Meccha

Almost the very instant that the intrasystem transport shuttle landed in Meccha, the Jedi Knight was out of her seat and opened herself to the Force, listening and feeling as she collected her bag from the topside bin and exited into the spaceport terminal. Kay'li had received word of the High Council's appointments, and as a newly minted member of the Council of Reconciliation, her first task would evidently be to locate one of her new council members. Broon Krano, a fellow Jedi Knight, was on assignment somewhere on Drall, and since Kay'li herself was already in the Corellian system, it made much more sense for her to simply go find him in person than to waste time sending messages back and forth. There were urgent matters for the council to decide.

After identifying herself to officials at the spaceport, she was quickly cleared, and made her way out into the streets of the quiet town that served as Drall's capital. Kay'li smiled to herself, almost ashamed of the recognition her name had sparked. It sometimes seemed like everyone in the entire star system knew the Raganella name, even if they didn't know her face, either because of her father or her brother. It opened doors and made her job as a Watchwoman easier, but the fame was also dangerous, and she almost despised it. It was better to be an unknown and to quietly follow the will of the Force. With a shrug, the young Corellian shook off the frustration and scanned the street for a likely starting place.

A small, brightly lit tapcaf a half block ahead on the left side of the street caught her eye almost immediately. At first, she wasn't sure why, other than perhaps a subconscious prodding by the Force. But as she neared the entrance, she realized what the (additional?) attraction was. The doorway and front windows were brightly lit with yellow neon lights, the favored color of a Jedi Sentinel. And Broon and Kay'li were both Sentinels, according to the brief profile the young woman had been given. Well, then.

Cautiously, she pushed the door open and went inside, her green robes swirling silently.

There had not been many pictures of Jedi Knight Krano in the Jedi archives, but there had been enough. Kay'li caught sight of the man just as he finished a conversation with a female Drall -- probably a Duchess by her age and regal manner -- and she knew instantly that it was him. As the young man turned and made eye contact, she smiled the crooked Corellian smile. It was not a smile she would have given when delivering bad news, but if he were to sense her presence in the Force, the young Corellian woman was also somewhat weighed down by the importance of her task. A lot had been entrusted to them both, and she was not here on some trivial errand. 

"Broon Krano, I presume? I am Jedi Knight Kay'li Raganella, from Corellia." she said, cutting straight to her mission. "I have some important news for you, from the Jedi Council." She eyed him for a split second, judging his reaction to this announcement, then her gaze shifted, searching for some quiet spot where they could talk in more privacy. There was an empty table almost at her right elbow, but it it had no privacy. That wouldn't do. Maybe off to the left? Yes, against the wall, she spotted an empty booth, with high-backed benches that enclosed it on three sides. Perfect. Hew news wasn't exactly a secret, but it was somewhat sensitive to the Jedi Order, at least at this stage. Inclining her head toward the empty booth, she asked "Do you have time to discuss it now?"

That last question, she realized with the internal equivalent of a wince, had been an afterthought. She had practically run in here assuming that Knight Krano would have time for her, and it was only when she became speaking that her normal caution and courtesy caught up with her, and she realized that he might be busy. He had, after all, been sent to Drall on a mission, But maybe his meeting with the Drall matriarch and her subsequent departure meant the matter was settled. The Force's timing was almost superior to her own.

=Hadrig=
The tumult and war-mongering in the Senate and the scandals involving Kuat and Ryloth had caused Senator Hadrig's emotions to boil over. A less peaceful being would have lathered himself into a rage, but the Drall had simply gone home to his private quarters in the Galactic City, locked the door behind him, and wept for the Republic. But he did not have much time to himself for his grief. His constituents back home were demanding answers, and he decided that it was his duty to deliver those answers in person. There was nothing he could accomplish on Coruscant anyway, until the uproar had settled down to it's usual level.

And so here he was, wandering on the edge of the village. It had done his people good to hear the explanations from his own lips, even if he was the bearer of bad news, and it had done Hadrig good to come home. His overwhelming sense of defeat in his pacifist agenda and his despair for the future peace of his planet melted away as he absorbed his home air and the peaceful calls of avians and the rustling of leaves. He knew what evils lay beyond the Republic's borders (and even within it) but all those concerns seemed far off now.

Glancing ahead, he noticed a young Jedi woman, and quickened his step. By her green cloak, he knew she was most likely from the Corellian Academy, and as he got closer, he recognized her as the Jedi Knight Kay'li Raganella.

"Hello, old friend." Hadrig exclaimed.

=Hadrig=
*The Drall smiled, but it was the thin smile of a creature who does not entirely believe the comforting words he has just heard.* "It is good to see you again, Knight Raganella." *He replied.* "I decided that I needed to get away from the bickering and the warmongering for a few days. It was killing me slowly, from the inside out. Between you and me, I figured I wouldn't miss much, and even if I did, the current climate is one which will ignore me anyway." *He sighed, and glanced upward at the treetops for a moment.* "This is a place of peace, and it reminds me why I get out of bed in the morning. But you should not flatter me. My words of wisdom and warning have gone unheard, and not only the Republic but Drall herself may be endangered as a result." *For just the briefest of moments, something dark crept into his eyes.*

*But then it was gone again, and he shrugged a shoulder.* "But that's another topic for another day. I promised myself I wouldn't think about it today." *He smiled again, and this time it was the toothy smile of someone who is at peace as he buried himself in the larger being and hugged his old friend. He didn't get to be this informal on Coruscant, and another wave of relief ran over him. This had definitely been a therapeutic day so far. There truly was no place like home.*

=Hadrig=
*The thick, furry alien nodded solemnly.* "Yes, indeed. Everything is well, for the time being." *He beamed, an amused look in his eyes.* "You would be the first to know, if that changes. Probably even before I found out. You know that as well as I do. You have the Force, and I have a long commute to an overpopulated planet full of selfish ambition." *It was only too true. Hadrig's responsibilities were more interplanetary than domestic, and he was not as knowledgeable as he had been in his days as a wingrider. He still heard all the news eventually, he just didn't get to watch it unfold before his eyes anymore.*

*Hadrig sighed, and reached deep into his fur, pulling out a large chrono on the end of a delicate gold chain. Glancing at it momentarily, he compressed his lips into a look of resignation, and the bowed slightly to the human woman.* "I must beg your forgiveness, Knight Raganella, but I have an appointment for lunch with the Dutchess, and I must take my leave." *And with that, he turned and disappeared into the forest, his pace quickening slightly. He was still calm, just with a new sense of purpose and desire to please his hostess.*

Ex-Senator Hadrig's House


The droid was an abomination to behold. He had once been a standard model C-series protocol droid, but someone with more engineering knowledge than design aesthetics sense had retrofitted him to have FOUR arms, and he was every bit as clunky looking as he was rusted out. But he was functional, and somehow, he was able to walk upright despite his extremely high center of gravity. For all of his hideous appearance, there was secret genius behind the messenger droid's abilities. 

=C-8O8=
Octopus, as his creator had so 'lovingly' named him, trudged through the underbrush, and pushed his way into the clearing that surrounded the former Republic Senator's house. The gangly droid paused obediently as he drew the attention of one of Hadrig's personal security guards.

Greetings, Meatbag. I have a message for the Head of State. My master wishes to assist Drall in maintaining its continued demilitarization and neutrality.

Ex-Senator Hadrig's House

=Guard=
The fur on the guard's forehead crinkled. As a member of the ex-Senator's security detail, he was on high alert for unusual occurrences exactly like this one. "Very well, I will relay your request to the Senator." He responded in as neutral a voice as he could manage. His eyes flickered to the switch on his stun-stick, checking that it was at a sufficient power level to take down a malevolent droid. If this was a trap, he was going to be ready.

=C-8O8=
Thank you. My master appreciates your hospitality Again, the droid's tone revealed nothing.

=Guard=
The guard pressed his lips together in frustration. He was pretty good at reading people, even humans and other non-Drall, but this hunk of metal had been programmed to be unreadable. Turning away from the droid, but keeping it in sight in the corner of his left eye, he spoke inaudibly into his earpiece for a moment. Then, he turned back around, and looked the droid in the eye, asserting control of the situation as he responded. Follow me. The Senator will see you.

Turning, he led the droid through the gardens and grounds to a side entrance, where two more Drall were waiting inside a vestibule to one side of the door.

=Screener=
One of the Drall, an unusually light-furred tawny female, was holding a hand-held scanner. She motioned for the droid to stop and extend its arms, then wanded it up and down, checking for any contraband. "He's clear." She said to the first guard, before addressing the droid. "Thank you, you may proceed."

Ex-Senator Hadrig's House

=C-8O8=
When they were both seated in the former Senator's office, C-8O8 began his pitch to the Drall. Senator, I know that you may find a droid to be an unusual messenger, but my master believes in precision, and wishes to avoid any misunderstandings. He knows that I will relay information with perfect recall, unlike organic beings. Likewise, I cannot be bribed, as I have been programmed not to accept them. He paused for half the length of an average Drall's breath, to let this sink it. Our organization is made up of Drall and other species native to the Corellian Sector, and much like you, we wish to preserve Corellia from unnecessary participation in foreign conflicts. Toward this goal, we collect and analyze political and military data from inside and outside the Corellian Sector, seeking to identify future crises. He spread his hands. However, we have no power to act. We need political friends who can use our findings to advise the Coalition leadership on how best to protect our worlds. The droid was cunning. He may have been programmed to do his master's perfect bidding, but that included lying and half-truths, when needed.

=Hadrig=
The Drall let out a long sigh, and scratched his head behind his left ear. He was curious, and the offer could be genuine, it was not unlike a dozen special interest organizations he'd encountered on Coruscant. "Why come to me? I'm out of the game." And why the furtive approach, if this was so benevolent? But he kept his suspicions to himself for now.