4. Alec Uban walked into the throne room flanked by Valecka and her own guards to see Lord Darchind sitting in his customary throne, speaking to a man kneeling in front of him swaddled in a cloak. Darchind too was formless beneath the black cloak he wore and his unblinking, glowing red eyes peered out at Alec appraisingly. Alec’s first inclination once more was that he was a Sith. He dashed it away just as quickly as he had against Valecka. These people were just unfamiliar to him. Alec stood in front of Darchind for a moment then bowed. "Lord Darchind, it is with the utmost respect we accept your allegiance into the Republic. "It is good to meet you, finally." Darchind was silent for a moment, still looking at Alec Uban and seemingly sizing him up. He nodded to Valecka and she left the room alongside the blue cloaked man. Alec Uban sensed a certain familiarity in the blue cloak but turned his attention fully onto Darchind. "I am truly sorry, I was attending to a prior matter." Darchind finally said. His voice was low but leaked out with such liquid ease of a seasoned politician it almost sent a shiver down Uban’s spine. "No apologies needed, I was sent here to help you deal with a problem however, but I feel that somehow you might have everything under control . ." Alec started. "You must be referring to the curfew I’ve instituted." Darchind said. Uban nodded silently. "This has done away with some of the violence and threat levels—." Darchind started. "Violence? Of what sort?" Uban asked. "The attempts on my life most immediately. Yesterday the insurgents and dissidents orchestrated a riot during a gather in the town square. We were about to hold a parade celebrating the relative peace when they struck . ." "I’m sorry," Alec Uban answered. "I wasn’t made aware of such events. I gather you are past the time for peaceful negotiations with these . .dissidents as you call them?" "Correct." Darchind replied. "Like any ruler of a people, I give the power to disagree with me freely, but they have not taken any of their qualms up with me peacefully. I as the elected president of the Xolatians, have a right to demand you step in and control the situation, correct?" Uban nodded but corrected Lord Darchind minutely. Interesting, he thought. "We are here to resolve the problematic situation. We choose not to deviate or control a situation—those are ways of the—." "Dark side. I have been educated on your order for the last few weeks, Master Jedi. I find the way of the Jedi both difficult to understand but perfectly understandable as a role in the Republic. I am only saying that these villains are attacking my people without cause. If I were a warrior of your nature I would go out on my own, but I am only a politician, as you might already have assumed." Lord Darchind spoke. His voice echoed against the chamber walls, dank but illuminated, the place was gloomy but not dark. Alec Uban found it unsettling. Like a facade, he thought quickly. "I am glad you understand our role in the Republic, Lord. I wish to facilitate this struggle to the best of my ability, and in two days, my padawan learner and another two Jedi will be on the way at my request," Assuming Siron passed the trials, Alec thought dryly. He was a good padawan, but Anduil had only a thin grasp of the living Force as a part of life. However, Jedi were allowed to discover this on their own, through their experiences. "Very well." Lord Darchind said, content. There was a small beep from the arm of his throne chair but he ignored it. "Lord Darchind, I was actually wondering about a few things, if we are done with the most immediate business?" Alec Uban asked. "Certainly. I am always willing to illuminate the mind." Lord Darchind spoke, with just a hint of a dry tone, too, Uban surmised. "I was to enquire about your population—are you mostly native to your planet, or have you been receiving immigrants with open arms?" Alec asked. Darchind nodded, his eyes, red as blood still unblinking. "Valecka and her guards aroused speculation?" Alec nodded. "They came here just a few days prior to your arrival. They were taken in, having heard their story about an . .inflammatory issue in their system?" Darchind posed. Alec nodded but frowned. He had no idea that Gamorr had been under attack by the Mandalorians. "I was not aware their home planet was being attacked . ." Alec ventured. If that was how the war was going, then he would be on the front lines within a few months. Darchind shook his hooded head. "No, they were ejected by a planetary government . .but you mention war?" Alec held his jaw in place. He’d just been lured and he’d taken the bait. How could he not have seen it coming? Perhaps I am too close. "Yes, we are currently defending ourselves in a war against an honor driven race called the Mandalorians." Darchind nodded. Satisfied, no doubt, Alec thought. There is more to this one then meets the eye. "Are your Jedi and the military engaged in dual command-ship against their forces?" Alec considered for a moment but knew he’d been duped once again. "We have no formal military however—." "So your Jedi are spread thin?" Lord Darchind asked. "Will there be an adequate amount of your Jedi to attend to the matter on Xolatis?" "I assure you Lord Darchind, there will be enough." Alec said. "What of your military? You said you don’t have one. Am I to believe that those who are to keep and preserve peace in the galaxy have no fleet or ships?" "Lord Darchind, we have many allies in the Republic. The fact that we ourselves do not have our own ships does not mean the Republic doesn’t have a fighting force." Alec replied. He didn’t like where this was going. "So am I to assume you draw on the worlds inside the Republic for military aide and resources?" Darchind asked. Again, Alec had to restrain himself from showing amazement. His Jedi Master calm was one of many reputed from within the Order, but the way this man spoke . .it was articulate, yet obscure enough for his motive to not be seen until it was too late. "Yes. You would be correct, but—." "I hope you do not assume by us joining the Republic you will have free reign over the resource rights we hold." Lord Darchind spoke calmly. "I assure you, my journey here was made only to help mediate your problems." Alec replied just as calm. Lord Darchind nodded, seemingly satisfied. "I would speak with you more, but I am receiving communications from one of my aides at the moment. Would you excuse me, Master Jedi?" Alec nodded but Lord Darchind was already standing then striding from the room in his black cloak without another word. I was ill-prepared for this, Alec Uban thought. His thoughts were on the incoming Jedi and how long they would really take to get to Xolatis. He found it disheartening that he might have to face Lord Darchind and his maze-like way of speaking again alone. Lord Darchind strode out of his throne room and down a narrow blue-stone hallway. There was a long mural on the wall depicting a great battle on Xolatis’ surface from the beginnings of their culture, and he spent many a night watching it and finding peace within the frozen moments of chaos within it. There was a fork at the end of the hallway and he took to the left. It went to the communications room, where he would have liked the Jedi Master to think he was going. At the corner wall that faced Communications, Darchind pressed a hidden button and the corner rotated away, revealing a small but manageable staircase. Darchind stalked down it awkwardly as he always did, finding that it was better that he depend on his tunnel vision accosted by his hood then grow dependant on the full awareness given to him by taking the thing off. He was use it’s limits to bolster his senses once he did have to take the hood or cloak off. The stairs ran along in a spiral fashion for a few hundred feet before expanding out into a flat stony environment. There, underneath the castle was his real place of meditation and relaxation. The castle itself was situated on top of a giant underground cave system. The flat space of his underground throne room allowed for about the same room as his above ground one did, at which point the place plummeted off of a cliff. Darchind came to a Holo-station and clicked it hurriedly on. Darchind had no worries about the Jedi Master Alec Uban. He was in the dark about everything going on atop Xolatis’ surface, let alone what went on underground. Out from the Holo-station(camouflaged with rocks and stones to make it look primitive) sprung the figure of a blue head. An segmented, armor faced head, wearing a ghostly black but reflective T-visor that was equated with none other then the greatest warriors the galaxy had ever seen: The Mandalorians. "Lord Darchind, you disappoint me with your lack of speed to contact me," the man behind the mask, known only to Darchind Voskar, rasped. "I am sorry, Lord Voskar, but I was attending to our . .guest. I trust that you and the battleships are well rested?" Darchind groveled. This man knows even less then the Jedi, he sneered inwardly. "No, Darchind, we’re not rested." Voskar growled. To fill the space, opportunity allowed Darchind this chance mercifully to calculate his plans that much more. "Perhaps you would hold over for a week or so in order for you to regain your force’s composure? They surely must be tired? Perhaps in the Ryloth system—." "We need no rest!" Voskar exclaimed. "The Mandalorians are the greatest warriors in the galaxy! Our composure is gathered!" "I was only thinking that if you had time to confer with my own tacticians and pilots you might grow accustomed to being under independent command—." Darchind bobbled. "Assuming your payment is transacted, I and my troops will give you the ships bought and will be back on our way to the front. Your money will allow for the construction of at least thirty new battleships like the three we have sold you. Tell me, why have you given your planet’s riches away for only three at such a hefty sum?" The Mandalorian asked. Unblinking but relieved eyes returned the Mandalorian’s question with silence for just a moment. Darchind recovered, "We simply want protection for when our time comes to fight, if need be." The Mandalorian seemed to consider it but didn’t pursue it. "We will hold in the Ryloth system for approximately nine days." The T-visored, motionless helmet dissipated then vanished with a wink of blue. Nine days, Darchind thought. Nine days will be fine.