Lydia leaves to build her lightsaber, as she prepares for her knighthood. The others get debriefed. Dalt has much to say.
Regarding Luke, he warns them: "It was on a wall! A really well-drawn wall."
On the evil rock: "Let me explain something to you from a scientific standpoint: some things you don't know till you crack it open." Ree wants the rock destroyed. She tells Dalt to work with Kedrihm'Val on communicating with the coral. Oola will poke Drath's computer core for more information. The others will spend some time learning more about the True Sith from their various resources.
Ree and Zan report to the Jedi Council.
Oola digs up Drath's plans for dealing with the True Sith. Still no explanation on why he wanted the concentrated life force of all his people, but apparently it's important somehow.
The Jedi debate spiritedly over the Sent situation. Ree's concerned about his family's safety if they release the information. Kyp wonders if his family isn't evil too. The Council puts an investigator on the case. Then they turn their attention to one really angry Maul-rock.
The Republic begins to prepare for war.
Dalt wants a thorough genetic scan of every Abindosani. He thinks that the information from the reefs may be coded into them in bits and pieces.
Ree scours temple archives for anything on the True Sith. She discovers a planet on the Perlemian trade route has ancient myths about an evil space-reptile people who exhibited Dark Side powers. It sort of sounds like the True Sith warrior caste. The myths come from a prehuman civilization that still dwells on the planet. They're a stubborn race that prefers to be left alone.
Dalt tells Ree about the gene-scans he wants to execute. Kedrihm'Val is concerned about getting his people to cooperate with yet another technological intrusion.
"Tell them evil from the stars is coming to eat their crops," Dalt suggests.
"Well, they know that," Kedrihm'Val replies.
"Tell them it's not me for a change," Dalt offers. "Tell them it's threatening."
Kedrihm'Val applies himself to convincing his people this is necessary.
Ree sets Zel to dig up information on Senator Sent's family. Turns out he already has: they're vacationing on Corellia. The children are a 14-year-old and a newborn. Looking into it further, he gets back to her a few days later with "vague and disturbing indications." Sent's wife comes from extraordinarily blue blood, but the truth is that she's adopted. And the Sents have...extremely redundant genetic material.
"Oh my god, twice?!" Ree exclaims. As in, the Emperor had sex twice? Zel refutes this. He believes they might be twins. "Separated and then...united," as he puts it disgustedly. Ree is revolted. "Oh! I thought I was prepared for this. I need to go dunk my head in bacta."
Oola installs a cloaking device on the Starwind. Ree tells the Council she has a report to give. "Oh, we'll be looking forward to it," is the polite reply.
"No, you won't," she tells them grimly.
The next day, the Jedi send Medical Corp personnel to Abindosan. Dalt works on information as it gets back to him. Oola, unable to find anything, figures that Drath didn't trust his information to his computer. Ree goes to breakfast with everybody. Z says he'll hunt down Sent's family and make sure they're kept track of, but "What'll you arrest them for? Conspiracy to commit incest with the Emperor's genes? Unless you can find something, this'll have to be handled with primal justice."
"Nice setup," Zann comments.
Z learns they've fled Corellia for the Outer Rim, but he gets onto tracking them.
When she tells them, the Council is equally revolted, and decides to release the tapes. And they decide to send the Starwind to that planet to hunt the True Sith myths.
The Republic Cultural Office sends packages to them all with cultural guidelines and local costumes. These include corsets and long skirts for the ladies, and modified armor for Z, who's quite excited. Dalt, for his part, loves the "accoutrements." Kedrihm'Val wonders how the top hats are supposed to stay on.
A Jedi from that planet is working on Yavin; they set up a briefing with him. The natives look rather like vary large stick bugs, and are treated as servants or slaves by the human classes. The planet is named Avanris.
So it's to Avanris to interview the Felzin people. They meet a Republic ambassador, Alik Tell, upon arrival. He tells them talking to the Felzin will be difficult, and suggests starting at the museum. Going straight to the Felzin ghetto would offend the local humans, who are big on propriety. Besides, the Felzin are unlikely to trust them immediately. The humans here call themselves Avarians, and the scholars are eager to show off their knowledge.
Alik calls them a cab to go to the museum--it looks like a carriage on repulsor lifts. Some are towed by elaborate mechanical animals. The city's bustling.
They're introduced to the museum's curator, Sir Neville Ironbrand, who goes straight to Dalt as the most refined-looking gentleman there. Zan introduces them around. Demonstrating magnificent racism, Ironbrand is confused as to why they'd care about local legends. He invites them to his sitting room to talk futher.
The guy seems to be obsessed with time. He has clocks and alarms everywhere. Ree compliments him on his collection, to which he graciously replies, "Time is very important to us."
Tthe Felzin, they see, have 12 legs, four arms, and triangular heads with turban-like hats, which apparently are some form of religious garb. Their legends are of creatures they call "star dragons." Ironbrand shows them a picture, which is a good match for the True Sith warriors. These Star Dragons enslaved the Felzin for a few centuries until they were somehow driven off. "Your standard hero myth," he sums up. "Could it really have a basis in fact? Chalk that up to the first useful thing to come from this part of the planet."
When an assistant comes in, Ironbrand begs off briefly. Oola overhears a discussion of a break-in of one of the exhibits. He accepts Ree's offer of help.
When he leads them to the site, the police are already there--complete with bobby hats. Seargent Oscar Copperpot is in charge of the scene. A thin, squirrly-looking guy is pacing agitatedly. He's introduced as Sir Roderick Burd, an archaeologist. His companion, Sir Nigel Stormmaker, is en route.
Looking around, Ree sees something odd in the 100-foot high vaulted ceiling. She points it out to the policemen, who blow her off and admire the architecture. She tries again, directing their attention to the vent.
The others, meanwhile, get to hear mutterings about a curse. Dr. Burd seems to buy into it. "They were holy artifacts," he keeps insisting. Sir Neville, on the other hand, dismisses it entirely. The thefts included a book on Felzin burial rites, collected tablets of their mythology, and some "ancient tools." The chamber's recording devices were knocked out, which leads the police to dismiss Felzin involvement. "Too smart for them," they scoff. Neville agrees: "When we had them install the security system, they had no idea what they were doing. They had to be constantlly instructed." Z's head turns slowly toward him as he continues, "Must be the criminal element, or magic."
Wow. That's a special sort of ignorant.
The exhibit glass was clearly cut from above using razor-sharp tools. Noting the Felzin servants scuttling around in the background, Z realizes their lowest set of arms consist of pincers that would be sharp enough to do it. They also have wings.
Sir Stormmaker barges in. The man looks like a hardcore adventurer, with a broad, strong frame and tough, durable, leather-accented clothing. Seargent Copperpot intercepts him. "Well, Sir Nigel, we believe it's the curse."
Sir Nigel looks at him. "Really. Do you."
Firguring they've done about all they can here for the moment, the crew proceeds to the rooms the ambassador arranged for them. The Felzin are everywhere, towing rickshaws, driving, carrying, fetching, doing random labor. Kedrihm'Val is horrified. Ree, for her part, is shocked by the blindness they've encountered over the Felzin. Onna wants to research the curse. She notes that the ancient tools seem to be technological in nature. One is essentially a holocron, but built from technology developed independently by the Felzin. So much for unsophisticated.
Their rooms are absolutely opulent. Ree tries not to choke on it, gently thanking the Felzin who drops off their bags.
They hear on the news that the lead suspect in the robbery is one Lord Demetrius Nighthand. Wearing smoked glasses and a jet pack, bearing a cane accented by various gizmos, he's apparently the local villain du jour. There's also a report that "undesirable elements" are protesting against bad treatment of the Felzin outside the city's main post office.
Ree wants to talk to Stormmaker, who's the only person who's displayed consistent common sense so far. "He might be outside the post office," Kedrihm'Val observes.
The news continues to talk about gatherings of Felzin around their religious centers. there's a controversy over whether they should be allowed to gather so. Lady Delilah Soundmaker is apparently the undesirable element in question; she's demonstrating in support of Felzin rights and culture. "Social malcontent," the news anchors label her. From the news clips of her, she's...definitely enthusiastic. Especially about upbraiding bigots.
The crew decides to split up. Half will go meet Sir Nigel, while the other half look up this Lady Delilah.
Z, Ree, and Onna pay their respects at Nigel's manor. It's full of hunting trophies. Ree explains to him that they're interested in the myths. He asks what the Republic usually does with planets. Ree says usually they leave them to govern themselves, unless there's some gross violation of Republic law....such as slavery. Eyes gleaming, Sir Nigel suggests that they film an interview while traveling around town and just...catch whatever happens to be in the background.
Sir Nigel's apparently been around. He knows about the Rakata and so forth. He tells them that the Felzin formed a Force tradition after their conquest by the True Sith, until the True Sith were driven away by the sacred tools. The Felzin, like the Ithorians, believe that their forest is sacred. There's more information on the stolen tablets, but they were never fully translated.
He also tells them that local pyschic Emily Phyriss is likely to be called in to aid the investigation. From a noble family, she's prone to dramatics such as fainting. He expects her to lie about Felzin involvement, as it would upset people to contemplate the idea. He's agreeable about passing them further information if he thinks of anything useful.
The others discover that Lady Delilah Soundmaker is aptly named. This woman is loud. Kedrihm'Val introduces their group. Delilah agrees to introduce them to Fa'se'ket, a Felzin who might be willing to talk to them.
And indeed it is. Fa'se'ket tells them the Dragons were driven off when the Makers gave or helped the Felzin construct the sacred tools. Three Star Dragons landed (the story makes it sound like a True Sith ship crashed). Oola shows him a picture of a True Sith, which terrifies the poor Felzin. Flustered, it suggests they speak to other Felzin. There are prophecies... It looks at them more closely. "How did you get here?"
Kedrihm'Val exxplains that they were sent by the Jedi. Fa'se'ket says no well-meaning Felzin would profane the sacred tools by stealing them. If a Felzin took them, it's a rogue or for nefarious purposes. He sets up a meeting with a Felzin shaman.
Their impression, overall, is that the Felzin are sophisticated and well-spoken. They understand Galactic Standard much better than the Avarians are giving them credit for, as well. The groups rejoin in time to catch the advent of Lady Phryiss on the news. Sweeping into the museum with a white dress and elaborately done-up hair, she speaks about how the "spirits speak with her." The commentator speaks quietly into the camera, as if not to disrupt her concentration.
So does her psychic trance thing, waving her hands over the disturbed area and wobbling about. She comes out of it and is just about to proclaim something when a speeder sweeps in with Lord Demetrius in the seat. Amidst a commotion, he grabs her and zips away.
Kedrihm'Val: "This is even weirder than the rest of you."
Dalt agrees. "This is strange even for me."
The newsman's summation is, "The flower of womanhood has been taken in a speeder!" Prompting Ree to yelp, "What?"
"What does that mean?" Kedrihm'Val asks, completely at a loss.
The crew heads to the police to learn what they can about Lord Demetrius. In fact, the police have his address. He operates out of a public house. Z wants to pay him a visit.
Lord Demetrius is sitting at a table near the back when they enter. "I'll handle this!" Z declares.
Ree holds him back. "You are not going to ask him, 'Are you a Cloudstrider' and then crack him one."
"Then I'm out," Z says. "I have needs, Ree!"
"Then buy some liquor," Kedrihm'Val suggests, hoping to keep Z from creating a devastating scene.
Ree heads back and asks politely for Lady Phyriss. Demetrius tells her he's selling the information, so she does the Jedi trick. "She's in the back."
Indeed she is. She's lounging in the back room, wanting money for the information. Apparently she really is psychic, but Ree chews her out for being so mercenary about her powers. Phyriss concedes, telling them she saw two people--one human and one Felzin. He "obviously was a criminal," so she suggests they ask Mr. Nighthand about him. Then she lies back and mutters about being "cursed by these powers." Ree offers, but she doesn't want to be rescued until there are cameras to record it. It's all apparently a financial arrangement. How quaint.
Heading out again, Ree asks Demetrius about this human thief. After threatening him with Z--"I will request Z not kick over your table and kill all your men" to which Z replies, "Alllll right, I won't"--he gives her the name: Theo Halfspeaker. He's an independent criminal with a group of men under him. Demetrius sends them to the appropriate location with an urchin guide who calls himself Pip Pathfinder. He rather reminds Kedrihm'Val of Lydia. Demetrius demurs from further interaction. "I have to practice my evil laugh and my escape route. It's what the public demands of us all."
The urchin shows them to the warehouse. Kedrihm'Val jumps up the wall to peer into a high window, and sees a Felzin wearing a vest and bowler hat, surrounded by about 15 or 20 people who're loading boxes. Two guards cover a back door.
Stun grenades take care of quite a few of them, leaving 11 people standing. Kedrihm'Val stuns two. The Felzin activates two lightsabers.
"Where'd you get those?" Ree asks in surprise.
"You c'n buy a lot of stuff," it tells her.
"Buy them?" she repeats. "Fine!" She turns hers on and attacks the blades. The Felzin Force-lightnings her.
Z taps the Felzin on the shoulder. "'Scuse me. Your name Cloudstrider?" Then kicks it in the chest. Onna wraps a couple of goons in a net launcher, and the Felzin opens its wings and takes off. Z tears one off and starts beating the Felzin with it. It grabs Ree's llightsaber. Zan telekinetically snatches it away and hits the Felzin with it. Ree heals the wounded wing.
Onna wraps a net around the Felzin, and they tie up the captures goons. When the Felzin wakes, they try to explain why they're after the stolen items, but he says he doesn't believe them. Stymied, they tie a Force crystal to him and stash him on the ship. Ree warns him, "It's in your best interests not to try to escape. Trust me."
The goons know some of Theo's other haunts, and are surprised to learn he's not here after a job. This is different.
Kedrihm'Val receives a message that there's been trouble arranging a meeting with the Felzin shaman, because nobody can get hold of the Felzin shamans. They head to the religious center to see what they can see.
"Is everything okay?" Ree asks of a Felzin standing outside.
"Yeah!" says the Felzin, obviously not meaning it.
"Can we go in?" Ree asks politely.
"Suit yourself," the Felzin tells her, sounding unenthused about the idea.
"Shall we take a back way?" Kedrihm'Val asks, getting the subtext.
"The back way is very scenic," it says in relief.
Inside, they discover Theo, oozing with Dark Side corruption, holding the items. One's in his hands; the rest are stored in his backpack. When they yank the items away with telekinesis, Theo activates a lightsaber. Ree activates hers. "Are you really sure you want to fight us?"
He strikes a menacing pose...then Force-speeds out the door and onto an air ski. Ree zips off in pursuit with Z close behind hollering "PRIMAL JEEEEUSTICE!"
Angry Felzin who'd been essentially held hostage by the threat to their sacred tools help the rest of the crew round up goons at the temple while Ree and Z catch up to Theo. She leaps onto his sled.
"What are Jedi doing here?!" he demands.
"I don't really need to explain that to you," she tells him. "You don't want to surrender? My track record with Dark Siders is pretty good."
"We'll see about that," he blusters, then leaps off onto a carriage. Z ki.cks him.
Ree and Theo try to yank at each other's lightsabers, and the rebound hurls Theo from the carriage. She catches him; he reactivates his lightsaber. Z stuns him from behind. She destroys his saber and thanks the Felzin cab driver, who turns around and takes them back.
"The Dark Side doesn't do well for skin," Ree observes to Theo.
And thus they discover that the sacred tools are literally tools--fusion cutters and other utility devices for building machines. The holocron holds a Felzin who teaches the use of the tools. Apparently the True Sith who crashed just weren't prepared for organized resistance. One of the weapons the holocron teaches how to build is a highly advanced blaster rifle. The holo-Felzin says that a different personality holds the information on that, and says it'll try to convince that one to speak to them.
Kedrihm'Val asks it about prophecies. There are rough pictograms on the tablet--a man with a black hand sends people to this planet. "It's Master Skywalker!" Ree exclaims. The Felzin around them look at her. "Ah, you have the prophecy of the Chosen One," Kedrihm'Val observes sardonically. Indeed they do, and they're supposed to give them the holocron. The Felzin say they'll deal with the Felzin Dark Sider, and the Jedi will deal with Theo.
The tablets mention a weapon they used that the Felzin currently don't have--those blaster rifles the holo-Felzin mentioned. Also they demonstrate that the True Sith are vicious freaking bastards. The Felzin allow them to make copies of the tablets. Ree hangs onto the holocron. They lock up Theo on the ship.
Regarding Luke, he warns them: "It was on a wall! A really well-drawn wall."
On the evil rock: "Let me explain something to you from a scientific standpoint: some things you don't know till you crack it open." Ree wants the rock destroyed. She tells Dalt to work with Kedrihm'Val on communicating with the coral. Oola will poke Drath's computer core for more information. The others will spend some time learning more about the True Sith from their various resources.
Ree and Zan report to the Jedi Council.
Oola digs up Drath's plans for dealing with the True Sith. Still no explanation on why he wanted the concentrated life force of all his people, but apparently it's important somehow.
The Jedi debate spiritedly over the Sent situation. Ree's concerned about his family's safety if they release the information. Kyp wonders if his family isn't evil too. The Council puts an investigator on the case. Then they turn their attention to one really angry Maul-rock.
The Republic begins to prepare for war.
Dalt wants a thorough genetic scan of every Abindosani. He thinks that the information from the reefs may be coded into them in bits and pieces.
Ree scours temple archives for anything on the True Sith. She discovers a planet on the Perlemian trade route has ancient myths about an evil space-reptile people who exhibited Dark Side powers. It sort of sounds like the True Sith warrior caste. The myths come from a prehuman civilization that still dwells on the planet. They're a stubborn race that prefers to be left alone.
Dalt tells Ree about the gene-scans he wants to execute. Kedrihm'Val is concerned about getting his people to cooperate with yet another technological intrusion.
"Tell them evil from the stars is coming to eat their crops," Dalt suggests.
"Well, they know that," Kedrihm'Val replies.
"Tell them it's not me for a change," Dalt offers. "Tell them it's threatening."
Kedrihm'Val applies himself to convincing his people this is necessary.
Ree sets Zel to dig up information on Senator Sent's family. Turns out he already has: they're vacationing on Corellia. The children are a 14-year-old and a newborn. Looking into it further, he gets back to her a few days later with "vague and disturbing indications." Sent's wife comes from extraordinarily blue blood, but the truth is that she's adopted. And the Sents have...extremely redundant genetic material.
"Oh my god, twice?!" Ree exclaims. As in, the Emperor had sex twice? Zel refutes this. He believes they might be twins. "Separated and then...united," as he puts it disgustedly. Ree is revolted. "Oh! I thought I was prepared for this. I need to go dunk my head in bacta."
Oola installs a cloaking device on the Starwind. Ree tells the Council she has a report to give. "Oh, we'll be looking forward to it," is the polite reply.
"No, you won't," she tells them grimly.
The next day, the Jedi send Medical Corp personnel to Abindosan. Dalt works on information as it gets back to him. Oola, unable to find anything, figures that Drath didn't trust his information to his computer. Ree goes to breakfast with everybody. Z says he'll hunt down Sent's family and make sure they're kept track of, but "What'll you arrest them for? Conspiracy to commit incest with the Emperor's genes? Unless you can find something, this'll have to be handled with primal justice."
"Nice setup," Zann comments.
Z learns they've fled Corellia for the Outer Rim, but he gets onto tracking them.
When she tells them, the Council is equally revolted, and decides to release the tapes. And they decide to send the Starwind to that planet to hunt the True Sith myths.
The Republic Cultural Office sends packages to them all with cultural guidelines and local costumes. These include corsets and long skirts for the ladies, and modified armor for Z, who's quite excited. Dalt, for his part, loves the "accoutrements." Kedrihm'Val wonders how the top hats are supposed to stay on.
A Jedi from that planet is working on Yavin; they set up a briefing with him. The natives look rather like vary large stick bugs, and are treated as servants or slaves by the human classes. The planet is named Avanris.
So it's to Avanris to interview the Felzin people. They meet a Republic ambassador, Alik Tell, upon arrival. He tells them talking to the Felzin will be difficult, and suggests starting at the museum. Going straight to the Felzin ghetto would offend the local humans, who are big on propriety. Besides, the Felzin are unlikely to trust them immediately. The humans here call themselves Avarians, and the scholars are eager to show off their knowledge.
Alik calls them a cab to go to the museum--it looks like a carriage on repulsor lifts. Some are towed by elaborate mechanical animals. The city's bustling.
They're introduced to the museum's curator, Sir Neville Ironbrand, who goes straight to Dalt as the most refined-looking gentleman there. Zan introduces them around. Demonstrating magnificent racism, Ironbrand is confused as to why they'd care about local legends. He invites them to his sitting room to talk futher.
The guy seems to be obsessed with time. He has clocks and alarms everywhere. Ree compliments him on his collection, to which he graciously replies, "Time is very important to us."
Tthe Felzin, they see, have 12 legs, four arms, and triangular heads with turban-like hats, which apparently are some form of religious garb. Their legends are of creatures they call "star dragons." Ironbrand shows them a picture, which is a good match for the True Sith warriors. These Star Dragons enslaved the Felzin for a few centuries until they were somehow driven off. "Your standard hero myth," he sums up. "Could it really have a basis in fact? Chalk that up to the first useful thing to come from this part of the planet."
When an assistant comes in, Ironbrand begs off briefly. Oola overhears a discussion of a break-in of one of the exhibits. He accepts Ree's offer of help.
When he leads them to the site, the police are already there--complete with bobby hats. Seargent Oscar Copperpot is in charge of the scene. A thin, squirrly-looking guy is pacing agitatedly. He's introduced as Sir Roderick Burd, an archaeologist. His companion, Sir Nigel Stormmaker, is en route.
Looking around, Ree sees something odd in the 100-foot high vaulted ceiling. She points it out to the policemen, who blow her off and admire the architecture. She tries again, directing their attention to the vent.
The others, meanwhile, get to hear mutterings about a curse. Dr. Burd seems to buy into it. "They were holy artifacts," he keeps insisting. Sir Neville, on the other hand, dismisses it entirely. The thefts included a book on Felzin burial rites, collected tablets of their mythology, and some "ancient tools." The chamber's recording devices were knocked out, which leads the police to dismiss Felzin involvement. "Too smart for them," they scoff. Neville agrees: "When we had them install the security system, they had no idea what they were doing. They had to be constantlly instructed." Z's head turns slowly toward him as he continues, "Must be the criminal element, or magic."
Wow. That's a special sort of ignorant.
The exhibit glass was clearly cut from above using razor-sharp tools. Noting the Felzin servants scuttling around in the background, Z realizes their lowest set of arms consist of pincers that would be sharp enough to do it. They also have wings.
Sir Stormmaker barges in. The man looks like a hardcore adventurer, with a broad, strong frame and tough, durable, leather-accented clothing. Seargent Copperpot intercepts him. "Well, Sir Nigel, we believe it's the curse."
Sir Nigel looks at him. "Really. Do you."
Firguring they've done about all they can here for the moment, the crew proceeds to the rooms the ambassador arranged for them. The Felzin are everywhere, towing rickshaws, driving, carrying, fetching, doing random labor. Kedrihm'Val is horrified. Ree, for her part, is shocked by the blindness they've encountered over the Felzin. Onna wants to research the curse. She notes that the ancient tools seem to be technological in nature. One is essentially a holocron, but built from technology developed independently by the Felzin. So much for unsophisticated.
Their rooms are absolutely opulent. Ree tries not to choke on it, gently thanking the Felzin who drops off their bags.
They hear on the news that the lead suspect in the robbery is one Lord Demetrius Nighthand. Wearing smoked glasses and a jet pack, bearing a cane accented by various gizmos, he's apparently the local villain du jour. There's also a report that "undesirable elements" are protesting against bad treatment of the Felzin outside the city's main post office.
Ree wants to talk to Stormmaker, who's the only person who's displayed consistent common sense so far. "He might be outside the post office," Kedrihm'Val observes.
The news continues to talk about gatherings of Felzin around their religious centers. there's a controversy over whether they should be allowed to gather so. Lady Delilah Soundmaker is apparently the undesirable element in question; she's demonstrating in support of Felzin rights and culture. "Social malcontent," the news anchors label her. From the news clips of her, she's...definitely enthusiastic. Especially about upbraiding bigots.
The crew decides to split up. Half will go meet Sir Nigel, while the other half look up this Lady Delilah.
Z, Ree, and Onna pay their respects at Nigel's manor. It's full of hunting trophies. Ree explains to him that they're interested in the myths. He asks what the Republic usually does with planets. Ree says usually they leave them to govern themselves, unless there's some gross violation of Republic law....such as slavery. Eyes gleaming, Sir Nigel suggests that they film an interview while traveling around town and just...catch whatever happens to be in the background.
Sir Nigel's apparently been around. He knows about the Rakata and so forth. He tells them that the Felzin formed a Force tradition after their conquest by the True Sith, until the True Sith were driven away by the sacred tools. The Felzin, like the Ithorians, believe that their forest is sacred. There's more information on the stolen tablets, but they were never fully translated.
He also tells them that local pyschic Emily Phyriss is likely to be called in to aid the investigation. From a noble family, she's prone to dramatics such as fainting. He expects her to lie about Felzin involvement, as it would upset people to contemplate the idea. He's agreeable about passing them further information if he thinks of anything useful.
The others discover that Lady Delilah Soundmaker is aptly named. This woman is loud. Kedrihm'Val introduces their group. Delilah agrees to introduce them to Fa'se'ket, a Felzin who might be willing to talk to them.
And indeed it is. Fa'se'ket tells them the Dragons were driven off when the Makers gave or helped the Felzin construct the sacred tools. Three Star Dragons landed (the story makes it sound like a True Sith ship crashed). Oola shows him a picture of a True Sith, which terrifies the poor Felzin. Flustered, it suggests they speak to other Felzin. There are prophecies... It looks at them more closely. "How did you get here?"
Kedrihm'Val exxplains that they were sent by the Jedi. Fa'se'ket says no well-meaning Felzin would profane the sacred tools by stealing them. If a Felzin took them, it's a rogue or for nefarious purposes. He sets up a meeting with a Felzin shaman.
Their impression, overall, is that the Felzin are sophisticated and well-spoken. They understand Galactic Standard much better than the Avarians are giving them credit for, as well. The groups rejoin in time to catch the advent of Lady Phryiss on the news. Sweeping into the museum with a white dress and elaborately done-up hair, she speaks about how the "spirits speak with her." The commentator speaks quietly into the camera, as if not to disrupt her concentration.
So does her psychic trance thing, waving her hands over the disturbed area and wobbling about. She comes out of it and is just about to proclaim something when a speeder sweeps in with Lord Demetrius in the seat. Amidst a commotion, he grabs her and zips away.
Kedrihm'Val: "This is even weirder than the rest of you."
Dalt agrees. "This is strange even for me."
The newsman's summation is, "The flower of womanhood has been taken in a speeder!" Prompting Ree to yelp, "What?"
"What does that mean?" Kedrihm'Val asks, completely at a loss.
The crew heads to the police to learn what they can about Lord Demetrius. In fact, the police have his address. He operates out of a public house. Z wants to pay him a visit.
Lord Demetrius is sitting at a table near the back when they enter. "I'll handle this!" Z declares.
Ree holds him back. "You are not going to ask him, 'Are you a Cloudstrider' and then crack him one."
"Then I'm out," Z says. "I have needs, Ree!"
"Then buy some liquor," Kedrihm'Val suggests, hoping to keep Z from creating a devastating scene.
Ree heads back and asks politely for Lady Phyriss. Demetrius tells her he's selling the information, so she does the Jedi trick. "She's in the back."
Indeed she is. She's lounging in the back room, wanting money for the information. Apparently she really is psychic, but Ree chews her out for being so mercenary about her powers. Phyriss concedes, telling them she saw two people--one human and one Felzin. He "obviously was a criminal," so she suggests they ask Mr. Nighthand about him. Then she lies back and mutters about being "cursed by these powers." Ree offers, but she doesn't want to be rescued until there are cameras to record it. It's all apparently a financial arrangement. How quaint.
Heading out again, Ree asks Demetrius about this human thief. After threatening him with Z--"I will request Z not kick over your table and kill all your men" to which Z replies, "Alllll right, I won't"--he gives her the name: Theo Halfspeaker. He's an independent criminal with a group of men under him. Demetrius sends them to the appropriate location with an urchin guide who calls himself Pip Pathfinder. He rather reminds Kedrihm'Val of Lydia. Demetrius demurs from further interaction. "I have to practice my evil laugh and my escape route. It's what the public demands of us all."
The urchin shows them to the warehouse. Kedrihm'Val jumps up the wall to peer into a high window, and sees a Felzin wearing a vest and bowler hat, surrounded by about 15 or 20 people who're loading boxes. Two guards cover a back door.
Stun grenades take care of quite a few of them, leaving 11 people standing. Kedrihm'Val stuns two. The Felzin activates two lightsabers.
"Where'd you get those?" Ree asks in surprise.
"You c'n buy a lot of stuff," it tells her.
"Buy them?" she repeats. "Fine!" She turns hers on and attacks the blades. The Felzin Force-lightnings her.
Z taps the Felzin on the shoulder. "'Scuse me. Your name Cloudstrider?" Then kicks it in the chest. Onna wraps a couple of goons in a net launcher, and the Felzin opens its wings and takes off. Z tears one off and starts beating the Felzin with it. It grabs Ree's llightsaber. Zan telekinetically snatches it away and hits the Felzin with it. Ree heals the wounded wing.
Onna wraps a net around the Felzin, and they tie up the captures goons. When the Felzin wakes, they try to explain why they're after the stolen items, but he says he doesn't believe them. Stymied, they tie a Force crystal to him and stash him on the ship. Ree warns him, "It's in your best interests not to try to escape. Trust me."
The goons know some of Theo's other haunts, and are surprised to learn he's not here after a job. This is different.
Kedrihm'Val receives a message that there's been trouble arranging a meeting with the Felzin shaman, because nobody can get hold of the Felzin shamans. They head to the religious center to see what they can see.
"Is everything okay?" Ree asks of a Felzin standing outside.
"Yeah!" says the Felzin, obviously not meaning it.
"Can we go in?" Ree asks politely.
"Suit yourself," the Felzin tells her, sounding unenthused about the idea.
"Shall we take a back way?" Kedrihm'Val asks, getting the subtext.
"The back way is very scenic," it says in relief.
Inside, they discover Theo, oozing with Dark Side corruption, holding the items. One's in his hands; the rest are stored in his backpack. When they yank the items away with telekinesis, Theo activates a lightsaber. Ree activates hers. "Are you really sure you want to fight us?"
He strikes a menacing pose...then Force-speeds out the door and onto an air ski. Ree zips off in pursuit with Z close behind hollering "PRIMAL JEEEEUSTICE!"
Angry Felzin who'd been essentially held hostage by the threat to their sacred tools help the rest of the crew round up goons at the temple while Ree and Z catch up to Theo. She leaps onto his sled.
"What are Jedi doing here?!" he demands.
"I don't really need to explain that to you," she tells him. "You don't want to surrender? My track record with Dark Siders is pretty good."
"We'll see about that," he blusters, then leaps off onto a carriage. Z ki.cks him.
Ree and Theo try to yank at each other's lightsabers, and the rebound hurls Theo from the carriage. She catches him; he reactivates his lightsaber. Z stuns him from behind. She destroys his saber and thanks the Felzin cab driver, who turns around and takes them back.
"The Dark Side doesn't do well for skin," Ree observes to Theo.
And thus they discover that the sacred tools are literally tools--fusion cutters and other utility devices for building machines. The holocron holds a Felzin who teaches the use of the tools. Apparently the True Sith who crashed just weren't prepared for organized resistance. One of the weapons the holocron teaches how to build is a highly advanced blaster rifle. The holo-Felzin says that a different personality holds the information on that, and says it'll try to convince that one to speak to them.
Kedrihm'Val asks it about prophecies. There are rough pictograms on the tablet--a man with a black hand sends people to this planet. "It's Master Skywalker!" Ree exclaims. The Felzin around them look at her. "Ah, you have the prophecy of the Chosen One," Kedrihm'Val observes sardonically. Indeed they do, and they're supposed to give them the holocron. The Felzin say they'll deal with the Felzin Dark Sider, and the Jedi will deal with Theo.
The tablets mention a weapon they used that the Felzin currently don't have--those blaster rifles the holo-Felzin mentioned. Also they demonstrate that the True Sith are vicious freaking bastards. The Felzin allow them to make copies of the tablets. Ree hangs onto the holocron. They lock up Theo on the ship.
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