Revan and Ailene were presented with due ceremony to the Governor at his office. Honor guards stood at attention on either side of the immaculate blue carpeted hallway leading to the main office, their weapons held in salute. After the fate of the last pair of Jedi to wander into this district, Ailene didn't think of it as much as an honor as it was a prelude to a very violent death.
Revan had adopted not to hood himself again and Ailene could see a frown crease his features.
He probably thinks this is as unnecessary as I do.
They were ushered into an oval room with a plush desk and accroutments decorating every wall. Screens flickered lazily displaying the latest stock market data feeds and local news agencies. Papers and dataslates were abundant at the sides of the room. Various occupants stood around chattling idly but grew quiet at the sight of the new arrivals. A Twi'lek was typing something at a workstation left of the main group and only glanced up briefly before resuming her work. Ailene used this chance to step in front of the group behind the desk.
"Governor, honored representatives, may I present Ambassador Revan of the Jedi Order."
Revan stepped forward next to Ailene and bowed to the collective members in front of him.
"An honor."
The first member to speak among the group huddled behind the desk was a Duros dressed the regala of a high ranking official. The markings on his chest declared him the Governor of Chiron and was the only member sitting. He spoke something in his native Durese tongue. By his tones, it was clear the man was impatient.
Ailene knew that this was a trick the Governor used to throw other people off their footing in negotiations. While Governor Larek Chiel was perfectly capable of speaking Galactic standard, he preferred to talk in his own native tongue and let his advisor translate in meetings such as this. It helped keep his own cards on the table so to speak. Ailene wasn't sure if such a trick was effective, but it did seem to obfuscate the wording of many negotiations and contracts to the governor's advantage.
An extremely portly human standing behind the governor spoke up.
"Greetings ambassador – I am Pavel Soth, advisor to his eminence. The governor bids you welcome to the city and - " He was silenced suddenly by Revan's upraised hand.
"Thank you sir, I understood his meaning well enough."
To everyone's surprise in the room, Revan started talking in the Duros' own language.
"Greeting Governor, I know everyone's time is precious so I will be succinct. The scope of your predicament has been laid before me and I am here to investigate the source of these deaths. Any aid you can provide would be appreciated. Details for example."
Ailene was impressed. In the last meeting with the two Jedi, Soth had spent the whole time dictating Chiel's conversation to Galactic Standard albeit in much more diplomatic terms. Chiel was impatient at the best of times, preferring to close deals as quickly as possible and to his advantage. He had also thrown in some insults that Soth had chosen not to disclose about Jedi being "useless preening hagglers with glowsticks shoved up their arses." Governor Chiel was clearly uncomfortable with this change in development. He wringed his hands nervously, a tick he had acquired over the years in office.
"…Very well sir."
"If I may suggest further, since we are on official Republic business, perhaps it would be best to discuss these matters in Galactic standard."
Chiel made an expression that could have passed as a glare if his species had eyebrows.
"As you wish" he muttered in Galactic Standard
"Perhaps you could show me the location where these attacks originated?" asked Revan switching as well.
At the suggestion from Revan, another man stepped forward. His was stooped and dressed in worker fatigues, a receding hairline evident.
"I can do that sir."
He tapped a few buttons on the governor's command console and a holo map appeared on top of the desk.
"This is the topographical layout of the surrounding region." He indicated a glowing icon. "The city proper and Governor's office is situated here."
Revan scanned the holomap rapidly absorbing the most pertinent information.
"This region to the north of the Governor's office" he pointed at a glowing red contact point.
"Aye that is Torrehn's Square. The initial pirate raids occurred here."
"Am I correct in assuming that is the main trading sector of within the entire city?"
The older man nodded. "You would be right sir. Two weeks ago that was the central market area, where most of the open markets were situated." The older man pursed his lips.
Another man, this one bearing the regalia of law enforcement spoke up. "The bastards landed right in the middle of the damn square in broad daylight, firing indiscriminately. Killed 140 people on the first day."
"Did they take anything? Foodstock, equipment, hostages?"
"Nothing major sir, their intent was clearly to cause as much mayhem as possible."
Revan at walked up closer to the holomap. He assumed a thoughtful posture.
"Indiscriminate slaughter sounds dubious at best, even terrorists would have made demands by now. Has anything been forthcoming?"
The older man shook his head irritably. "No, all we have had to show for our efforts in the last few weeks are reports of raids across the northern district. Our officers have sighted speeders coming in every few days and harassing them. It's like they're taunting us."
At this Chiel rose to his feet.
"And that is why we commissioned the Jedi Council to deal with this-this irritance! But your predecessors have been more than useless. They didn't even manage to kill any of the filth terrorizing our streets!"
As expressionless as his species were, he was doing a pretty good job of looking like a constipated frog.
Revan pointedly ignored this outburst and addressed the man who was still manning the hololith.
"Where did Master Vel'shar and his apprentice go after they reached planetside?"
"Up north even more sir, to the rural area." He indicated a wide area on the hololith with no discernable landmarks.
"It looks like only grasslands in that area."
"That it is sir. But the local law enforcements that engaged the raiders reported that every time they disengaged, they would fall back in a northern direction. Master Vel'shar thought it prudent to investigate further in that area."
"And that is where they disappeared and have not been heard from since." Revan stated flatly.
"Yes sir. Well we found their guide…but he was a bloody mess."
Ailene forced down an unvoluntary shudder.
"And since then? Have the raiders harassed the city after their disappearance?"
"Not directly sir, since we doubled the rotation and put everyone on high alert, they've restricted their activity to isolated raids on transports leaving the city. Only the most lightly protected conveys are attacked."
Revan nodded but did not reply. Ailene noticed he was fingering some sort of control device in his hand as he paced around the desk. He was looking at it periodically as if expecting some sort of message any time soon. Finally he stopped walking and addressed the officer again.
"Are there any images captured of the assailants? Victims?"
"Victims we have plenty sir. As for the assailants, reports say they were dressed in dull red armor and were masked. Number dispositions around 10-15 at any given raid …but taking pictures in the middle of a pitched firefight seems suicidal at best sir."
The Jedi smiled indulgingly at his words. "Victims bodies will suffice for now then."
The officer stepped forward to show him several dataslates. Ailene had already seen the contents and shuddered at the memory. These bastards didn't have the common decency to let a corpse lie where they fell
Revan observed the images without expression.
"Stabbing seems to be their preferred method of execution. As opposed to say…a clean blaster shot. My officers say they saw groups of these savages run down bystanders on their speeders, just to jump down and stab them viciously for several seconds before finding some other poor sod to abuse."
Chiel interrupted Revan's musings again with a sharp impatient sigh. "Now that you are up to date on the particulars what do you plan to do? I cannot have these … inconveniences constantly filling up my timetable. Every minute we stand here idly chattering like magpies is credits being flushed down the maintenance shaft!"
At this Revan turned abruptly to face the governor face to face. He adopted a glare then that was perhaps one of the most chilling things Ailene had seen. His eyes looked like two black pits of death and his sharp features heightened the level of intimidation. The governor jerked back suddenly as if he had seen a particular nasty apparition.
Revan's voice was low and measured when he spoke but the threat behind his words permeated the room like lethal gas.
"These 'incoveniences' governor have killed hundreds of your civilians, people who are under your protection. I would be less concerned about the financial status of your city and more worried about the final death toll before this crisis is over." Revan's glare made it clear who he would want to string up before this whole ordeal was done with.
No-one in the room dared to speak back in response to the intimidating presence. Ailene realized she was holding her breath and had to take quick quiet gasps of air so not to disturb the scene. Belatedly she remembered also to make a quick check that she hadn't soiled herself.
"As to what I plan to do" continued Revan. "I plan to uncover the source of these raiders and bring swift justice to their misbegotten hides. Let your law enforcements show mercy to these bastards if there are any left after I am done with them."
The Jedi turned to the two useful members of the meeting so far.
"Gentlemen, if you would allow it I would ask for your assistance in the next few hours as I prepare the resources I need for this expedition."
The two men nodded somewhat nervously.
"It would be an honor ambassador" said the officer.
"Thank you" said Revan formally. "My apologies I have not asked for your names."
"Kessler Daal Head of Chiron law enforcement sir" said the officer sketching a sharp salute.
"Tarken Erssavel, resident head engineer" said the older man giving a shallow bow.
Revan turned to the equerry who at this point was trying to become invisible.
"Ailene, if it is okay with you, could you help me with the upcoming preparations?"
"Of course" said Ailene As long as it doesn't lead to my sudden unpleasant demise
Ailene briefly thought about asking the governor for permission, but the Duros was too busy looking like fully whipped child. His gaze didn't move from his desk and posture was hunched and defeated.
Revan gestured for Ailene to lead the way and all four members left the governor's office.
In the hours since the meeting in the governor's office, Revan had walked around the compound talking with various people to acquire equipment. He had requisitioned another speeder as well as food supplies for his expedition. At one point Lieutenant Daal had asked Revan who he intended to bring with him.
"I can give you a detachment of local officers to follow you. Might help out since the last bunch of Jedi to meander out of the city didn't do anything constructive, begging your pardon sir."
"Thank you but no. I would be honored though if Ailene would agree to accompany me on this little jaunt."
Ailene's heart had seized up at those words. Flashbacks to the horribly mutilated corpse from the images flared back. Not for all the credits in the Republic!
In truth she really couldn't say no. As the governor's equerry she had been more or less told to help the Jedi ambassador in whatever capacity he needed. Although she thought following him on suicidal missions was beyond the parameters of those orders. It was either go to a likely horrifying death or be reprimanded or possibly fired and blacklisted for refusing to follow the governor's orders. At that moment she wasn't sure which outcome was more appealing.
"I-I would be happy to help" Ailene muttered in tones that suggested the exact opposite.
"Are you sure sir?" Asked Kessler dubiously. "No offense intended to the equerry but she looks like she doesn't even know which end of a blaster to hold on to."
"I understand your concern Lieutenant but it is not force of arms that I need, but a stalwart soul who is familiar with the surrounding terrain and who I can count on." Revan smiled at Ailene. "And I've believe we make a fairly good team, wouldn't you agree?"
Ailene was sure she had no idea what Revan was talking about as the only thing they had done together was ride a speeder to the governor's office with Revan making Ailene wish she was in another sector of the galaxy.
Revan saw the expression on Ailene's face and turned to face her again.
"I understand your concern. The last person to follow a Jedi on their expedition ended up a bloody smear and afterthought in a forsaken part of this planet. But I will say this to you now as a Knight of the Republic and as a person of honor." Ailene and Kessler both started in surprise as Revan knelt before the equerry.
"I swear on my life and by the Force itself that no harm will befall you while you travel with me and I draw breath on this expedition."
Ailene honestly didn't know what to say. It wasn't every day that a Jedi Knight knelt before you and declared a holy oath to defend you. At that moment she felt a little like a damsel in one of those childhood stories. Revan obviously knew that too because he was looking at her expectantly to say something.
Well the loophole to that oath would obviously be if you died, you're under no obligation to protect me.
Eventually Ailene managed to gather her wits enough to say. "Then I can't imagine how I can say no." She smiled tremulously as Revan rose to his feet again.
"Well that was suitably dramatic." Remarked Kessler.
"I thought so too." Said Revan with a ghost of a smile.
