An Exercise in Futility (Week 5)

Our arrival at Corescant was bitterly anti-climactic - as the center of the civilized galaxy, I had expected something a little more glorious, less dingy. On Gallinore, the suns never set and the entire planet is bathed in the radiance of them. The cities are vast and the buildings splendid. Everything is constructed with an eye for beauty, nothing is made that is simply useful. Here I feel cramped, shut in. The planet is covered in one giant city that - since there is no room to expand outward - continuously grows into the sky. Parts of it are rubble from battles long past, and everything seems to have an aura of wear. I do not doubt I am the only one who feels this way. Many of the structures on this planet could be considered majestic if one was not fleeing from a place that outshines it a thousand-fold. I must admit that as we approach our landing point I felt a twinge of homesickness, a longing for the simplicity of the life I left behind. Now, rather than watch as hordes of servants obey my bidding, I am hunted. Dogged by enemies at every turn.

In any case, everyone seemed to be eager to leave the ship to explore or pursue their own interests. I felt no inspiration to go anywhere - my disappointment in this place combined with my fear of the pirates chasing us kept me in the ship. I decided to occupy myself reading on the Holonet about these Jedi. I have come to realize my perception of them is not the popular one, and while I do not remember exactly why my people distrust and hate them, I could not help but feel suspicious of them. Perhaps it is their label as the protectors of the galaxy - in my experience no one does anything out of pure altruism. It does not make any sense to me, this selflessness they seem to exhibit.

My inquiries lead me only to very general information, and a history full of empty spaces. There was an amusing holodrama based on them that kept me occupied for a few hours - amusing, but uninformative in the end. The Jedi may have great power, but I doubt anyone could escape from a Super Star Destroyer's brig with nothing but the Force and a pretty smile.

This Force business troubles me. I have lived my life so far believing in nothing more than what I could see before my eyes and do with my hands. But it appears I am mistaken, and there is something more to the galaxy than what is visible. It frightens me, this thing that I can neither see nor effect. The Jedi obviously believe in it, and the demon possessing my mother could not have come from any natural source. The voice that spoke to me as I lay dying - I had thought that there was nothing when we died, only the quiet embrace of the void. These philosophical questions hurt my head, but they at least give me something to muse upon while I wait for the others to return.

A couple hours later we gathered in the main area of the Gamera. I noticed my brother sitting at table, concentrating intently on a pack of cards. I have noticed him doing that a great deal lately, almost to the point of an obsession. I believe he is trying to move them with the Force. This I did not understand. I was willing to accept the Force as a necessary part of my existence, but to seek to use it? I would only do so out of necessity. The conversation of our shipmates brought me out of my musings, however, and I learn how very little was done that day. The Jedi Nondo had spent the day attempting to find the connections of his past that had been in this place, and had failed. I could not say I was surprised - this entire planet exudes a transitory nature. Nothing can stay the same for long in such an environment. There is one piece of information gleaned from this stretch of hours, though, and that is that the Jedi are coming to this planet. They will be addressing the Senate and negotiating with the New Republic for entrance as a system of government of their own. It is fascinating to me - all my inquiries earlier in the day had told me the Jedi were the peacekeepers of the galaxy, aligned with and supporting the Republic. But now apparently they have become their own entity.

On a side note, I did laugh to myself for a while concerning the structure of this sector's leading class. Democracy is a most inconvenient and time-consuming form of government.

However, my thoughts quickly return to the matter at hand. The pilot Regis believes we should try to contact the Jedi to as for their aid. I was incredulous - why would these creatures wish to extend themselves on behalf of a ragtag group of people they have never met? It makes no sense at all! My instinct was to ignore the conversation completely, but someone pointed out that Bleez might be welcome in their company given his age and the fact he survived the Purge so many years ago. That very well may be, but I gleaned that getting an audience with the Jedi delegates will not be a simple task. Bleez heads off to the Alderaanian embassy to try his luck, Tiki to the Tynnen embassy. I have no connections in this part of the galaxy, and no way of producing the effects I require, so I returned in frustration to the Holonet.

It was a few hours before I heard anything else. The Jedi may have been able to secure job-placement assistance as a survivor of Alderaan, but nothing that would serve out needs. To my infinite surprise, Tiki was the one who turned up the most helpful information. Apparently the Jedi were already on the planet, even though they were officially slated to arrive the following day. And it was possible we could get a message to them, if it was couched in the form of a gift. After much deliberation, Bleez recorded a message onto Daltry's R5 unit and that was sent. The argument lasted into the evening, and so it was determined to give the droid gift to the Jedi first thing the next morning. Tiki and Gorrix were to escort it, but at the last minute I decided to join them. I had not been out of the ship in some time, and could use the exercise and a look around.

The drop off at the Jedi residence was uneventful, but when I returned to the ship the docking bay was crawling with law enforcement. I cringed at first, hoping that Kaos hadn't tried another of her pickpocketing escapades, but that was not the problem. Apparently an elderly couple in the ship a few slots down from ours had been killed in their sleep, and for no apparent reason. The soldiers were there investigating, and asked to see our papers and investigate the ship as part of the routine. I always feel nervous showing my false documents to anyone, but they were sound and did not bring up any trouble.

It was not long before a reply came... in the form of an aged Tynnen, Tovarish Veda. Their race is an interesting sort, alternating between harmless fun and cryptic advice within milliseconds. He interrogates the Jedi for a few minutes about his past, facts which are of no conceivable use to me. And so I drift off in thought until our attention is brought to a news broadcast. Apparently they have settled on an abandoned mining colony, calling it Sanctuary, and their intention is indeed to join the Republic as their own entity. It is, I gather, a historic event. So historic, in fact, that the Tynnen informs us that the Jedi delegation will have no time to speak with us or hear our requests. It was no surprise. What was a surprise, however, was that the Tynnen pointed directly at me and my brother, naming us as the source of danger for all present. I suppose I should not have been so taken aback - extraordinary measures have been taken to secure my return to the Cluster. But I did not think I was the sole danger for this group... weren't some of them being chased by pirates themselves? Tovarish then said that if I and my brother were to cease to exist at that moment, everyone would be safe. How very helpful. This entire jaunt to Corescant has been very discouraging.

My mind was occupied with my current predicament - too occupied to realize what plans were being laid. We were heading for the Jedi planet of Sanctuary. I thought to argue for a second, but I thought better of it. There was one thing I required now, and that was information. There are four pirate groups after us, and after us with a vengeance. And I must admit I do not know entirely why. If nothing else, the Jedi may be able to give us information we would otherwise miss. And so, I retreated back to my quarters while we made our way to Sanctuary. As I left the main area, Kaos abruptly leapt from the airlock into Corescant's docking bay, shouting something about leaving the cursed ship behind. In truth, I was too tired to pay her any mind.