Ask Nar Shaddaa Too Loud to Talk

[Talak Rand]

Sometimes it felt to Talak like there were "default" planets in the galaxy. Places where everything of significance seemed to happen or where - sometimes for no apparent reason - galactic events were shaped. Nar Shaddaa had always struck him as one of those worlds. Perhaps his perspective was biased by the fact that most of his life had been spent hunting down criminals for either the Jedi or as a vigilante, but the fact that those criminals had a much heavier hand in shaping the galaxy than he would like lent credence to the idea that this planet was important.

Add to that the fact that he was familiar with it and he knew that it was Hannibal's stomping ground, and it made this world a logical one to meet up on. You could get lost in the crowds without any effort.

Talak sat in a booth in a bar in the lower districts. The bustle of people was all around and obnoxious music was playing. But this bar was where he and Hannibal had sat down when they were still enemies. The Arcanist and the Jedi. How far they had come since then. He sipped the whiskey from his glass as he watched people flailing around on the dance floor. Did that guy really think that looked good? At least he had... confidence. Talak had to give him that.

He pulled out his datapad and started scrolling through some of the reports of crimes in the area. Of course, on Nar Shaddaa that was a joke, but some crimes were considered bad even here. Those were the ones that sometimes got noticed. If the crime lords didn't take care of it themselves. He figured there was something in the area to work on. If he didn't want to investigate the virus problem that seemed to continue here.

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

Things in the wider galaxy had a funny way of working out in strange and unexpected ways, didn't they? Not all that long ago Hannibal distinctly remembered having a debate with the Arcanist in this very bar. They were even still playing the same music set as before, the cheapskates. These days Talak had retired the creepy masks, at least as far as Hannibal knew, and seemed to be trying to murder people less often. At the very least he wasn't blowing up warehouses, anyway. The interaction between the two of them hadn't left Hannibal unaffected either, especially considering the fate of Sol Puara. But the young Jedi certainly wasn't unhappy about not having to fight someone like Talak as an enemy under the current galactic circumstances.

Hannibal blended in well with the lower district crowd for the most part, though he had the look of someone visiting from elsewhere on 'business'. He wore the trappings of a person who may or may not be a professional hitman or fixer, a leather jacket over a button up with black trousers and his usual gloves, but they were in fairly good shape. This sort of get up usually kept people from bothering him, which was precisely the point. He didn't doubt his well-used RSKF slung on his hip helped in that regard.

The young Jedi strode up to the booth Talak was seated at, recognizing him by what he felt like in the Force before his actual appearance. He slipped into the opposite side of the booth and moved the ash tray over to his side before placing his pack of cigarras on the table along with a glass of familiar green liquor he'd gotten from the bar on the way over. He got to lighting one of the cigarras, taking a drag and exhaling a cloud of smoke out of the booth before he spoke.

"Yo. How's it hangin'?" he asked with his usual air, smirk already formed on his face, though one might notice it was a little stiff as compared to usual. "Place hasn't changed much, eh?"

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak could sense Hannibal's approach before he saw him, but it was only a moment later that he spotted his fellow Jedi. That was a weird statement that still didn't come naturally to him.

No, it doesn't seem to have changed, he said glancing around. The place was not really very nice, but it had somehow ended up being the place for their little meet ups.

Talak cast an eye down at the drink that his friend had ordered and motioned to it with his hand.

What's with you and the bright foo-foo drinks, he asked, with a straight face though it was really more of a joke.

We need to get you on something more real, he added, tapping his own glass for emphasis. @Mr. Teatime

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

Hannibal raised an eyebrow at Talak, a grin forming on his face. "Foo-foo? This green stuff is Cilare bourbon my man. Real smooth, real strong." He took a sip of his drink and leaned back in the seat, propping his legs up atop the table just like the last time they'd both been here. "Besides, any cocktail worth it's salt rim should have a decent alcohol content regardless."

Kidding aside, Talak didn't usually wander into these kinds of places. That was really more a Hannibal thing. It let him listen in on the general vibe of the undercities and pick up rumours. The young Jedi had adapted almost shockingly well to Talak's change from Sith to Jedi, and his easy acceptance of it had been questioned just as surely as their fellow Jedi kept Talak away from the young and impressionable most days. But to Hannibal it was only natural. People lie, but the Force never did, and Talak seemed to be giving being a Jedi his honest best. So he was trusted, plain and simple. Not to mention, Hannibal was fairly certain Talak's girlfriend would literally kill him if he changed his mind again.

"So. What brings you back here, my stoic friend? Suddenly taken a liking to neon lights and heavy bass?"

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak quirked an eyebrow skeptically at the man's explanation and then flicking a glance down at the drink.

I don't know, man. Looks pretty foo-foo to me, he said. Of course, if it really was what Hannibal said - and Talak had no reason to believe it wasn't - then he suppose he couldn't argue.

As the conversation moved to what brought Talak here, he moved right into the thought.

Just kicking the old crime lord murder fetish that we former Sith have, he said, deadpan enough to make it unclear whether or not he was joking. Hannibal certainly knew very well about Talak's violent past, and some of those habits were very deeply ingrained.

I take it you've been ruining their plans as usual. Maybe I'll be able to lure you out to make trouble later, he said with a shrug. He could keep Talak's worst impulses in check.

So how is the life of a "Jedi Master?" What did you have to do to get that? he asked. He had been a Warden of the Dark Side before joining the Jedi, but he couldn't imagine the requirements to move up to Warden were the same as moving up to Master.

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

The young Jedi just grinned at Talak across the table. Had he developed a sense of humor after switching sides? Redemption really was possible! Not had Talak previously been something strongly resembling a Dark side murder-hobo, but he's also been stoic enough that Hannibal had essentially assaulted him with his own sense of humor. He liked to think it contributed to his choice to abandon the Sith, if only in jest.

"That all depends on bait, man," he replied to the other man's suggestion of causing trouble. The crime lords and gangs on Nar Shaddaa generally could do with a good kick in the teeth, and Hannibal liked to hit them right in the money. Credits were all that really bound them all together in the end, and mooks that didn't get paid didn't work.

"It's a lot like before except the Council actually bothers to pay attention to what I'm doing. I couldn't tell you how I managed it. Something about self-reflection and improvement, maybe?" He shrugged and took a sup of his drink. "Or maybe I'm just good at my job? I didn't ask." In reality it was due to Hannibal having solidified his attunement to the Light and going through a variety of trials the Council had decided would count, but honestly, he'd just been busy trying to help people.

"I know there are traditionally trials or something to go through. Apparently I didn't need to take a padawan first, though."

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak considered what Hannibal said. He knew he was just being modest and that he was actually quite a competent Jedi, even if he was a bit unconventional. But the entire Order struck him as unconventional compared to their old, "traditional" ways that they apparently held to in the past.

Padawans and trial and all that jazz was something Talak wasn't sure about. It was so... different than what he was used to. But he wondered if the impact he might be able to make would be hindered by his own Knighthood. Probably best not to think about it.

But who was he kidding, he was going to think about it.

I have something I want to ask you, he said, pausing and frowning for a moment.

Do you think the Jedi are being too passive in this war with the Sith? he asked. It was obvious based on his question what he thought the answer was, but he also had... well, he had an idea.

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

The young Jedi hummed softly to himself, a chest-heavy vibrato barely audible over the bassy background beat. A slow song he'd heard well over a year ago on Nar Shaddaa. Ah, it was best not to get caught up in those memories. Probably not healthy. Also, Talak was saying something about the Jedi.

Hannibal zoned back in as Talak spoke, a small grin forming on his face. Did he think the Jedi were being too passive? Of course he did. Even if he had admonished Talak for blowing up warehouses and slaughtering through Hutt palaces, he had been actively tracking him down. Hannibal had always been proactive about solving problems, even more so after the prison. Even the strongest shield was eventually worn down by conflict, after all. He leaned back, exhaling a cloud of cigarra smoke into the dimly lit air above them.

"I do. Protecting is important, but defense also means striking an opponent before they can seize the initiative." Talak would probably get it, a tenet of the saber form they both favoured. While Hannibal also preferred to wait for the opponent to leave an opening to pressure, he also tended to bait them into those mistakes.

"If we just keep defending, innocents die, and they gain momentum. Unacceptable. Why?"

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak was glad to hear he hadn't misjudged the situation, and that gave him some hope for the Jedi still. They were always so passive.

Because we can't be the only two, right? he asked. Surely they weren't the only two Jedi who were interested in being proactive against the Sith. Driving the Empire back and protecting the free worlds.

I want to call on the Jedi. Get an attack force together. Maybe even build something of an army. A quick reaction force and resistance movement, he said, throwing out the idea to see what Hannibal's thoughts were. He wasn't even sure that he would be able to get any traction with the others, but he could hope. And that wasn't enough reason for him to stop.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

Hannibal's grin shifted into something impish all the way tot he eyes, and perhaps even slightly unsettling compared to his normal levity. He could feel it when people suffered, when people were angry or sad, when people died. Moreso than others, even when he was little. He'd practically soaked himself in it working on Nar Shaddaa, grown used to the chaos of life and even turned it into a kind of meditation. People passed away, starved, struggled, and despaired all the time, there was no doubt about that. But the death and destruction unleashed by the Sith was both unnatural and devastating. Hannibal could sense the panic in the air, sharp, yellow, red, keening, the sensation of ants crawling beneath his skin and the sound of distant screams. It was unacceptable.

The young Jedi reasserted himself a few moments later, though the expression remained in place at least superficially. "I doubt we are. Wouldn't that be sad, eh? Thousands die and the former Sith and the radical are the only ones that want to do preventative work, hah!" Hannibal took a slow, long drag off his cigarra, blew the smoke away, and took a sip of his drink. Yes, something needed to be done. The Sith needed to to be shown their actions would not go uncontested.

"There's a holocron I've been looking for," he began, pausing a moment to gather his words properly. "In it I think might be some information that could be useful. Related to an old group of the Jedi called the Shadows. Hunters of Sith from what I've read." Not to mention the holocron potentially held the training regiment for the Shadows, which was what Hannibal really wanted. The young Jedi had always needed to prepare himself to fight, shutting out the sensations of others and significant emotional response in order to do it at all. It's pretty difficult to introduce someone to the business end of a lightsaber if one gets feedback from the whole experience, emotions and all. For him it was standard, it was necessary. But other Jedi apparently didn't need to take that step, and honestly Hannibal had no idea how to teach it without some outside input. It was like teaching someone how to breath.

"I'd appreciate your help." He was asking genuinely. Max was the only other person who really knew what Hannibal had been up to regarding the Shadows. Talak was also someone Hannibal trusted and considered a friend, and he really would appreciate his help.

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak could tell that wherever Hannibal went for that moment, he was both far away and somewhere entirely unpleasant. He knew the look all too well, and he didn't envy his friend.

Wouldn't be shocking, he grumbled. That had been Talak's great gripe against the Jedi when he was running around as the Arcanist as well. Nar Shaddaa was a planet that existed and ran almost exclusively on crime, and yet it was allowed to continue. The Jedi did too little. While he'd seen that improve, he still felt they had a long way to go.

Talak frowned and nodded as he listened to Hannibal. The Shadows were something he'd heard of before, and was at least passingly familiar with. It certainly seemed like the type of thing the Jedi would benefit from right now. His own intention was going to be to raise an army or call out the other Jedi in the Order, and he would still probably do that, but a sect devoted to hunting Sith and purging the Dark Side. That sounded extremely useful.

Absolutely, he said after a moment. He was fully on board with furthering this idea, though something tugged at the back of his mind.

From my understanding, these Shadows also investigate corruption among the Jedi, don't they? And themselves? Their paths often took them closer to the Dark than most thought wise, but perhaps that was where they needed someone to keep watch over them.

I do fear that some Jedi - if we walk the path of war - may... stray, he said bluntly. He knew it could happen, and he knew how strong that pull could be. Perhaps the Shadows could help bring those who were struggling back into the Light as well. Or perhaps not. If that failed, they needed to be ready to do what was necessary. @Mr. Teatime

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

The young Jedi sighed softly, leaning forward with his elbow on the table and his cheek resting in his upturned palm. Yes, war. It was bound to happen eventually, and Jedi were going to be involved one way or another. History repeats itself after all, and it had happened countless times before. They needed to be ready.

"From what I've found so far, that is the case. Any influence of the Dark was found and dealt with, and they had some particular talents in countering the influence of the Dark Side and its wielders. I think I've touched on some of it, but I doubt I could figure it out on my own. I certainly couldn't teach it, and this isn't a path I will take myself or others on without preparing for it."

It hadn't happened in a century, but Hannibal also suspected some Jedi would stray. The Dark Side was referred to as the 'easy' path because its power was drawn from the powerful emotions and passions of the living. Anger, fear, and hatred were all natural reactions of most species. The Light required calm and purity of intent, difficult things to train much less maintain in active combat. He'd already seen inklings of certain Jedi who lacked the training or discipline to maintain their focus, in his own opinion at least.

"I agree. I'd like to be optimistic but I fear such an outcome is inevitable. War is the worst the chaos of life has to offer. Which is why I am glad of your help. I see you trying your best, y'know. It's a good path, and I think your input and experience would be invaluable. But first, the holocron. I don't think this can be rushed."

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak nodded. He was glad that someone else was of like mind. Sometimes it felt like there was no one else interested in stepping up, and that was a frustrating feeling.

Well, I'm interested in helping get this underway, he said, honestly as his mind turned toward what would be done to make that happen. If the Jedi walked a dangerous path then that would be a risk they had to take. They were always on a dangerous path, one could say.

What do you know about the holocron? Any ideas on where to find it or how to get it? he asked, always one for action over simply waiting for something to fall into his lap.

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

Hannibal's fingers tapped idly against the table, dropping cigarra ash into the tray. He had a plan, it just needed to get done properly. His thoughts turned to the unexpected developments in the temple on Tython, a mess if there ever was one. They would need to be prepared for more surprises on the next expedition.

"Good. We retrieved coordinates from an old temple recently that should lead us to it. Things should be ready to go soon. Best be ready, eh?" he grinned across the table at Talak. The former Sith had certainly been busy since switching sides, continuing his work in a somewhat more wholesome manner from what he'd heard. It was a good step, but the Dark was insidious and stubborn. The young Master tilted his head slightly as he looked at Talak, considering something.

"But how have you been?"

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak got the impression that Hannibal wasn't ready to go into all the details of his plan yet, or perhaps that was just Talak reading into things, so he dropped the issue with a nodded agreement that they should be better.

Similarly, however, he got the impression there was more to Hannibal's question and questioning look than the question alone let on.

Talak didn't say anything for a moment. In part because in his core, he wasn't sure he liked being a Jedi. Or maybe he just didn't feel like he fit. He didn't trust himself, he didn't trust his fellow Jedi, and they didn't trust him. It was complicated.

I've been transitioning, he said after a moment. Even recently, on Gamorr, he had given into darkness if only briefly as a result of a threat on Trys. He knew he would do it again if she were in danger. He had yet to figure out how to balance that, and he wasn't leaping at the opportunity to talk about it. He knew that it wasn't going to change no matter how much meditation he did.

Being a Jedi isn't a comfortable fit, he finally said honestly, draining the remnant of his drink and waving over one of the waiting droids for another. Fortunately, his glass had been nearly empty already.

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

"Transitioning" didn't sound super great, but it also didn't sound awful. Hannibal figured the change wouldn't exactly be easy taking into account the nature of the Dark Side. It certainly didn't help that the current generation of Jedi weren't familiar with converts from the Sith. Talak was the first one, and brought it with it distrust and suspicion from many Jedi. Hannibal thought they just didn't trust the Force enough to perceive the obvious, but good luck convincing them of that.

The Jedi Master finished his drink off as Talak did, if only to keep up, and added a refill to Talak's order. He thought for a little while, contemplating his words amidst a cloud of cigarra smoke.

"Knowing what you do about the Dark Side, how do you think Jedi are able to fight and kill?" he finally asked, left hand snaking out to retrieve his second glass of bourbon. Just like the last time the two of them were here, there was more to the question than the question itself. It was the kind of thing Hannibal offered on the rare occasions he was teaching to get a person to think and come up with their answer coloured by their own views. Hannibal often found it was easier to grasp a concept if someone came up with it on their own. That and Talak was a grown man and Hannibal wasn't going to just give him random advice without knowing what he was thinking or going through.

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak thought about the question that Hannibal asked, but didn't say anything for a moment. Not because he had no idea of the answer, but because it wasn't a simple answer. He had considered it since coming to the Jedi almost nonstop. His own views on killing were still colored by his history with the Sith, and although he recognized that some of his measures he'd taken as a Sith were wrong, he still wasn't convinced that the Jedi were wholly right either.

It's a mixed issue, he said. He had searched some of the Jedi teachings on the topic, but because of all the history lost during the Purge all those years ago, he'd found the information on the topic to be sparse and unsatisfactory. Even during the Clone Wars - a prime example of Jedi in war - they had been fighting droids, not sentients. There were wars between Jedi and Sith before but the exact history of how combat was conducted was also sparse and contradictory at times.

I often hear that if it's the only option - self defense for instance - it's acceptable, he said before frowning.

That's a very safe answer to the question, but I'm unconvinced it's the right or best answer to "when is killing acceptable," he said. And it was true. While only self-defense and "no choice" killing was probably the best way to ensure that nothing ever went wrong with the Dark Side, corruption wasn't the only danger in the galaxy. The safest for the Jedi may not be the best for the galaxy. Thus the conundrum.

Sith tend to kill for power... he said, pausing again, frowning and then shaking his head, rejecting the word he had chosen.

...no, control, he said. People like him hadn't killed just so that he would gain personal power. He had killed for control. Control that could prevent something evil, but control nonetheless. And those who killed for power were simply killing for a different facet of control.

Jedi kill for other reasons, he said, though he wasn't sure if he had a single word for their reason. Defense seemed the most applicable, but he wasn't convinced that fully encompassed the reasons.