calcus said calmly as he settled into a Soresu gaurd, his voice letting through none of his doubt. As he spoke he prepared to defend himself and the frightened secretary, channeling the force through his body in preparation to burst into action while also trying to sense whether the thugs would surrender or fight.

 

[Noire]

The silence was tense. Those who were foolish enough to watch from afar did so with bated breath and a hand held over their own rapidly beating hearts. But as terrifying the moment might have been to others, the Jedi and the mercenary were completely at ease. They watched each other intently, each separated by several feet, and both anxious to begin the inevitable brawl that was sure to come. It was a typical stand-off, like in the days of old, though such a confrontation was rare in this age and not at all practical. They began to circle each other slowly; Caden's lightsaber still humming with life as held his ignited blade downward and Daxel's fingers gripping the handles of his two blaster pistols firmly. Soon, Caden had walked around to where Daxel had stood originally, and the young wary Padawan knelt down by Cliegg, who still lay sprawled out on the ground and absolutely motionless, and felt for a pulse. It was faint and erratic, but there.

He was still alive.

"Surrender now and this can all be over. There's no need for anymore bloodshed." Caden declared as he rose back to his full height, glancing at the dead Rodian, and angling his blade at the mercenary. He spoke loudly, and clearly, announcing his resolution for peace to all of those who were still observing. But Daxel didn't care anything 'bloodshed'; he was not nor had he ever been a man of peace. He was scum and he knew it and that alone made his life all the more rousing. The mercenary answered with a series of blaster shots, each fired off rapidly, and all precisely aimed in his moment of blurred motion. Caden knocked aside the blaster bolts, two of which struck another one of the mercenaries, and another hitting the ground harmlessly. Daxel merely gave off a wicked grin as he continued to fire off round after round of shots at the Jedi, putting space between them as he busied the Padawan enough to keep the man at bay. The other mercenaries appeared to be frozen where they stood, their eyes either locked on to the two of their own who were now dead, or the battle raging before their very eyes.

The decision was an easy one.

They all ran, abandoning their job, and leaving those who had scaled the government building and entered it as well as Daxel who was not bothered one way or the other about their blatant cowardice. "Try to block this one damn Jedi," he murmured as he launched two thermal detonators into the air. Caden jerked and leaped backwards immediately but the almost instantaneous explosion tangled his footing and sent him flying back onto the ground. Daxel was on him before he could even think to move and the mercenary began to pummel him; his now empty fists mashing and beating the Jedi Padawan into a bloody pulp repeatedly. But suddenly his hands beginning to shake uncontrollably, slowly moving around his neck as they did so, and he found himself unable to breath. Daxel attempted to claw at his throat, as useless as the attempt was, and he tried with everything in him to gasp for air. The mercenary looked down into the Jedi's eyes and saw a red hot rage there unlike any wrath he had witnessed before.

That was the last thing he saw.

 

[Arcangel]

Calcus stood in the hallway, lightsaber held ready to defend against the three hired thugs. The panicked secretary behind him made a break for the stairway. Staring down the thugs as they glanced at each other, doubt dawning on their faces. A single bead of sweat dripped down his face as he grasped at the thin hope that they might surrender. The hope was fleeting however as the sound of blaster fire echoed through the building. The thug’s expressions changed from doubt to triumph, grinning as they raised the blasters that just seconds before had been slowly descending, and the cacophony of blaster fire roared within the enclosed space as their guns spat death.

Springing into action Calcus moved his blade in small oscillations, blocking one, two, three bolts in quick succession. A bolt zoomed down the hallway, aimed at the fleeing secretary behind him. Extending his blade out, he blocked the bolt as another singed his shoulder. Pain filled his mind, but he persevered. As he heard the Secretaries footsteps start to descend the stairs he went on the offensive. As the thugs prepared to fire another volley he reached his hand out, using the force to jerk the man in the middle’s blaster down and to the left, just as he pulled the trigger. The left side man roared in pain as he dropped, clutching his thigh, smoke escaping from between his fingers. Before either of the standing thugs could react Calcus charged down the hallway, dropping to his knees and sliding as he swept his blade up at the thug’s blasters. The middleman screamed as the blade swept through his wrist. As the man on the right watched half his blaster clatter into the wall Calcus quickly gained his feet, delivering a powerful uppercut as he stood. The man crumpled to the floor as consciousness left him.

Standing triumphant yet sorrowful at the pain he had caused the men, Calcus had no time to celebrate as he felt a disturbance in the force. Running to the window as he sensed the rage of his fellow Jedi, a feeling of dread filled the pit of his stomach. Reaching the window he looked out to see Caden laying on the ground, bloodied, and one of the mercenaries kneeling above him, holding his own throat. “No!” Calcus yelled a moment too late, as the man’s life fled him and he slumped over.

 

[Noire]

I did that.

That chilling thought was the only thing that filled the young man's head. Caden still lay on the ground, nearly motionless if not for the rapid rise and fall of his chest as he attempted to catch his breath, directly beside Drax's now lifeless body. His face twisted as he grimaced through the pounding headache and wiped away with the sleeve of his tunic the blood running from his nose. He stared into the sky, unwilling to move from where he lie for a moment, unwilling to believe what he had actually done just to save his own life. The reality of it had yet to register. But what had already registered was the fact that, as much as he desired to remain there as he was, at a lost of words over his sudden use of a power that was drawn solely from his anger, he could not. It simply was not an option. There was still innocent people left to be saved, for all he knew, and the Mayor might have been in danger. The Padawan slowly stood back onto his feet, dusting off his clothes, and called his lightsaber back to his hand. He glanced up at the window then, briefly catching the grave look on Calcus's face as he clipped his lightsaber back onto his belt, before kneeling down to check Cliegg's pulse.

It wasn't necessary.

The man was still alive; his constant stirring and dramatic groaning proved he had merely been knocked unconscious and would probably be just fine. Caden rushed into the Town Hall next - leaving Cliegg behind - and approached the Councilors who had began to slowly emerge from their hiding places. "Calcus!" He called out, wanting his fellow Padawan to join him before he began to speak, and would only begin to speak once Calcus came back downstairs. "The threat has been neutralized, Mayor," Caden began with a sigh, "but unfortunately a few were...killed. The other ones were either injured or chose to run away. But there is a man outside, the leader I believe, and he is still unconscious. It's not under my control but I do suggest you arrest him and the others as quickly as possible. Not that they are a threat to your lives any longer, but we can't have them escaping like the others have." Caden said. He bowed, slightly, and turned to the other Padawan once the Councilors began to talk in hushed tones amongst themselves and shook his head.

"I did something that I shouldn't have and I realize you saw it. You probably sensed it too. I made a mistake without thinking and that was all that it was. My anger just took over for a moment. But...thank you, still, Calcus. Without your help this mission might've gone a much, much different way. I do hope we meet again in the future on better terms," Caden said, extending his hand, with a slight grin. He felt awkward speaking as he just had, apologizing in a sense as he explained himself, and wishing to meet a fellow Jedi again on better terms. There was a war being fought after all.