--sparkvallen
All the usual disclaimers abut Lucasfilm apply, though Pharinseaya and Rym Svoby are mine! :)
Chapter Seven
"--and as you can see from this slide, the damage must've caused a chain reaction by impacting already weakened structural supports," Commander Klo'lo was saying. He'd already clicked through fifteen detailed slides taken from the blast site. "Our hypothesis is that this was an inside job rather than an act of terrorism."
"Terrorism's terrorism," Rym muttered.
Jedi Kngiht Pharinseaya glanced at her protege then looked back to the Commander. "It is likely that it was a disgruntled employee or former construction worker who'd know such details about a building," she agreed, choosing to leave Rym's comment alone. "However and I'm sure you've already done so, you have to look at who would benefit from making the casino unusable and a structural threat overall. What enemies did its owner have?"
"We've begun compiling such research, yes," he said with a crisp nod. "Already, our department has been interviewing and gathering information. However, the fact still remains that someone had to know about the faulty initial construction."
Rym listened quietly, wondering what in the world she was supposed to do with this. She felt antsy, not having something to do. Standing around and listening wasn't her strong suit.
Evidently, Pharinseaya was thinking along similar lines for she asked, "Just what is it you'd like from us?"
Klo'lo coughed. "Well, we'd like your assistance in... interviewing the potential suspects we've brought in."
Pharinseaya picked up on his hesitancy. Even Rym raised an eyebrow. "Interviewing or interrogating?" the Knight questioned.
"Well. As I'm sure the local here will tell you, things have been rough in Coronet City for awhile," Klo'lo explained, "and we've had to really crack down on sentients in order to bring them to justice."
She looked to Rym. "Life sucks here is all I was gonna say."
Pharinseaya gave Klo'lo a scutinizing stare. "What are you suggesting, Commander?"
"Um. Force persuasion?"
"Absolutely not," she said without a pause. "Your team of investigators should be suitable enough to manage their own work without even suggesting that a Jedi should be expected to torment suspects into confessing. That is outrageous."
"I... I'm sorry for what I said," the Commander said. "It's just that..."
"N'way," Rym said, suddenly. "Ya ain't gonna get Pharinseaya caught up in no scam so you can score a good record, Commander! She's a good Jedi and I... I ain't even no Jedi so what help am I? Ya ain't gonna boost yer own record on her account to trick these people into sayin' things they might not mean to say!"
"What she said," Pharinseaya agreed. "If you'll excuse us."
With that, the Jedi Knight turned on her heel and left the control room. Rym followed close behind. Neither woman spoke until they were away from the recovery site and several blocks down the road.
Pharinseaya slowed in front of a bustling cafe. "Thank you."
"Fer what?"
"For defending me to Commander Klo'lo. I wasn't sure how you felt in there, but I appreciated your comments."
Rym shrugged nervously. "I'm just sick of de way they try to say they're enforce... enforcers," she said. "Dat's not da way to run things, I don't think."
Pharinseaya nodded. "The only thing now is what we do with ourselves. Jedi or not--"
The former mechanic blinked.
"Well, Jedi and partner or not," she amended herself, smiling, "we would find ourselves suddenly unwelcome at the relief site for having held onto our morals. The question is now whether we remain on Corellia or return back to the Temple."
Rym stared at her. "'Scuse me?"
"What are your plans then?" Pharinseaya asked.
"I... I dunno, Pharinseaya," she admitted. "I jes figured I'd help you down there and then... I, uh... I dunno."
Pharinseaya nodded and recalled Master Skywalker's vision for her. She still wondered if the entire point of the journey had been to find Rym Svoby.
"The invitation is there if you'd like to travel with me off-planet. I can't promise you anything on Yavin IV at the Jedi Temple, to be honest," she said. "But, let's face it. It's obvious you're Force sensitive and have the raw skills to be a Jedi. If that is your destiny."
"I..."
"Consider it, at least. Despite your negative associations with the idea, this could be why we've met up."
"'Spite my what?" Rym asked.
Pharinseaya shook her head patiently. "You were upset before when I brought up your being Force sensitive," she reminded. "Even so, maybe you're supposed to train to live the life of a Jedi Knight. Life is complicated that way. Will you think on it?"
Rym sighed. "What else've I got ta do now?"
