Servants, dock workers, and droids flooded the lower levels of the Coruscant Spaceport, each executing the agenda of someone still sleeping in a soft bed. Activity rushed through every inch of the immaculately polished corridors. The laborers carried baggage, fueled spacecraft, inspected engines, shuttled important cargo, and cleared debris from all flight zones. With such pressing tasks demanding immediate attention, efficiency eclipsed courtesy. A sporadic merchant rushed through the concourse to make a shuttle, but the droids and servants numbered in the thousands. Machinery churned as different colored lights blinked their alerts to droids that needed no such warnings. The upper classes began their days later, and when they did the brusque demands of morning would transform into polite entreaties. Mustali, determined to get to the private hanger of the Alderaan noble on time, started his day early, and wormed his way through the active throng. He couldn't stand the embarrassment of making someone wait for him.
After Master Ucitelj left the previous evening, Mustali read the mission details repeatedly, searching for some sense of its purpose. The undertaking remained an enigma to the Jedi. House Rist from Alderaan had built themselves a vast garden on their opulent estate. At the center of this garden, they would place one of the rarest flowers in the galaxy, an iridescent pink orchid that only grew in the dense forests of Ryloth. The orchid produced a nectar which, when properly refined, cured the worst of diseases. A small change in refining process, and this same nectar turned into a potent poison or an intensely addictive narcotic. These last two uses guaranteed that the so-called Dark Orchid never left Ryloth without a Jedi escort. The flower's bite came from metabolizing the harsh chemicals on Ryloth, giving the authorities of the Republic an excuse to allow its transplant under certain circumstances. After a few weeks on an alien world, the flower would morph into an innocuous Milk Orchid. Mustali couldn't understand why a family with enough power to make such arrangements would go to all the trouble of transplanting a flower only to watch it pale.
Questioning those he chaperoned didn't suit Mustali, though. He snaked his way to the elevators and took a moment to collect his thoughts. Distant machines hummed their ubiquitous song in the nearly empty upper levels. Mustali used this soft hum to clear his head of any questions. After a few minutes' walk, he entered the small private hanger to inspect the chariot that would chaperon him to his ancestral home. The stark white ship stood proudly against the gleaming ebony surfaces of the hanger, its soft curves implying a feminine regality. The Jedi couldn't imagine the cost of housing and maintaining a ship such as this, let alone what it would take to purchase. He inspected the ship from all angles to find any weakness in the design. None showed themselves. Master Ido walked up to the ship's gangplank and waited patiently for the lord from Alderaan, Lord Rydowar Coedinian Ganwynan Rist. A silver protocol droid walked down the gangplank and approached the Jedi.
"Hello," the droid said politely, "My name is IK01. I will be accompanying you on this journey. Are you Master Mustali Ido of the Jedi Order?"
"I am. Good to meet you IK01."
"Thank you, Master Jedi. You may enter the ship and make yourself more comfortable if you wish. Lord Rist prefers a more casual atmosphere for his guests."
"No thank you, IK01. I'll wait for the lord here. I'm no guest."
"Of course, Master Ido. Please accept my apology. I only meant to extend the warmest of welcomes from Lord Rist. If there is anything you need, I'll be onboard in the saloon."
"Thank you, IK01." Master Ido bowed, returned to standing at perfect attention, and waited.
In deference to Master Ocitelj's request, Mustali had done no research on the Alderaan noble or his family. Performing even the most cursory of searches would have revealed House Rist's reputation as criminals. The family built their fortune by trading unsavory information they gathered on the noble families they worked for. Trading in secrets soon turned to assassinating powerful members of warring factions, and the family became a powerful instrument in the many wars between Jedi and Sith. Rumors swirled around how many accidental deaths bore the lethal characteristics of Rist hands. With their reputation secure, they branched out into other criminal enterprises, and although their exploits were daring, no evidence ever pointed a direct accusation their way. Their wealth grew so vast that even the peace loving nobility of Alderaan could not ignore them. With purchased titles and lands, they refashioned themselves aristocrats. A noble family from Alderaan carried weight in the galaxy, even with newly bought titles. Mustali remained ignorant of this background; studying the major houses of Alderaan would not cover House Rist, and the Jedi did not expose padawan learners to the criminal underworld. The Jedi agreed to escort a dark orchid from one planet to another, nothing more.
Mustali watched early morning shadows disappear and the Coruscant sky come alive with vehicles as he waited. Facing forward, he did not notice the light of day turn the ship's hull from white to a dazzling mother of pearl finish. When the brightness of late morning almost reached its peak, the hanger door opened, and a tall figure strode through.
Lord Rydowar Coedinian Ganwynan Rist cut a striking sillhouete he walked towards the ship. His long strides bore the easy grace of a powerful man. At over two meters tall, he towered over Mustali with a dark chestnut crown of curls that managed to appear both well-groomed and messy. Although muscular, his cheeks still held a doughy pudginess, softening his hard grey eyes. Soft supple lips added a sensuality to his face that drove many a proper lady from Alderaan to lewd thoughts. Adorned in only the finest textiles, Lord Rist presented himself in deep plum, the chosen tone of House Rist. Lord Rydowar Coedinian Ganwynan Rist embodied all of his family's lofty ambitions.
Lord Rist approached Master Ido, looked him in the eye, and froze. The intense violet in Mustali's large doe-like eyes stunned the young lord into submission; his carefree smirk flattened as he unconsciously tried to breathe. A pregnant pause lingered in the air. Speeder engines hummed in the background and their shadows flew across Lord Rist's eyes, but he remained hypnotized by the beauty in front of him. Jedi Master Ido could feel a lascivious pulsing in the handsome lord's mind, but he didn't understand it. Mustali dismissed this awkwardness, figuring that the man came straight from a brothel with some unsavory thoughts lingering in his consciousness. This also explained the lord's extreme tardiness, Mustali mistakenly assumed.
"Lord Rist?" Mustali finally spoke, breaking the spell.
"Yes. I'm sorry, yes. That's me." Lord Rist extended his hand for Mustali to shake. "Please, call me Coedi." Coedi flashed a warm smile after regaining his senses.
"Good to meet you, Coedi. My name is Mustali Ido." The Jedi Master extended his arm forward. Coedi wrapped a large hand around one of Mustali's small delicate ones. He brushed his thumb lightly over the soft flesh between Mustali's thumb and forefinger. Electricity tore through both men. Mustali immediately withdrew his hand thinking that his heart had stopped. He tried not to return Lord Rist's stare.
"Master Ido. Mustali? They sound so formal. Is there a name your friends call you?"
"I don't mean to be rude, but I don't understand."
"I don't like to stand on ceremony. We're going to be spending a few days together, so why not make them comfortable? All these titles get a bit cumbersome, don't they?"
"Ali," Master Ido offered.
"Ali? Nice. I like that. Well, let's get aboard and get out of here, Ali. I think we're running late as is." Coedi's heavy leather boots clomped up the gangplank and disappeared into the ship. Ali hesitated a moment to catch his breath, then followed Coedi onto the ship.
The ship flaunted her elegant design as soon as she was entered. Polished white polymer glowed from all angles. A series of optical illusions made every hall appear to go on forever. No right angles presented themselves and machinery only appeared if requested verbally. Ali walked through halls with no idea where he was headed. The aesthetic kept his eyes busy, studying the curves of every wall.
"I'm back here in the saloon," Coedi called out without being asked. Ali followed the voice to a sitting area decorated in the newest styles. The white leather furniture displayed a sense of fashion unrecognized by Jedi. Coedi sat himself comfortably on a couch corner and beckoned Ali to join him. A table sprouted from the floor like a plant in front of the couch. Ali sat at the other end of the elegantly shaped table. As he did, IK01 walked in carrying a large tray of food.
"Eat with me, Ali," Coedi demanded. "I haven't had my first meal yet."
"I've already eaten, thanks," Ali declined.
"C'mon, don't make me eat alone. Just grab something. We need something to distract us when we jump to light speed. I'm sorry. Where are my manners? Ali, this is Ike. Ike, Ali."
"We met before you arrived," Ali smiled, a bit embarrassed at stating the obvious.
"Good. I don't feel so rude then. Ike, let's get this ship going. Please have the pilot take us into orbit, then on to Ryloth."
"As you wish, my lord," IK01 responded.
"Please grab something to eat, Ali. Try this ardor fruit. It's amazing. Trust me," Coedi pleaded.
Ali reluctantly grabbed the smooth saffron colored fruit from the platter. Coedi piled heaps of food onto his plate and began to eat. Ali tried to gently peel the piece of fruit, but sticky juice burst all over his hand.
"Oh, you can't be tame with those. You got to just bite into the thing. They're messy, but worth it," Coedi said with a bit of mischief in his eyes.
Ali took a bite of the soft flesh and discovered a sweetness he'd never imagined. The new flavor dumbfounded the Jedi's palate. Ali barely needed to chew the buttery pulp for it to melt in his mouth. He made short work of the fruit despite his lack of hunger.
Neither passenger felt the ship take off. A mild tipping backwards signaled the jump to light speed.
"Away we go!" Coedi smiled from ear to ear. Ali tried offering up small grin, but held back. The morning had disturbed a delicate equilibrium embedded deep within his psyche. He felt as though any reaction too extreme in front of Coedi would fling the most fragile pieces of himself into the cold vacuum outside.
Ali patiently listened to Coedi speak about himself. He told Ali about his family and where he lived. Coedi told Ali the story of his father's death early in his life and how this made his mother the de facto leader of the house, even though the title of Lord Rist belonged to him. Nobody would view Coedi as the true leader of the family until he married and started a family. He described the new gardens his mother had built, and how she moved a mountain to give the family a perfectly symmetrical view from the palace. The designer had created a perfect spot to showcase the dark orchid, making it the prized gem in the gardens. The flower losing its brilliance did not concern Lord Rist nor his mother. All of Alderaan would envy the beauty of the new gardens, and once the flower faded they would find another piece to put in its place.
Without finishing most of what he had served himself, Coedi slid his plate away and summoned IK01 to clear the table.
"Listen to me, Master Ido. I've spent all of this time talking about myself," Coedi finally mentioned.
"I don't mind," Ali offered. No topic seemed as boring as himself.
"Oh, come on. You don't have tell me your whole life story. Just humor me with a few details."
"I'm a Jedi, Lord Rist."
"Coedi. Please."
"I'm a Jedi, Coedi. There isn't much to say," Ali offered a sheepish chuckle. He had never really socialized outside of the Jedi order.
"Do you have a favorite opera?" Coedi asked with more tenderness.
"The few I've seen were way too serious for me."
"A comedy then? What about the gender farces of Voltath?" Coedi pressed.
"We'd never be allowed to watch anything that bawdy," Ali tried to explain.
"How would you know they were bawdy?" Coedi offered a sly grin.
"Maybe I read something I shouldn't have," Ali admitted. He laughed heartily, feeling at ease for the first time since Coedi had pierced his eyes.
Ali expounded a bit about growing up as a Jedi and how intensive the work is until your trials; with all the time devoted to training, little remained for the arts and other leisurely activities. Coedi felt a deep sense of pity for the Jedi, but Ali read his sympathetic look as boredom. Ali stopped talking. Coedi sensed that he did something to stop the conversation, but didn't know what. The charming lord from Aleraan stood.
"I apologize for my rudeness, Master Ido, but we should be getting ready for our arrival on Ryloth. I can't greet a new planet looking like I've just woken up."
Ali looked down at his plain muslin garments with new ardor fruit stains on the sleeves. Coedi Rist wore custom made garments of expensive fabrics, but they apparently weren't good enough.
"I'll have Ike show you to your cabin. We'll see you when we land." With that, Coedi left Ali sitting alone with sticky fingers. IK01 entered and led Jedi Master Ido to the cabin on the ship assigned to him. Having never had a cabin of his own before, he didn't know what to do once he walked in. He knelt on the floor and mediated, contemplating what awaited him on Ryloth.
After some time, Ali felt the ship lurch ever so slightly. He opened his eyes, realizing that they had arrived in the Ryloth system. He walked out to the saloon and found Lord Rist sitting by himself. Lord Rist's new outfit bordered on the ridiculous. Black leather boots of the softest leather stood out as the only piece not deep plum in color. He wore pants that puffed out around the thighs, a velvet doublet trimmed with satin and studded with glowing purplish stones, and an egg shaped cape that seemed to mold to one side of his body. A pear shaped hat made from the hide of some poor beast sat easily over his thick curls. Coedi wore it all with the relaxed confidence of a prince.
"I wondered if you were going to sleep through our arrival," Lord Rist said with a smile.
"I was meditating."
"You'll have to teach me the difference one of these days." Coedi waited for a laugh. "Oh, come on. I don't even get a little chuckle for that? Jedi are a tough crowd."
"I don't mean to be unfriendly," Ali admitted without pretense.
"No, please don't take me that seriously. I'm only trying to start some bantering." Coedi's smile could light up any room in the galaxy. Ali had no choice but to smile back. Coedi stood and walked over to the Ali, his chest level with Ali's eyes.
"OK. Time to put on our business faces. The Twi'lek will be expecting a stately lord from Alderaan and an intense Jedi." Coedi made his best serious face for Ali. Ali tried to stop smiling, but couldn't. Ali sensed a nervous energy swell in his noble companion, betraying his confident words. Both felt the ship gently settle itself as it landed. The door in front of them hissed as it presented Ryloth to the mismatched duo.
Like every edifice on the Ryloth, Twi'lek had hacked the spaceport out of a high cliff atop a mountain, a testament to a people that dared survive in an unforgiving world. The cracks and crevices of the rock smoothed into a giant bowl that could fit multiple ships and equipment. A few machines cut into the cliff face here and there, acting as uncomfortable reminders of technology. The winds whipped through the spaceport, carrying an acrid odor of methane and sulfur. When the two figures emerged from the elegant ship, a group of Twi'lek immediately greeted them, presenting a comically shallow version of their culture. A tall thin blue Twi'lek walked up to Coedi and extended his hand. High cheekbones jutted from the lean Twi'lek's face and he wore a salesman smile that brought legions of the traders to his planet. He dressed from head to toe in the exotic skins of Rylothian beasts. A giant black piece of volcanic rock hung from his neck on a braided piece of hide.
"Good morning, Lord Rist," the Twi'lek chimed. "I am Ondonii Maluk, chief of the trade bureau here on Ryloth. You do us a great honor with your stay." The Twi'lek spread his arm out to present the welcoming party on the landing deck. Wearing nothing but a few leather straps, a number of female Twi'lek of different colors presented the lord from Alderaan with flowers and gifts from the planet. Coedi took them all, his arms soon too full to accept anymore. A servant quickly came and took the gifts from his arms and presented himself at Coedi's side. Ali found the line of servants in the back of the group and joined them. The servants eyed the small Jedi with wonder. Few had known that Lord Rist's escort would be a Twi'lek Jedi.
Coedi took in the grand welcome with a detached glee. He played the part of generous guest well. He smiled and chuckled at the appropriate times, made sure to acknowledge each Twi'lek who greeted him, repeated their name as they were introduced, and quickly delivered a kind response to any statement directed at him. The group soon left the landing area of the spaceport to escort Lord Rist into their city. Master Ido followed behind with the servants, making sure to keep a respectable distance.
The Twi'lek lived in cliffs on a massive mountain in the middle of the planet, their cities cut into the rock face. Kilometers of rope bridges connected different communities, each adorned with lanterns to light the way. The group did not walk long, as Lord Rist only deserved to stay in the highest of cities. Once they reached the city, Odonii gave Lord Rist a tour, showing him all the great architecture carved into the stone. Lord Rist met chiefs and other community leaders, and deftly made each feel important and appreciated. Finally, an older Twi'lek presented himself, dressed less formally than anyone. The many colored hides he wore had long since lost their brilliant hues. The old Twi'lek's red skin held the darkness of a well-aged wine, but his eyes shone brighter than any youth's.
"This is Ys'maail Feev. He is the highest shaman or priest here in this city. He has agreed to accompany us on our trek tomorrow to obtain your orchid," Ondonii introduced. The old shaman bowed respectfully to Lord Rist, but did not take his eyes off of the tall human. Lord Rist gave a warm nod to the shaman, but his welcome didn't seem to satisfy the man. Ondonii led Lord Rist to the town square where a larger group of females would showcase the grace and beauty that made Twi'lek woman known throughout the galaxy. Plump breasts, supple thighs, and muscled stomachs would gyrate and stretch seductively with the sole purpose of enticing the human lord. He would nod appreciatively when they swayed near and later gave each enough funds to last a year on Ryloth.
Before the performance began, a younger blue Twi'lek stepped up to Ali and pulled him aside.
"Jedi Master," the younger Twi'lek interjected as the group walked away.
"Yes?" Ali wondered why the boy had approached.
"I'm sorry, but the grand shaman wished to speak with you a moment. I'm his translator. He doesn't speak with the common tongue. I am Ashafan. May I present to you the Grand Shaman Ys'maiil Feev of the High Peak." The shaman walked up to Jedi Master Mustali Ido and took both hands in his. He held Ali's hands firmly while gazing intensely into his eyes.
"Hoolwaa," Shaman Feev intoned as he squeezed the Jedi's hands. He released the Jedi and clasped his wrinkled fingers together, then pressed them to his heart. "Hoolwaa."
"Welcome, he says," the young Twilek spoke with an earnest tone.
"Thank you," Ali replied. He tried in vain to match the old Twi'lek's intensity. He thought his voice sounded weak and small compared to the shaman's.
The shaman spoke a few more words in Twi'leki, gesturing as he did. Ali understood a bit, but he never mastered the corresponding Twi'leki sign language.
"He said that he heard stories of Twi'lek Jedi when he was a boy, but did not think he would ever live to see one. He thanks you for the blessing of seeing you with his living eyes."
"The honor belongs to me, Shaman Feev," a humbled Ali answered. No training could have prepared him for this conversation. As he looked around, he realized that a few citizens of the city stood watching this meeting between their spiritual leader and a Jedi of their kind. Ali felt an inquisitive energy surrounding him and pulling him in all directions. Shaman Feev said that they all wished to know him. Ali noticed most Twi'lek in the town passively going about their day. He remained unconvinced of the shaman's claim. Ys'maiil lifted his arms and with broad sweeping gestures beckoned all to come closer. A few dozen stepped forward. Blue, red, green, purple, orange, and golden they walked closer, extending their arms forward with palms up, and bowing their heads in a mass welcoming gesture. Grand Shaman Ys'maiil Feev bowed his head deeply, offering his bare hands to Mustali Ido.
"Hoolwaa'eh," the Shaman repeated.
"Welcome home," Ashafan translated with a serious tone.
Jedi Master Mustali Ido stood in awe amongst hundreds of Twi'lek all offering their welcomes. He tried keeping the mission of hacking a treasured life from this planet and escorting it back to a rich family's private residence far from his thoughts. He did not want to taint the beauty of such a giving welcome with his selfish insecurities.