Sumalee led Gacen to the mountain wall where she pulled up a datapad "so um Sums where are we going" Sumalee messed with the datapad and the rock shifted into an entrance
She rolled her eyes "I thought I'd protect my home with a hologram to stop people like you barging in" she walked into a large chamber full of what Gacen could only describe as Jedi Shit "and don't call me Sums" she glared at him causing him to shudder
Risha laughed through the comms "yeah she hates that nice job remembering it" Gacen chuckled Risha had come up with it before they'd even met but he'd co-opted it
Gacen smiled as he started to look at a stack of weird looking relics "says you Rish" he teased as Sumalee made herself comfortable
Risha just tutted "touché" Gacen picked up one of the relics and the others toppled across the table as he fumbled trying to keep them stable
He swiveled round to Sumalee who looked less and impressed and smiled awkwardly "if you're quite done messing up my home tell me why you're here" Gacen put the relic back down and walked over awkwardly
Gacen stammered "well you see I came here to ask for your help with something" Sumalee raised her eyebrow at him "Risha needs your help but I can't explain why too much incase there are spies around" Sumalee frowned but nodded understanding her concern
She considered it for a long second "I see I suppose if she's exercising discretion I can understand why, this isn't some scheme of yours is it" Gacen thought about it
He held his neck "I mean technically it's a scheme but like on a grand scale" he could hear Risha sighing at him through the comms "it's a good cause though i promise you that I can tell you more about it on the ship" Sumalee nodded standing up and collecting a few things
She was silent for a couple minutes walking around her home before she came back with a backpack "alright let's go" Gacen's eyes widened that was a lot easier than expected
He stammered "wait that's all it took I was expecting more push back" Sumalee frowned at him as she used the force to pack a few things quickly into her backpack
Sumalee shrugged "you said Risha needed my help, I'd only not help if it was your plan but your inability to explain it means this is her idea so I'm in" Gacen didn't know wether to be insulted or flattered
Risha seemed pleased "nice one Sumalee I knew I could count on you" Gacen smiled as Sumalee finished packing
He led her back outside "alright well we're grateful for your help Sumalee" he looked to see M4-SK waiting for them "oh and this is our protocol droid M4-SK he's kinda eccentric" Sumalee nodded at him and ignored his greeting
She sighed "everything is with you two I'm hardly surprised" Gacen feigned surprise as he was common to do
He shook his head "how dare you we are high class not eccentric" Sumalee gave him a long silent look "ok fine but we're noble criminals you know that" Sumalee conceded as they made their trek back down the mountain. A little ways down Gacen got curious "so uh why did you come to this place I thought you were pretty popular in the Jedi order" Sumalee looked off pensively
She sighed "after the Eternal Empire attacked I like many Jedi became disillusioned with the Jedi in their current form, through this path we'd lost so many, The Hero of Tython and the Barsen'thor missing, Master Yuon, Bakarn and now the Grand Master had disappeared clearly something was wrong with the cycle of endless war between the republic and the empire it had left us open to a greater threat, I decided that for the Jedi to survive we would need to look more critically at ourselves" Gacen nodded trying to look intellectual and understand but really taking in very little
Sumalee looked around her "I came here to Wayland as it's a Nexus of force energy" Gacen was totally lost "more specifically a mix of light and dark energy, the Barsen'thor had advocated for not cutting off our emotions and the longer I've been here the more I'm inclined to agree" Gacen blinked why had he asked this
Risha laughed "I could've told her that years ago" Gacen smiled he had a feeling she had a few times
Sumalee continued "I've never been the most traditional Jedi and that may be what we need right now, with the emergence of the Alliance and it's cooperation between Jedi and Sith it seems like the cycle may be able to be broken but only with the right people" Gacen did understand that the republic and sith would never stop fighting it's why him and Risha had been able to profit of it so much
Gacen nodded "yes I suppose so war is a thing that people do" he immediately regretted saying that there was no wisdom there and Sumalee had a confused look on her face as they arrived outside his ship. He quickly changed the subject "well! Here we are, my ship come aboard and we can discuss the plan" Sumalee nodded following him as he set up the holo to broadcast Risha, He sent M4-Sk to the cockpit to begin piloting the ship back to Gabredor III.
Sumalee folded her arms "so what exactly do you two want this time" Gacen turned on the holo as Risha appeared and Sumalee's rough exterior immediately softened
Risha had a huge grin on her face "hey Sumalee long time don't tell me you've gone straight edge" Sumalee rolled her eyes but was clearly grinning sincerely
She shook her head "never, but regardless it's good to see you again Risha" Gacen smiled "so why did you send your boyfriend instead of yourself" Gacen frowned he was more than that
Risha folded her arms "first of all he's my husband not my boyfriend Sums" Gacen nodded backing her up
Sumalee nodded sarcastically "right of course silly me I guess I just forgot" Gacen pouted she clearly hadn't changed that much
Risha just rolled her eyes "I sent him because if I show my face it can cause collateral damage on Dubrillion" Sumalee face crossed with understanding as she nodded
Sumalee smiled "of course you're going after Dubrillion I should've known you'd take your responsibility eventually" Risha nodded clearly not appreciating the slight condescending tone
Risha continued "yes well unfortunately King Actavarus has only gotten more paranoid and dangerous and as a result we'll have to be very careful about our approach" Sumalee seemed to understand as Risha explained
Sumalee smiled "and you need a figurehead that wouldn't be too irregular to form a movement against Dubrillion and it's corrupt government" Risha nodded clearly glad to tell someone her plan
She raised her eyebrow "well yes that's part of it but also I believe you're a rather competent advisor and familiar with war, after all 'war is a thing people do'" she teased at Gacen
Gacen scrunched up his face "hey I'm sorry ok I'm not so good at the wise comments" they both smiled at him as he pouted
Risha continued "either way I need someone who can contact those on my side of the cause without arousing suspicion of my involvement" Sumalee nodded starting to understand
She frowned "but what if they find out that we're friends that's not exactly a secret" Gacen gritted his teeth knowing what was coming next
Risha shook her head "no problem I've erased any record of our involvement from the holonet" Sumalee looked surprised and almost angry
Gacen thought it would be best to intervene "don't worry Sumalee she did it to everyone even me" that seemed to calm her down a bit
Risha sighed "yes and genius here spilled his involvement to the Dubrillion forces so he can't be it, he'll handle relations with other people and hopefully later direct missions" Gacen shrunk down a bit to be fair at the time he hadn't known the specifics and may have been drugged
Sumalee took this all in and smiled "this all sounds rather agreeable I certainly would like to help free a planet it would be good to fight for the right side again" Risha smiled clearly pleased with the outcome
Risha grinned "perfect we'll discuss the next steps when you get back I'm excited to see you" she shut off the holo and spoke into Gacen's ear "that went pretty well thanks for softening the blow of removing all our interactions" Gacen nodded he understood why she had to
Sumalee looked around the ship "I swore I'd never set foot on this tin can" Gacen gasped for real this time this ship was a masterpiece
Gacen pouted "hey this ship has plenty of class and I've cultivated a good atmosphere" Sumalee rolled her eyes clearly not agreeing
She grinned "is that why it smells like Bantha cheese" Gacen didn't even know how to respond to that his mouth agape for a good few seconds
Gacen glared at her "take that back this ship has been my baby for 15 or so years" Sumalee just smirked walking off to make herself at home she was gonna be helpful but almost definitely problematic…
Soon they'd returned to Gabredor and Risha came out to meet them instantly wrapping Sumalee into a hug "it's good to see you and free of those Jedi know-it-alls we're gonna have so much fun together" Sumalee smiled awkwardly not sure what was happening
Gacen laughed "yeah 5 years with no one but Guss and the droid for company has made her more affectionate it's wild" Sumalee nodded at least this they could agree on
Risha rolled her eyes "speaking of" she pulled Gacen in for a long kiss which admittedly he had missed even if it had only been a few days
Sumalee frowned "should I go inside and wait" Gacen nodded and she awkwardly walked inside as they continued
A couple minutes later they made their way in where they found Sumalee rearranging the furniture to make it neater "ah there you are, are your libidos sorted out I assume we have a lot to discuss" Risha nodded leading them to the war room
She chuckled "yes we should be fine it's like he said 5 years apart has made us a little more grateful for what we have" Sumalee sighed clearly not understanding
She looked Gacen up and down "I can't imagine why" Gacen shook his head he should've expected the sass but still
Risha brushed it off "ok so next steps is finding someone to support us, I may have some wealth of my own but I'd rather get an army and experienced operatives we can trust. Last time Ash and I suggested the Alliance as the most trustworthy if volatile option" she turned to Sumalee "do you have any thoughts on that?" Sumalee looked at each of the options for a second
She nodded "I was honestly going to suggest the same I have become a bit disillusioned with the Jedi but much more in the Republic after Saresh's term as Chancellor, and my thoughts on the empire I believe are obvious" Gacen smiled he didn't know much of politics but was glad all three of them had suggested the Alliance
Gacen frowned "so we should send someone over there right, I guess Sumalee could go and convince them to help" Risha seemed to brush that idea off to his and Sumalee's surprise
She shook her head "actually I think it will be best if you go Gacen" Gacen was surprised he was no diplomat "you're most likely to be speaking to Lana Beniko who I believe you've met before but more importantly is a sith" she looks at Sumalee "something tells me her and Sumalee meeting could end less civil" Gacen nodded that did make a lot of sense and from what he knew of Lana she was pretty cool they could come to an agreement. Risha smiled surprisingly genuinely "besides I think it would do you good to go and see it, and I'll be in your ear the entire time just like last time" Gacen let out a sigh of relief that would make things easier
Sumalee frowned "wait you were talking to him the entire time?" Risha nodded "I should've known no wonder he was somewhat tactful" Gacen sighed he guessed he had to get used to that
Risha folded her arms "either way you don't have to go immediately now that Sumalee is here we can discuss our plans for what comes next" she gestured to the planet on the war room map "and once Ash gets back maybe devise a strategy for taking Dubrillion" Gacen nodded he did wonder how Ash was getting on
Gacen smiled "it seems like it's all coming together Rish, and don't worry I'm sure I can handle the Alliance" he said that with confidence but really hoped he just had to talk to Lana he could convince her right?...