Disclaimer: I own a CD or 2, but nothing more of Star Wars. Any new
characters are mine, though.
An evening at the Laughing Crow. What does Misao have planned for him now?
The Fist of Uriah
Chapter 3
Governor's private study, Fist of Uriah Governors Mansion, Jan Ko
Governor Heilburg looked over at his chief of security and asked, "So, is the new Jedi going to work out? I know you think we have to do this, but the risks..."
"The risks are worth it," Col Hiel answered. "They were going to send another Jedi, anyway, and this way we got one of our choosing. He's from a long line of cops---beat officers, detectives, the works. Jedi Horza's old master brought him in and forced him on the Jedi council when he had just graduated from high school, arguing that he was too dangerous to leave outside their little club. He barely managed to pass his training at the Jedi academy after thoroughly embarrassing nearly the entire forensics and investigations departments for their incompetence. He showed a real affinity for doing dirty work in cleaning up a neat little kick back scheme a few of the Senators had going. The only reason they let him come out here---even with help from on high---is because they figured he couldn't do any real harm this far in the boonies."
"If that wasn't enough, Lt. Schwarz let Lt. Suzuki have him. She's uncanny. I doubt anyone short of a Jedi master will be able to tell he's a Jedi before the year's out."
"I hope you're right. Still, projects like these tend to take on a life of their own. Inform me immediately of any problems."
"Of course, sir, of course."
Evening, The Laughing Crow
Ran followed the irrepressible Lt. Suzuki, Misao, he corrected himself, since they were off duty, into the rather dingy looking bar, the Laughing Crow. She'd told him he was invited to come to a monthly social event the religious group she was a member of was holding. She'd promised him it wouldn't be boring,and that he could leave any time he wanted to. Besides, she'd said there'd be a number of cute girls there, too, acting as if she'd forgotten Jedi weren't supposed to be interested in things like that.
Ran snorted. Yea, right, Jedi weren't interested women (or men, if the Jedi was female). Most Jedi spent their time on a variety of planets far from even a district base, where many were, unofficially, of course, 'involved'. He thought it was all stupid. After all, which is worse, to have a group of stable, married Jedi, or a bunch that went around and did whatever they wanted without any of the associated responsibilities? Were they out of touch with reality, or what? This 'don't ask, don't tell' policy was stupid.
Once inside, he was surprised. Although it was clearly a normal bar, complete with pool tables and the like, it was surprisingly well lit. The battered but comfortable looking stuffed chairs and couches scattered around the room added a nice, comfortable touch. There was even very little smoke in the air. In fact, he only saw one guy smoking, someone Misao said was new and she hadn't met yet. After introducing him to a few of the guys, she abandoned him to them at a pool table and bounded off to greet the new people she saw.
Ran played a several games, pretty well cleaning up the opposition. Even though he never used Jedi powers to enhance his game, all the years he'd spent playing in his uncle's bar clearly had paid off. While playing, he'd noticed a gorgeous brunette curled up on a battered love seat watching him. She wasn't staring, but watching with curiosity---for several games. Well, Misao had said there'd be cute girls here, and this one clearly qualified. He walked over. "Ran O'Tool, at your service," he said, extending his hand.
She shook it lightly. "Tatiana Ivanovich Petrovna, Jedi. Just call me Tanya."
Ran blinked. She knew he was a Jedi?
Tanya laughed. "Don't look so surprised. Misao told me there was a new Jedi in town, and that she'd be bringing him tonight. She also said she could use a little help in getting you set up here. Well, don't just stand there, sit down," she said with an unusual accent, gesturing to the space beside her.
"If you don't mind me asking, where are you from? I don't recognize the accent," Ran said, lowering himself onto the other end of the loveseat.
"New Kharkov, district capitol of New Russia. I'll return the favor: I don't recognize you accent, either."
"Derry, biggest port city on Glen Vale."
"Figures. I knew I should have recognized that accent. So, how did you end up this far from anywhere?" she responded casually.
"They asked for me. Even then, I heard the Supreme Chancellor had to intervene directly with the Jedi Council for them to let me go. Even though they couldn't stand the way I embarrassed them, they didn't want a loose cannon on the loose, either. They must have figured I was going to get out sooner or later, and this was just about as safe as anywhere. It's a good thing they didn't know about Misao---they would've never let me come."
Tanya laughed lightly. "No, I'm sure they wouldn't. Of course, I'm sure your master made sure not to tell them."
"I'm sure he didn't. This is so much better than the academy---it reminds me of home."
"Great. And speaking of home, Misao asked me to find a place for you. Fortunately, a tenant just move out of Uncle Andre's apartment building, so you can move in there. It doesn't have any furnishings at the moment, but I brought a cot and a few basic supplies down for tonight. We can start shopping for what you need in the morning."
"We?"
Tanya giggled. "Did you really think Misao was going to go with you? By then everyone would know we've got another Jedi in town. I'm under the radar. Besides, I have better contacts in that part of town."
Ran laughed. There was obviously a lot more to the beautiful Russian than she was letting on. He mentally shrugged his shoulders: if a beautiful, witty, intelligent woman insisted on spending time with him, who was he to turn her away? He would eventually find out more, anyway. He refocused on the matters at hand. "I assume this means that I don't have to explain to Misao why I'm leaving with you, doesn't it?"
"No, she already knows. You'll probably still want to let her know when you leave, though."
"Of course, of course. What is this 'event' tonight, anyway? Misao just said it was some social event that her 'church' sponsored, that it was in an old bar, and that there would be cute girls."
Tanya laughed loudly. "Oh, my, that sounds like our Misao, all right! For shame! To think she lured some innocent, naive Jedi here with the illicit promise of cute girls." She laughed harder. "With the way you've been looking at me, I can tell you think she came through on that, anyway. Our church singles have these events about once a month so we can have a casual time to interact and invite new people to. It allows someone new like yourself to see a small part of what we're about without having to be threatened in a more conventional church environment. If you have any questions, or feel like visiting any of our other events or meetings, let me know."
"I'll do that," Ran replied, guiding the conversation to other areas.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's notes
This is still taking longer to set up than I thought it would. I am hope the next chapter will bring a little more action, but these things have a tendency to write themselves, so I'm not going to promise anything.
Tanya is modeled after an translator I knew from my church missions trips to Kiev, Ukraine. For a visual, think of the professional figure skater Ekatarina Gordeva with black hair and a slightly fuller figure---very cute.
As for the time in the bar, it's similar to ones I have been involved at with my church. If you have any questions (or flames) about that or anything else, leave a signed review or email me, and I'll get back to you.
An evening at the Laughing Crow. What does Misao have planned for him now?
The Fist of Uriah
Chapter 3
Governor's private study, Fist of Uriah Governors Mansion, Jan Ko
Governor Heilburg looked over at his chief of security and asked, "So, is the new Jedi going to work out? I know you think we have to do this, but the risks..."
"The risks are worth it," Col Hiel answered. "They were going to send another Jedi, anyway, and this way we got one of our choosing. He's from a long line of cops---beat officers, detectives, the works. Jedi Horza's old master brought him in and forced him on the Jedi council when he had just graduated from high school, arguing that he was too dangerous to leave outside their little club. He barely managed to pass his training at the Jedi academy after thoroughly embarrassing nearly the entire forensics and investigations departments for their incompetence. He showed a real affinity for doing dirty work in cleaning up a neat little kick back scheme a few of the Senators had going. The only reason they let him come out here---even with help from on high---is because they figured he couldn't do any real harm this far in the boonies."
"If that wasn't enough, Lt. Schwarz let Lt. Suzuki have him. She's uncanny. I doubt anyone short of a Jedi master will be able to tell he's a Jedi before the year's out."
"I hope you're right. Still, projects like these tend to take on a life of their own. Inform me immediately of any problems."
"Of course, sir, of course."
Evening, The Laughing Crow
Ran followed the irrepressible Lt. Suzuki, Misao, he corrected himself, since they were off duty, into the rather dingy looking bar, the Laughing Crow. She'd told him he was invited to come to a monthly social event the religious group she was a member of was holding. She'd promised him it wouldn't be boring,and that he could leave any time he wanted to. Besides, she'd said there'd be a number of cute girls there, too, acting as if she'd forgotten Jedi weren't supposed to be interested in things like that.
Ran snorted. Yea, right, Jedi weren't interested women (or men, if the Jedi was female). Most Jedi spent their time on a variety of planets far from even a district base, where many were, unofficially, of course, 'involved'. He thought it was all stupid. After all, which is worse, to have a group of stable, married Jedi, or a bunch that went around and did whatever they wanted without any of the associated responsibilities? Were they out of touch with reality, or what? This 'don't ask, don't tell' policy was stupid.
Once inside, he was surprised. Although it was clearly a normal bar, complete with pool tables and the like, it was surprisingly well lit. The battered but comfortable looking stuffed chairs and couches scattered around the room added a nice, comfortable touch. There was even very little smoke in the air. In fact, he only saw one guy smoking, someone Misao said was new and she hadn't met yet. After introducing him to a few of the guys, she abandoned him to them at a pool table and bounded off to greet the new people she saw.
Ran played a several games, pretty well cleaning up the opposition. Even though he never used Jedi powers to enhance his game, all the years he'd spent playing in his uncle's bar clearly had paid off. While playing, he'd noticed a gorgeous brunette curled up on a battered love seat watching him. She wasn't staring, but watching with curiosity---for several games. Well, Misao had said there'd be cute girls here, and this one clearly qualified. He walked over. "Ran O'Tool, at your service," he said, extending his hand.
She shook it lightly. "Tatiana Ivanovich Petrovna, Jedi. Just call me Tanya."
Ran blinked. She knew he was a Jedi?
Tanya laughed. "Don't look so surprised. Misao told me there was a new Jedi in town, and that she'd be bringing him tonight. She also said she could use a little help in getting you set up here. Well, don't just stand there, sit down," she said with an unusual accent, gesturing to the space beside her.
"If you don't mind me asking, where are you from? I don't recognize the accent," Ran said, lowering himself onto the other end of the loveseat.
"New Kharkov, district capitol of New Russia. I'll return the favor: I don't recognize you accent, either."
"Derry, biggest port city on Glen Vale."
"Figures. I knew I should have recognized that accent. So, how did you end up this far from anywhere?" she responded casually.
"They asked for me. Even then, I heard the Supreme Chancellor had to intervene directly with the Jedi Council for them to let me go. Even though they couldn't stand the way I embarrassed them, they didn't want a loose cannon on the loose, either. They must have figured I was going to get out sooner or later, and this was just about as safe as anywhere. It's a good thing they didn't know about Misao---they would've never let me come."
Tanya laughed lightly. "No, I'm sure they wouldn't. Of course, I'm sure your master made sure not to tell them."
"I'm sure he didn't. This is so much better than the academy---it reminds me of home."
"Great. And speaking of home, Misao asked me to find a place for you. Fortunately, a tenant just move out of Uncle Andre's apartment building, so you can move in there. It doesn't have any furnishings at the moment, but I brought a cot and a few basic supplies down for tonight. We can start shopping for what you need in the morning."
"We?"
Tanya giggled. "Did you really think Misao was going to go with you? By then everyone would know we've got another Jedi in town. I'm under the radar. Besides, I have better contacts in that part of town."
Ran laughed. There was obviously a lot more to the beautiful Russian than she was letting on. He mentally shrugged his shoulders: if a beautiful, witty, intelligent woman insisted on spending time with him, who was he to turn her away? He would eventually find out more, anyway. He refocused on the matters at hand. "I assume this means that I don't have to explain to Misao why I'm leaving with you, doesn't it?"
"No, she already knows. You'll probably still want to let her know when you leave, though."
"Of course, of course. What is this 'event' tonight, anyway? Misao just said it was some social event that her 'church' sponsored, that it was in an old bar, and that there would be cute girls."
Tanya laughed loudly. "Oh, my, that sounds like our Misao, all right! For shame! To think she lured some innocent, naive Jedi here with the illicit promise of cute girls." She laughed harder. "With the way you've been looking at me, I can tell you think she came through on that, anyway. Our church singles have these events about once a month so we can have a casual time to interact and invite new people to. It allows someone new like yourself to see a small part of what we're about without having to be threatened in a more conventional church environment. If you have any questions, or feel like visiting any of our other events or meetings, let me know."
"I'll do that," Ran replied, guiding the conversation to other areas.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's notes
This is still taking longer to set up than I thought it would. I am hope the next chapter will bring a little more action, but these things have a tendency to write themselves, so I'm not going to promise anything.
Tanya is modeled after an translator I knew from my church missions trips to Kiev, Ukraine. For a visual, think of the professional figure skater Ekatarina Gordeva with black hair and a slightly fuller figure---very cute.
As for the time in the bar, it's similar to ones I have been involved at with my church. If you have any questions (or flames) about that or anything else, leave a signed review or email me, and I'll get back to you.