Logged August 28, 2001
Logged by Merina
Titled:  Seeking Help
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Characters: 
Merina 
Ashton 
Rruka 
Aaron
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Summary: Merina, shell-shocked and exhausted, has been wandering around 
Republic City on Coruscant. She meets up with a Jedi Knight, Ashton, as well 
as with the acolyte, Rruka who frightened her the previous evening. Perhaps 
she has found, in Ashton, someone to trust and confide in?
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Government Plaza -- Republic City  
The vast plaza is nearly five hundred meters wide and almost a kilometer 
long, from north to south. As one enters from the south, it is like entering 
a park, with grass and trees to either side of the main walkway. This only 
lasts for twenty meters or so before the greenery ends and the durrocrete 
begins. In the center of the plaza is a trio of massive statues surrounding 
a marble fountain. The lights projected onto the water from the three 
statues creates a rainbow effect on the water, regardless of what angle one 
views the fountain from. To the east is the Senate building - the largest 
single building on this side of the planet. A massive mansion is at the far 
north end of the plaza, yet despite its appearance, the number of beings 
coming and going from it indicates the mansion is also a place of 
government. To the west, raised above the plaza about 50 meters, is the 
shuttle stop. 

Merina walks onto the plaza with unsure steps. The hood of her cloak is 
pulled over her head, and she seems to be walking about aimlessly. She stops 
at one of the statues, and simply stares at it, or, perhaps looks through 
it. She looks to her left and right, but takes no immediate notice of 
anyone. She returns her gaze to the statues, and their bright lights. 

Merina 
There is not much to distinguish this woman who looks to be in her mid 
twenties. At about 5'4" she may be slightly shorter than the average, but 
not so much as it makes a difference. She has a compact build that lends her 
an athletic look. Her deep-set brown eyes lend her a solemn expression, 
which brightens somewhat when she smiles. Her complexion is a sallow olive 
color; she'd do with sitting in the sun for a bit. The chestnut brown hair 
that falls a few inches below her shoulders is so curly that frizzy is a 
better word for it. She chooses to wear it pulled back in an elaborate braid 
secured at the nape of her neck with a crimson colored plaited cord. Merina 
is wearing a deep green, ankle-length dress with a jacquard pattern of 
leaves scattered over it. The dress has a high neck, a fitted bodice, and a 
fit-flattering six-gore skirt. Over this she wears a hooded, duster-length 
cloak of taupe velour. Her feet are well protected in a pair of low-heeled 
boots. 

Ashton emerges from the Senate building without the usual gaggle of 
government lackeys harassing him. He felt bad about using the Force to 
convince them they were needed elsewhere, but stars if they weren't more 
demanding than a four year old Acolyte. So he's smiling because he got away 
scot-free and is enjoying his walk through the massive plaza immensely. He 
actually passes quite close to the central statue and Merina catches his 
eye, and then his perception as he can sense her confusion. He pauses to one 
side, idly looking up to see the top of the statue. "Makes you wonder why 
they build these things so big, if they actually expect us to see the face 
on top, doesn't it?" he says quietly to Merina. His introduction is simple 
and casual. 

Merina startles. She blinks, startled out of her dazed study of the statue. 
She turns to look at who has addressed her. Her hood still mostly hides her 
face, but she appears to be quite pale. "Yes" she says in an exhaled breath. 
She continues, her voice brittle with exhaustion, and hesitant, as if she 
were reaching for the words, and finding them difficult to grasp. “Why would 
they be so big that you can only see a bit of the whole”? 

Ashton 
A powerfully built man whose eyes and smile coincide with his young and 
athletic-looking physique. Averaging these two factors, a guess that the 
human male is somewhere in his early twenties is close to accurate. His 
light brown, almost sandy-brown hair is just longer than collar-length with 
a slight wave at the bottom as if it's starting to curl. He has light hazel 
eyes, more green than brown, but this changes with his mood or outlook. He 
is rather average in height; no more than five foot ten inches tall. Ashton 
is wearing a light blue tunic over a soft white, high-collared shirt. The 
loose sleeve tunic is belted at the waist with a black utility belt. His 
black pants are tucked into a pair of knee-high boots, made of soft black 
nerf leather. Clipped to his utility belt is a smooth, gunmetal blue 
cylinder. 

Ashton shrugs, leaning back to see if he can actually see the top. He can, 
but it's not clear without using the Force ... and who really wants to see 
the top anyway? "I guess they figure that the way Coruscant is growing, 
we'll soon be able to see eye to eye with the statue. Of course, then we 
won't be able to read the plaque," he says with a grin, gesturing to the 
plaque at the base of the statue. "Or maybe they just think we'll grow 
really tall." That last is to see if he can get a smile out of the woman. 
Not everyone on the planet had to be rude or frightening. 

Merina looks at the base of the statue. She hadn't noticed the plaque. She 
peers at it...and forces a chuckle. "Maybe they'll move it,” she offers 
weakly, the humor lost on her. She nods. "I've only just" she pauses, and 
rubs a hand against her mouth "got here" she bites her lip "yesterday 
evening" She looks directly at her companion. "I can hardly see how the city 
can grow any more without giving up open space." She lowers her head. "I 
think, as a matter of fact, that I have seen this particular space more 
times than I meant to" She speaks deliberately, almost as though she is not 
speaking a language she is fluent in, though her accent proves this to 
clearly not be the case. 

Ashton nods slowly, "I kind of figured..." He lifts his chin a little as if 
to casually point in her direction. "Your accent..." he says, as if that 
explains everything. "I'm from Tralus myself, so I recognize local accents 
fairly well." He steps a little bit closer and offers his hand. "Ashton 
Quince..." he offers in further introduction. "Unless you're enjoying the 
plaza here, I'd be happy to have some company on a walk down Justice Avenue. 
Interested?" 

Rruka enters from West Justice Way 

Rruka 
A smallish Trianii is this rather cheery black and white feline. His eyes 
are a brilliant greeny gold hidden in a black cap that extends around the 
top of his head. A white blaze is perfectly positioned between his eyes. His 
lower face is purest white except for his black nose and a few large 
freckles of black around his chin. His fur appears slightly long but baby 
fine. Other markings are hidden beneath a tunic of a soft slate gray. White 
hands appear out of the folds of the darker slate robe. Blacker freckling 
shows on the clawed fingers. A few blotches appear on the wrists. At his 
small feline feet are soft boots that soften his step and give him a more 
civilized look. His black ears have a slight tuft to them. His whiskers are 
bright white and stand out on the black cap pattern of his head fur. 

Merina lowers the hood of her cloak. She is indeed pale, and along her jaw 
are barely discernable bruises. "So long as you don't count on me for your 
guide" she replies with a smile, her voice indicating she has gained some 
confidence. She takes his hand. "I'm Merina, and I'm from Ascella, 
originally. Astute of you.." 

Rruka is wandering around by himself trying to stay out of trouble unlike 
SOME trainees. 

STATCHECK: Merina 
STAT: Perception Difficulty: Hard 
.........................SUCCESS!! 

Merina stops dead cold. She stares at a particular Trianii who has wandered 
onto the plaza. She takes an involuntary step backward. 

A quiet chuckle escapes Ashton's mouth, only to be stolen away by a small 
gust of wind. He inclines his head. "Then allow me to be _your_ guide. 
Almost everyone is overwhelmed by Coruscant when visiting... but I think I 
know my way around to the more enjoyable sights." He returns his hand to his 
waist and adjusts his jacket slightly. He seems to catch 'sight' of someone 
and looks as if he's staring in one direction for a moment, but when he 
returns his attention to Merina, he doesn't seem at all distracted. Ashton 
notices the backpedal and immediately senses fear in Merina ... and its from 
her own sighting of Rruka. He probes lightly for this and proves this to 
himself. He holds a hand out to Merina. "Wait... Merina." And as he speaks, 
a sense of peace reaches out and touches those around him, including Merina. 
A wonderful gift, the Force is. Especially when used to sooth the fears of 
others. "What's wrong?" he asks, knowing the answer, but wanting her to 
verbalize it. 

Rruka immediately picks up on the emotional bit from Merina. He frowns and 
begins to back up. He looks down at his feet only glimpsing up once with an 
apologetic look for Merina. Then with a sigh he turns and begins to walk 
away. 

Merina licks her lips and with the minutest of gestures indicates the 
Triannii. "Last night, he was there,” she explains. She is still wary, but 
she feels no more apprehension. She shakes her head as if to clear away 
mental fog. "I don't know" she seems confused. "I was meant to go with him. 
But go with him I did not" 

Ashton lifts a hand in Rruka's direction, and then turns to Merina, his face 
and body language emitting concern. "Him? The Jedi apprentice?" Ashton looks 
back to where Rruka is, then back to Merina with a slightly arched eyebrow, 
"Merina... what happened? Something I can help with?" 

Rruka stops in his tracks and keeps looking at his feet. He frowns to 
himself with a rather great sigh. 

Merina looks miserably at Ashton. She inclines her head toward Rruka 
affirming her earlier identification "Yes, him there" She takes a deep 
breath. "It was in the spaceport" She begins to speak faster and faster, 
tension, and something darker spilling into her words. "What happened?" The 
tension is replaced by fear. She clearly does not wish to say and moves on. 
"I don't know who can help. Jhrogan brought me here because he thought it 
would be safer for me. But elsewhere, people who have wanted to help have 
been hurt. I have sh.." she stops and clenches her hands. She cannot 
continue, and so instead "I cannot have that on my hands. Do you understand 
that?" she does not yell, but her voice rises. The little color that had 
returned to her face drains. It becomes obvious that she is teetering on the 
edge of shock. 

Ashton reaches out slowly, attempting to lay a reassuring hand on Merina's 
shoulder. If she allows it, she'll begin to feel a reassurance from within 
that fights the fear. "Merina, I can help you... Trust me." And something 
from within Ashton, not just his reassuring touch with the Force, gives an 
inclination that he does believe he can help. "That Trianni... he is a Jedi 
Apprentice. He's one of my charges. I assure you, he did not mean to scare 
you, if he did." He eases back a bit from Merina, so as not to make her feel 
crowded. "I can help you, if you want Merina... but you have to want me to. 
You have to take a leap of faith that someone can help you through whatever 
it is you're going through. If it isn't me, it needs to be someone. 
Something tells me you don't feel up to handling this by yourself." 

Rruka begins to slowly.....very very slowly approach. He keeps his head 
lowered and his eyes on the ground before him. He tries to look as 
unthreatening as possible. 

Merina bites her lip. She exhales as some of the fear and tension are eased 
away. The reassurance is not enough to assuage a deeper horror that she will 
not allow herself to contemplate. "I don't know where else to go," she says 
in agreement "but I don't see that anyone can help now. It is too late." She 
feels weak on her feet, and sways slightly back and forth. Some sort of 
awful realization hits her, as evidenced by her glazed expression. "How can 
I put anyone else at risk?" she points to herself. "I can't do this myself, 
but who would believe that I didn't know what was on that ship?" She 
prattles on, making sense to just herself. "I don't have any answers. But I 
had the gun. But I had no choice. Who'd believe me?" 

Ashton smiles easily, "I will..." He lifts his right hand, gesturing Rruka 
to approach. "And I have a place that we can talk... quietly without danger 
to you. And most importantly, without judgment." As Rruka gets closer, 
Ashton turns slightly towards the apprentice. "I don't know if you two 
actually met before, but..." he gestures to Merina for Rruka, "this is 
Merina. Merina, this is Rruka Mremre, one of the newer additions to the Jedi 
Praxeum here on Coruscant." He turns his attention back to Merina. 
"Obviously you're not too familiar with Coruscant, so would you like to go 
back to the Praxeum where things are quiet? Or maybe go somewhere you'd feel 
a bit safer?" he gestures with his hand, sweeping across the plaza. "Not 
quite as open as this?" 

Merina nods a greeting to Rruka and spares him a smile. He seems less 
threatening to her now. She is still not quite with it, but she manages to 
agree to be taken somewhere quieter, safer. The prospect of help may seem 
distant, but at least possible. "I don't know Coruscant at all. I was taken 
here,” she says as way of an explanation. "So, where ever you think it best 
to go" she has at least put some trust in Ashton, though she is still 
keeping something from him, something that seems ready to bubble to the 
surface. "I'll go." Merina bites on her lip as she watches at the people 
milling about. "It is open here. It isn't safe, like I was told it would be" 

Rruka nods a little in return but he still doesn't speak up or explain what 
went on. Turning his head toward Ashton he frowns a little. A few more sighs 
and a glance at the ground before looking back at the older Jedi, "I'm 
sorry...I messed things up." 

Aaron enters from West Justice Way 

Aaron 
Aaron Bactar is a very attractive young man by most human standards. His 
thin athletic body and square jaw make him appear very similar to the 
holo-film star Hickley Juster. The young politician wears finely tailored 
clothes of the latest style. His shoes have a mirror polish on their rare 
Gibbet lizard hide. 

Ashton nods amiably. "Good..." He offers a tentative smile to Merina. "I 
tell you what. We'll show you one of the prettiest spots on Coruscant." And 
he nods to Rruka, "Let's go... no sense in staying here this late anyway. 
Mostly tourists around this time of night..." He takes a few steps towards 
the south, looking over to see if Merina is ready. "Are you ready?" 

Merina nods. "Yes" she replies numbly. For a moment, she recovers some of 
her good humor. "Wouldn’t want to be thought a tourist" 

Rruka follows but keeps Ashton between himself and Merina. He slowly appears 
to relax a bit. "Coruscant.... has some lovely areas....Ashton knows them 
all I'm sure." He keeps one ear focused on Ashton and his gaze on the rode 
ahead. 

Ashton walks alongside Merina as they move towards the southern edge of the 
plaza from near the center. Rruka walks to one side and slightly behind 
Ashton as they go. He chuckles at Merina's comment. "Actually, you get a 
long way around here just saying you're a tourist. People tend to forgive 
mistakes easier, as if a native should just know better." A few more 
tourists pass by, going into the plaza and they pass by a few officials on 
their way out of the plaza as well. 

"Actually you are more likely to get yourself mugged if you tell people you’ 
re a tourist. Even here in Republic City." From behind the assembled Jedi 
come the words of the dashing young deputy senator. His smile explodes onto 
his square jawed face. 

Merina jumps, as someone addresses her other than her two companions. She 
looks behind her, and then looks wildly from Ashton to Rruka and back, 
seeing some comfort, before her gaze falls full on this stranger. She steps 
forward, placing the Jedi and the acolyte more obviously between herself and 
this man. 

Ashton turns about with a smile, as he not only recognizes the voice, but 
the Force presence of the Deputy Senator. He winks at Merina comfortingly as 
he turns. "Ahh, now that depends on where you go, Mr. Bactar. Up here along 
Justice Avenue, I hardly think we have to worry about that." He offers a 
hand to Aaron. "We haven't met officially yet. I'm Ashton Quince. I work 
with the Senator from Commenor most of the time that I am privileged enough 
to sit in on Senate meetings." He turns to Merina. "This gentleman is the 
Deputy Senator of Coruscant." He also makes a gesture to Rruka and Merina as 
he looks back to Aaron. "This is Rruka Mremre, a Jedi Acolyte... and Miss 
Merina..." he pauses as he realizes he never caught her last name. He smiles 
and continues, "a visitor to Coruscant." 

Merina quickly adjusts the hood of her cloak so as to partly obscuring her 
face. She does not supply a last name. She demurely nods a mute greeting to 
the Deputy Senator. 

Rruka bows slightly to Aaron but he's not about to break into a conversation 
with Ashton and Merina around. He just tries to just remain quiet until he 
finds himself in a better spot. 

Aaron takes the hand and gives it a firm shake. "It is a pleasure to meet 
you, Master Quince." He nods to Rruka and then turns to Merina. He draws 
back his hand from the Jedi and extends it to the woman. He ducks slightly 
and looks under her hood. "As lovely a woman as yourself should not hide her 
beauty from those that she meets." His smile splaying over his face in a 
flood of joviality. 

Merina accepts the hand, but makes no move to adjust her cloak. "Thank you 
for your compliment" she manages, offering no further explanations. 

Any other being and he'd let the misunderstanding go without correction. But 
this man could replace the current Senator should anything befall the 
elderly man. It would be best if he knew who Ashton was from the start. He 
bows his head to Aaron, "Jedi Quince..." he says in correction to the 
Senator, "Or Ashton, if you prefer. I have not yet become a Master of the 
Force yet." He smiles a very diplomatic and apologetic smile. "And it is a 
pleasure to meet you finally, Mr. Bactar. Unfortunately, I was escorting the 
young lady to a place where she can rest. I hate to excuse us so quickly 
after meeting you, but we should be going. I hope we'll get a chance to see 
each other again soon." He inclines his head with respect to the Deputy 
Senator, and then turning with a soft smile for Merina, he gestures to the 
south. "Shall we?" 

Merina allows Ashton to lead her. "Pleasure to have met you, Senator" she 
manages. 

END LOG