Chapter 2: Jazal
Alpheridies
The bright room in the Jedi Temple was a very strange place to hold a Judicial briefing. Normally, briefings took place in rooms with desks with documents and datapads on them, or in rows of seats in front of a podium with a main viewer. This room was intended for council meetings and designed for Jedi who meditated.
With Awerl, Pax, Driffu, and Averross not in physical attendance, there were enough chairs for everyone. Kier, Higil, Soqes, Oc'nel, Carver, Fojo, the pilots Rama Stunol, and Lanya Pran. Driffu called in as a hologram and Awerl and Averross were on a ship back to Coruscant.
Fojo had a few bandages on his face. Jazal could sense Carver's bandages and injuries under his uniforms. Oc'nel, of course, was still wearing an eyepatch. With those only exceptions, Awerl and Averross were gone and everyone was dressed formally for once.
The longer Jazal sat here, the more she realised this entire briefing was a mistake. Averross planned for 11 beings to debrief the Jedi High Council and Director of Extraordinary Extraction at once when he could have easily done it alone, or maybe with my help. Damn. I should have changed this.
One of the Holopads suddenly started chiming. Oc'nel answered it and to Jazal's surprise, it was not a Jedi, but Pax's face propped up by a pillow. Some bandages were visible on the top of his head.
"Pax?" Oc'nel asked.
"Agent Pax?!" Jazal yelled alarmed.
"Hey Jazal," Pax said in a slurry voice.
Carver, Fojo, and Oc'nel chuckled.
Jazal sighed. "Pax I don't think you are in any condition to—"
—Twelve of the Holopads lying around the room began ringing. Oc'nel accepted the calls one at a time walking around the room in a circle before Jazal could say wait! Eleven of the twelve High Council Members and Director of the EED Voth Savine, called in. Master Sekura, the only Council Member not present, had retrieved Averross and Awerl and presumably was too busy to call them.
Great! Pax is involved too now!
"Master Jazal, it is good to hear from you again," Kenobi said as they called in. "Don't worry about introductions Jazal, Agents, we have set the holograms to display everyone's name— Pax?!"
"Hey Master Mace Windu, hey Yoda, hey—" Pax slurred.
—Yoda let off a loud amused chuckle.
Jazal sighed. Yoda is certifiably senile.
Kenobi replied in a consoling voice, "You do not sound like you are in any condition at all to—Jazal?! Did you really include Pax in on this?"
"No Masters, I did not. I was about to tell him he did not have to participate when you called. Pax?"
"Yes Jazal?" Pax slurred.
"Hang up and get better please," she said sternly.
"Alrighty Master," Pax replied then hung up.
Why was Pax trying to call in the first place? Is there something from the briefing he wanted to find out?
"Now that that's out of the way, let's begin," Mace Windu said filling the momentary pause. "As you all know, Rael Averross has been removed from the taskforce. We have decided to include Obi-Wan in on the briefing since well… You're involved now," he turned to Obi-Wan.
o.o.o.o.o
The topic of the briefing started from Felucia, then focused on the bug in Passel Argente's hat. The High Council unexpectedly seemed more interested in the droids that had nearly overpowered Jazal, than in the destruction of Rhen Var Station.
When Higil asked if they had any new information on what happened to Rhen Var Station, Ki-Adi-Mundi said that the damage was "consistent with pirates."
Things became more interesting at the end of the briefing.
"We have now taken Awerl and Averross into custody and they are being transported back to Coruscant. There is something very troubling that happened on Alpheridies station. If any of you have any information on what might have happened, we would appreciate it," Master Depa Billaba said in her concerned tone.
"So would I Agents," Director Savine interjected.
"Master Sekura reported to us that she and Extraction Team Delta found Awerl and Averross not in the brig, but in the station's sickbay with bruises, ripped out hair, and several broken bones." Billaba said in a grave voice. "Averross and Awerl claim that a group of eight Wookiees assaulted them. Security camera footage verifies that claim. The Wookiee ship was registered to the mercenary firm Executive Outcomes—no actually Éxecutive Outcomes, apparently."
Almost everyone in the room gasped.
"My intelligence network has not come up with anything. At the moment," Billaba sighed, "we have no idea what could be going on."
Jazal sensed that Driffu wanted to laugh but suppressed it. Jazal felt slightly guilty about having taken Averross's lightsaber, but then the feeling quickly subsided.
"That is very disturbing indeed," Jazal agreed. "I am just hearing of this now. Agent Driffu, you are on Alpheridies Station correct?"
"Yes, Master," Driffu answered.
"Why did you not tell me of this?" Jazal asked in her most interrogative tone.
"I didn't know about it," the Gand echoed from her gas mask.
Jazal could sense that Driffu was now concealing her feelings using the Force, shutting her out completely. I want her badge, the Miraluka thought angrily.
"Is everything all right Master Jazal?" Luminara Undili asked. "You seem distressed."
"For the most part, Master Undili," Jazal said in her most even tone. "Perhaps, it would be best though if everyone else were dismissed."
"Very well," Mace Windu replied. "Agents, you can leave now, we have somethings to discuss with Master Jazal. Director you can also—"
"Master Windu, it would be best if the Director also heard this."
Shifting backwards in his seat and sitting up straight, Windu acquiesced. "Okay Jazal," he said with a slight warning as if to say this had better not be Jedi business you are including the Director in.
"See you later Jazal, have a good afternoon Masters Jedi," Higil said courteously as he left.
"Yeah, have a good afternoon Masters Jedi," Oc'nel and Kier parroted.
"See you later," Carver said in an awkwardly casual tone as he strolled through out the door.
Fojo managed to walk out without saying a goodbye, mixed in with the departing crowd, along with the pilots.
Driffu hung up quickly without saying a word.
Jazal could sense Oc'nel waiting for her in the hallway—perhaps attempting to eavesdrop with his powerful Bothan ears. I'll have a chat about that with him later.
"Masters Jedi, Director, I suspect Agent Driffu is withholding information."
A few of the High Council members sat back straighter than they had been. Obi-Wan Kenobi touched his beared thoughtfully. With those exceptions, their reactions were very controlled and unnoticeable.
"Those are very serious allegations," Director Savine replied. "Master Jedi, do you have proof?"
"No Director, this is why I said 'suspect.' If I knew for certain I would have reported it already," Jazal said as evenly as she could.
"What makes you suspect Driffu?" Ki-Adi-Mundi asked in a sceptical tone.
"I know Gands are force-sensitive," Jazal replied.
Director Savine could not hide his scepticism and folded his arms crossly.
Jazal continued, "before the events in the cantina Driffu warned Awerl not to go to the planet's surface. She seemed rather gleeful after it happened and cackled with laughter on our comms. Just now, I sensed she was hiding something."
"Well, that is certainly poor Judicial bearing," Director Savine admitted. "I do not think it is evidence of malfeasance though and, as I am sure you know, it is not a crime to well… This is Jedi business I know almost nothing of, but it is not a crime to predict something and ignore it."
"Indeed," Yoda said annoyingly serenely. "Still though Director, to keep a close watch on Driffu, I recommend. Circumstantial, Jazal's information is, but troubling it also is. If correct, Jazal's suspicions are, then a danger Driffu presents to her team, whether or not her actions are legal."
"I shall keep that under advisement Grand Master Yoda. If that is all there is Jazal, I really must be going."
"Yes Director, that was my only remaining concern and what was troubling me. Thank for your time Masters, Director," Jazal said with a bow.
The Council returned her bow with slight nods and hung up one at a time. The Director simply hung up.
After standing alone in the room for a moment, Jazal exited the room quickly and turned to face Oc'nel once she was through the door.
"Itoll," Jazal started sternly, "I don't want you trying to get involved with Jedi business."
"That wasn't Jedi business though, and sorry Jazal, I wasn't trying to eavesdrop," Oc'nel said. "I knew about everything you were talking about anyways. I was there the first time Driffu acted suspiciously and I share your suspicion."
Jazal could sense he was being honest. "Sorry Itoll, but sometimes I suspect—well never mind." Sometimes, I wonder if you are a spy.
"Now that that's out of the way, now what?" Oc'nel asked.
"Now we need to meet with Masters Grier and Ov-bion, then we go see Pax. I think you should tell Grier and Ov-Bion that you are hover-skiing."
"Hover-skiing? Oh yeah," Oc'nel mumbled a bit stupidly. "Might we really be able to fit in a bit of hover-skiing Jazal?"
"We could have if Averross and Awerl had not started a cantina fight. We are a day behind schedule at the moment."
"Jazal… You do know this is shore-leave, right?"
"Right. Just because it is shore-leave does not mean I give into the whim of the moment, Bothan," Jazal said in an arrogant Jedi tone as she began walking into the main entrance hall.
o.o.o.o.o
"Of course, your taskforce is welcome to stay here for the remaining five days or come and go as they wish. There is quite a bit of this planet they could see," Ov-Bion said serenely.
"That is very kind of you," Jazal replied. "I will be visiting Actro Province for the next few days and… pardon me for a moment," she said abruptly as she picked up her comm.
Grier and Ov-Bion appeared to be taken aback.
"This is Master Jazal. The briefings are done so you can do what you wish for the next five days. However, if any of you venture outside of Fospolis, I want you to go in a group of at least two. Also, my strong suggestion to remain sober while on Alpheridies stays in effect. If any of you need to contact me, my channel will remain open whether or not I am in Fospolis. The same will apply to acting team leader Oc'nel's comm. If you are in urgent legal trouble for some reason, obviously, you can contact the Republic High Commission. Jazal out."
"Sorry about that," Jazal said to the two Jedi. "But, as I said before, I am visiting Actro Province and Oc'nel is going…"
"Hover-skiing," Oc'nel pipped up quickly.
"Oh, that is lovely this time of year. A bit slushy, but not so cold," Ov-Bion said.
"It might be difficult for you with just one eye and no sunlight to reflect UV rays of the snow," Grier muttered.
Jazal could sense that Ov-Bion was completely convinced. Grier, on the other hand, knew Oc'nel was lying and was enjoying playing with the Bothan.
"Oh yeah, I didn't think of that," Oc'nel chuckled and began playing with his eyepatch. His fur seemingly wiggled, as if brushed by a breeze.
"Before I head off, Masters, I think I will see Pax first," Jazal said.
"I'll come too," Oc'nel added.
"Good idea," Grier replied. "I expect we will see you in a few days before you leave."
"Thank you for all of your help and hospitality in this difficult time," Jazal said earnestly.
"With all of this instability, I think it is soon going to be a difficult time for us all," Grier said in a sage voice. "But you are most welcome."
"We shall see you in a few days," Ov-Bion added, a bit too late as Jazal and Oc'nel headed down towards their quarters to get their things.
o.o.o.o.o
It had rained during the briefing and the steps were now slightly slippery.
Jazal sensed a puddle beneath the lowest step and stepped widely to avoid it. Her backpack was stuffed full of hiking gear. A spare set of boots dangling from a velcro strap beneath her pack, swayed precariously. Jazal decided to wear both straps of her backpack and pulled her loose strap onto her shoulder.
Oc'nel's backpack on the other hand, Jazal could sense was a completely disorganised mess. As if attempting to also contradict the Miraluka's method of coming down the steps, stepped right into the puddle at the bottom and groaned, shoes filling with water.
"Sorry, I didn't think to warn you," Jazal said. "Although, you could just wear your boots right now, you know."
"Yeah, but they're uncomfortable. I'll wear them once we start our… skiing," he replied in an awkward tone.
"How are you so bad at lying? I thought Bothans were supposed to be good at deception," Jazal asked with amusement.
"I'm not a spy Jazal," Oc'nel added in a slightly annoyed tone. "I went to the Bothan Martial Academy. I was never trained to be a spy."
"All right," Jazal muttered, continuing down the path to the temple grounds' gate.
o.o.o.o.o
"Sorry I tried calling in earlier," Pax sighed.
In the hospital room, a mysterious Wookiee female at Pax's side, whom Jazal had never seen before, growled something.
"She is asking if I am the cute Bothan that you were talking—" Oc'nel started.
"—I don't need you to translate everything a Wookiee says Itoll. What? Cute Bothan?!" Jazal asked.
"Oh," Pax laughed. "I told her that I had a Bothan on my team because she thinks Kaleb Arany'lya is cute." He continued laughing on as if it were the funniest joke he ever told.
"Kaleb Arany'lya?!" Oc'nel growled in a shocked voice. "Of Alya Analytics?"
"Yeah, well…" Pax slurred after catching his breath. "It's a long story."
Jazal could sense that Pax was very weary from something and that growing suspicion was flooding Oc'nel's mind.
"I don't understand…" Oc'nel said. "How does she know Kaleb Arany'lya?"
"Change the topic of conversation. That's an order," Pax slurred. "I have a headache."
"All right," Oc'nel said and folded his arms defensively.
Pax sat up in a drunken pose and tapped the top of Oc'nel's snout with four fingers.
Oc'nel blinked twice in shock. Jazal did not need to sense his feelings to know he was annoyed.
"See Ghalabow? Them here Bothans. I should have studied them, not Wookiees."
Ghalabow growled something that sounded neutral and laughed a little.
"No, of course most of you are decent," Pax said.
Jazal could sense some deception from Pax and deep worry from Ghalabow. How is Pax better at lying when he is on pain killers than Oc'nel is normally?
"Pax," Jazal said sternly. "If there is something you need to tell me, you can tell me. If Oc'nel can't know about it then I can order him to leave."
"Honestly Jazal," Pax started. "It's not particularly dangerous for any of us. It would be better if you didn't know. Let's consider it need to know."
Jazal could sense he was being more or less honest. "Okay Pax, I don't think you should be making decisions like this when you are heavily medicated though."
"I am fine," Pax slurred.
He definitely believes that, Jazal thought. I seriously doubt it though.
"You two lovebirds get out and have some fun. I'll hold down the fort."
Jazal sighed. Pax. Shut up.
Ghalabow growled something.
Oc'nel snarled angrily "You'll be interested in this Jazal. Ghalabow is saying—"
Pax gasped so loud it interrupted Oc'nel.
"—It's okay Itoll, calm down," Jazal said putting her hand on his shoulder. Well, I did not know Bothans could make that snarl noise! Very annoying and a little bit scary. "Pax, I know you are heavily medicated but seriously. Please don't talk about us or anyone else in our taskforce. Especially not with some—"
"—Random nosy Wookiee you met Pax," Oc'nel growled. "Where did you meet her?"
Jazal was surprised when Ghalabow did not roar back, flip a table, or at least growl at that comment. Huh. This is a very weirdly mature Wookiee.
"Oh, she… She owns the cantina and I lost my hat," Pax said in a slurry voice, as if that explained everything.
"This is how Agents like us get compromised, Pax. Maybe we should talk with the doctor about lowering your dose," Oc'nel said sternly.
"I agree," Jazal said. "But, Itoll, it's not really Pax's fault and I don't sense any ill-intent by Galabaw—"
"—Ghalabow," Pax interjected in a slurry almost Wookiee-sounding growl.
"Ghalabow. I don't sense that Ghalabow has any malicious intent," Jazal said calmly. "And she seems worried about Pax too. Agent, calm down, we need talk to the medical droid."
Jazal and Oc'nel left the room.
Jazal stood still for a moment musing. I say 'calm down' and most beings just stop saying angry things but still feel angry. Reaching out to Oc'nel she could hear him thinking of a lame comeback to whatever he had heard Ghalabow say. 'Metaphorically kriffing my boss. I'll give her metaphorical!' Oc'nel's mind said in a baritone sighed. Perhaps I don't want to know. She began walking to the right after exiting Pax's room.
Oc'nel started walking the wrong way.
"Where are you going?" Jazal asked.
"I thought that if we split up, we could find the medical droid quicker."
"There's no need for that. The droid is over there," Jazal said pointing down the hallway as she walked. She could sense the droid's metal shape two doors down.
"All right then," Oc'nel said and jogged up to her.
"Greetings," the medical droid said as soon as Jazal crossed through the open doorframe. "Is there anything I can help you with Master Jedi?"
"Is there any alternative medication we could give Pax?" Jazal asked the medical droid. "He seems very cloudy-headed and I worry that he may be making career-damaging mistakes."
"And that Wookiee seems to know about Bothan intelligence—" Oc'nel started.
"—Yes, but I think Pax told her that information Itoll."
"Oh…" Oc'nel said.
Jazal could sense Oc'nel going deep into thought.
"There are a few alternatives," the droid started. "We could try a large dosage of non-prescription pain killers. It would be riskier for the Duros liver but probably wouldn't be a very big issue over just a few days. I could try a different prescription, but it has a side effect of itchiness and I worry that he might scratch himself."
"That doesn't sound ethical," Jazal said. "I don't want to put him at increased risk of organ damage. I just want him to be less cloudy-headed during his recovery."
"All right, I suppose I could lower his dose twenty percent," the droid said.
"Okay, of course, if Pax experiences too much pain you can—"
"—I am programmed with the medical knowledge of thousands of species Master Jedi," the droid said in an arrogant robotic voice. "I know what to do."
"Jazal, couldn't we just like… Take his datapad away or something?" Oc'nel asked.
"I don't want to take away his ability to call me if he needs help and that doesn't solve the underlying problem. The problem is that he is recovering in a facility that is not secure. If we were on Coruscant or aboard the Agarath this never would have happened, but he is in a public hospital," Jazal explained as she began walking back towards Pax's room. "Even if I take away all of his devices, he could still use a public terminal. On the bright side however, Alpheridies is very isolated. It is unlikely anything Pax does will make it off-world."
Oc'nel followed. "Maybe we should stay and watch Pax then," he said.
Good suggestion. Annoyingly good suggestion because I don't want to spend the next week hanging around Fospolis because Averross decided to— "Good suggestion," Jazal said calmly despite her inner annoyance. "Others are surely staying in Fospolis though. I'll see if I can get anyone who is staying in Fospolis to check up on him, and if tomorrow, it sounds like the situation is not improving, we will come back here and keep an eye on Pax."
Jazal stood in the doorway and faced Pax and Ghalabow. "Pax, I have instructed the doctor to lower your dosage a little bit. You should be less cloudy-headed soon."
"All right," Pax slurred.
"In the meantime, I want you to stay off intelligence reports and I don't want you discussing classified information with anyone, understood?"
"Yes Master," Pax replied wearily.
"One more order: stop gossiping about members of the taskforce and Ghalabow?"
She said something that sounded like 'Uma Masha.'
"She means yes ma'am," Oc'nel explained.
"If I feel that you are compromising Pax or a danger to him, I will have to order the hospital to prevent you from seeing him."
Ghalabow moaned and growled.
"She means—" Oc'nel started.
"—Ghalabow says she understands," Pax slurred. He blinked twice stupidly while looking at Oc'nel and Jazal.
He is so high I bet Averross would be jealous. This is ridiculous.
o.o.o.o.o
Departing from Master Yasek Hospital, Jazal decided to make one more call.
"Higil?"
"Yes, Mast— ma'am?" Higil started.
Jazal sighed. "Agent, you can call me Jazal, Master, ma'am, at this point I don't care that much, and we are on shore-leave. Are you planning on staying around Fospolis?"
"Well, Reyl wanted to visit the Equatorial Jungle. She brought her night-vision goggles and they have one trail that is paved so her wheelchair can—"
"—never mind, well, do you know of anyone on your security team who is staying?"
"No, I think we are all planning on exploring a little bit. I can stay here if you would—"
"That is not necessary Agent, thanks. Jazal out."
Hmmmm, who might be staying in Fospolis?
"I bet Carver is staying around and Fojo too. I can't imagine them wanting to trek around much with burns," Oc'nel said. He seemed to realise what Jazal was thinking.
"You're right. I shouldn't be piling everything on the ships security teams anyways." Jazal picked up her comm again, "Carver?"
"Yeah Jazal?" Carver's voice echoed from her comm.
"Are you and Fojo planning on staying in Fospolis?"
"I am. Not sure about Fojo. I think he's in his room."
"If you are staying, would it be possible for you to check on Pax later today and then once a day for the next few days? I will also call him, but I would be more comfortable if someone on the ground was here. He has met a very strange Wookiee, and she doesn't seem very suspicious to me, but he is very cloudy-headed from all of the medication the hospital has given him."
"Understood, solid copy. Yeah, I can keep checking up on Pax for you."
"Thank you, Agent."
"No problem Master, Carver out."
"Jazal, could we see some plant-analogs?"
"Itoll, you've eaten food with plant-analogs in it and those right there growing on that building? Those are plant-analogs. But yes, we will be seeing lots of plant-analogs in Actro Province. Now, we have a train to catch."