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“The Vagaari, Ebruchi and Ssi-Ruuk bought and sold in equal measure when this was still a slave planet,” growls Keimann. “They kept their distance between the Tof and the Teladi patrolling this area of space.”
“I take it that’s no longer the case. Bastards though they were, the Tof must’ve been a deterrent.”
“Unfortunately. They haven’t been trying to annex star systems, but we’ve had a sharp increase in pirate attacks. Slaves, supplies…whatever they can get their hands on before retreating back to their space before we can mount a response.”
“What about the Chain?”
“Intelligence hasn’t had a chance to get that far, but they’re dormant.” The Supreme Archon then turns to you with his full and undivided attention. “Farren, I have a favor to ask of you.”
Your lips thin. “…I’m willing to listen.”
“I understand that the Jedi are dealing with a crisis. And for that, I completely sympathize and understand your plight. But if you could personally render any aid to the Alliance, I would be exceedingly grateful.”
“But you already have Master Aure and Torok,” you say, puzzled.
He pauses, visibly concentrating to pick the right words to say. “Aure stays here to iron out laws and regulations, and Torok only goes where the Mercantors go. The rest of the Triumvirate are willing to help for major battles, but they’re too busy with their own internal matters.”
You give him a look. “I wouldn’t call training the next generation of Jedi and protecting our future from the Sith to be a mere ‘internal matter’, Keimann.”
“I meant no offense. I’m just merely asking you since you’re not as…committed? You’ve got more freedom than the rest of the Triumvirate to travel the galaxy.”
<span class="mu-i">And I have my own orders to follow. Namely, to find sanctuary for us as well as any other hidden Jedi back in the Empire.</span>
But you don’t say that aloud. “I’m not as free as you think.”
“Duty-bound, I understand. I’m only asking that if you’re in the area, and if you don’t have anything immediately pressing, that you would consider helping. You would be amply rewarded.”
It’s…not quite insulting as much as baffling to think you’d be so mercenary. Jedi aren’t bounty hunters. The order is duty-bound to protect the innocent against the wicked, not only limited to the Sith or practitioners of the Dark Side.
And yet you understand. It was different during the revolution, when you were just worried about getting Kristen, or the freedom of three million people. Now you’ve got your own responsibilities to your own respective factions and people…even if the relations between said people are friendly.
“…I’ll keep it in mind,” you eventually say. “And you can rest assured that if I’m nearby when a distress signal from one of your ships goes out, I’ll come running.”
(cont.)
