Entry Twenty-Three – Days after Geonosis, One Hundred Forty Three
There is a truism, in some societies, that illness afflicts the high and low, rich and poor, alike. As it happens, with sufficient technology joined to resource inequality this ceases to be true. However, even highly advanced air purification systems are unlikely to prevent contracting MSCIADF when one's community is suffering at pandemic levels. Darnak Selless appears human, most days, and in that capacity serves as a highly valued member of the Republic Diplomatic Corps. On certain other days, when the RDC finds a need for a diplomat of a species not available on staff, he appears otherwise accordingly.
He was one of the lucky ones. The condition had not progressed far in his body or that of his family prior to detection. He was barely showing symptoms at all. They made a full recovery. His gratitude was, truthfully, unreasonably intense, but the availability of a trained diplomat to assist me is invaluable, and one who can negotiate with the Pyke Syndicate while modeled perfectly as a Pyke and backed by an unimpeachable identity crafted by Senate staff is genuinely hilarious while also having the not insignificant benefit of saving me from actually having to talk to Marg Krim directly.
Among the well-known species of the galaxy's criminal underworld, most have at least one trait that explains both their predilection towards criminality and their particular role. Hutts are disgusting and struggle to fit into high society on their merits, but they are masters of dominance games and can afford to be almost endlessly patient. Falleen are almost sociopathic in their ruthlessness, but combine excellent emotional control with pheromone-mediated charisma. The Pykes though, they simply happened to emerge in the ideal location from which to dominate the galactic spice trade and were both greedy and lazy enough to exploit it heavily. I confess that I simply do not like them, as a species. Such prejudices are unfair, and I know I should do my utmost to overcome them, but it is a challenge given that I have yet to meet a single Pyke who was not heavily engaged in the narcotics trade in some fashion. Their hideous industry seems to have wholly enveloped them, and they have lost all else they might have been. Truly, it is a tragedy.
Marg Krim struggled to deal with Mr. Selless, for in truth he had little to offer but veiled threats, and the diplomat could throw 'clones' back at all such crude insinuations. This seemed most effective at impressing upon the syndicate just how circumstances have changed. Irony rears its head again regarding the clones here. They are, to a man, almost comically honorable, a far cry from the ruthless bounty hunter chosen as their base template. Not only does the Republic have an army to utilize for the first time in a thousand years that its leadership is shockingly willing to unleash, it has one almost totally immune to the usual military sins. The Pyke Syndicate was given a very clear message to not become a priority for this new and devastating instrument. In the current crisis that should be easy enough, if they can tamp their greed down far enough to stay out of the way.
I cannot get much of a read on Pykes, whether through body language or the Force, but Mr. Selless told me that at least for the present the syndicates will step aside. However, he also suggested that over the longer term the criminal element will demand an 'appropriate' share in all new expenditures and if they do not receive what they consider their due violence will erupt. I only hope we are ready when the time comes, for I do not see this newly muscular government accepting a compromise.
For now I will simply take the opportunity to put this aside and return to work. Sick people need medicine. Drug lords can wait in line.
Notes
This passage highlights secondary traits of the clones that are actually very important. Not only are they incredible fighters, they are also literally inhumanly disciplined and honorable. As such they are incredibly well-suited to pursue an anti-corruption agenda because they cannot be bought, blackmailed, or otherwise subverted. This is probably a key reason why the Jedi, who ought to have been extremely suspicious of everything regarding the clones, actually trusted them so easily. For many veteran knights and masters it would have been the first time in their careers dealing with allies who were not in bed with their enemies.