Logged August 29, 2001
Logged by Merina
Titled:  A Hope for Help
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Characters: 
Merina 
Ashton 
Moira
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South Bridge -- Jedi Praxeum  
Wide enough for four human-sized beings to walk side-by-side across, this 
stone bridge is nearly two city blocks long - almost 1000 meters long. The 
bridge is slightly higher due to the arch of the stone structure. The stone 
walls on each side of the walkway are only a meter tall, and there is no 
further protection against falling off the bridge above that. Looking over 
the side, one might be able to make out the beings moving along the roadway 
50 stories below. 

Merina has made it all of half way across the bridge. She's made the error 
of walking by the wall rather than down the center. Curiosity having gotten 
the better of her, she has looked over the side. She stands there, and does 
not move...staring down at the roadway so far below her. She is unaware of 
people passing by, mesmerized by the dizzying height. At least it allows her 
mind to blank out, which to her is a relief. 

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 pinned back in a loose ponytail 
secured at the nape of her neck with a plaited cord. Merina is wearing a 
deep purple, ankle-length dress with a batiked pattern of variegated blue 
blossoms scattered over it. The dress has a modest scoop neck, a pin-tucked 
bodice, and a fit-flattering six-gore skirt. Over this she wears a hooded, 
duster-length cloak of azure blue. Her feet are well protected in a pair of 
low-heeled boots. 

Two of those crossing the bridge, behind a group of young Acolytes, are Jedi 
Knights. One is considerably older than the other and he is speaking to the 
younger one in an amused voice, when the other holds up a hand. "Moment, 
Tirol..." he says, as he catches sight of the woman on the bridge. Tirol'dyn 
doesn't even seem perturbed that Ashton interrupted him, instead nodding 
with a small smirk. They approach Merina from the south, Ashton sliding a 
hand along the side wall of the bridge as he walks. "If you're not busy 
looking up when I see you, you're busy looking down..." he says with a smile 
as he stops next to her. "Merina? You alright?" 

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. 

Merina straightens ramrod straight, startled.” Stars above!" she says in 
Corellian. Merina manages a laugh. "But you do like to sneak up on people, 
don't you?" she says, once she has regained her breath. She chuckles softly. 
"Well, it seems that is was Coruscant is all about, looking up or looking 
down" Her demeanor is much improved, and she looks well rested, but it seems 
to be just on the surface. She blushes slightly her only indication at being 
embarrassed at having been frightened on the bridge. She covers it by 
quickly adding "quite a view from" she pauses "so high" 

If Ashton noticed the fear, he doesn't acknowledge it. "Yeah, it's an 
beautiful view. Thankfully we can't see the bottom from up here. Not exactly 
the nicest area of Coruscant down there." Stepping away from the edge, he 
gestures to Tirol'dyn. "Merina, this is Jedi Knight Tirol’dyn, a friend of 
mine. Tirol... this is Merina." He doesn't add anything more. It wasn't 
Ashton's place to share her story with everyone he met. With his left hand, 
Ashton gestures northward. "Well, you made it this far... would you like to 
come into the Praxeum?" 

Merina inclines her head slightly in silent greeting to the other Jedi 
Knight. She briefly chews on her lip. "I think" she says after a moment's 
hesitation "that would be the uhm, a good thing to do" Now if only her feet 
would work! Just one step and she'll be fine. She shuts her eyes and takes a 
step backward, away from the wall. It is a small movement, but requires a 
great amount of effort. She isn't about to give in to this, and try as she 
may to be subtle; it is blatantly obvious among this particular lot. She 
smiles in relief and, taking pause to compose herself, says in what she 
hopes is a bright voice "shall we then?" 

Ashton bows his head slightly as Merina faces her fear - lifting it only 
when he senses her turning to face him. He nods an affirmative and starts 
walking towards the entrance to the Praxeum. Tirol'dyn hangs back from the 
pair. He's obviously done this before with many Acolytes and visitors who 
got stuck on the bridge and remains behind to catch them in case they get 
faint. The gates leading from the bridge to the courtyard stand wide open, 
allowing them to pass into the courtyard without incident. Ashton slows his 
step a fraction, glancing to his side to see Merina's initial reaction to 
the courtyard. 

With great effort, Merina puts one foot after the other. The only thought in 
her mind, a litany 'put one foot in front of the other, one foot in front of 
the other, one foot in front of the other’ She looks at her feet, willing 
them forward, until she has passed through the gates. 

Courtyard -- Jedi Praxeum  
This vast courtyard is where much of the daily life of the Jedi can be 
observed. A park-like area near the bridge is often used as a study area, 
and the open areas in that park are teaming with life as students and 
teachers alike take part in sports and athletic activities, honing the body. 
At each corner of the square compound is a tower that is easily 200 stories 
high. Paths criss-cross the entire compound and run the perimeter, from 
tower to tower. At the north end of the compound is a large hill constructed 
of many different types and sizes of boulders. In the center of the 
courtyard is the largest tower, raising another 100 stories above the other 
towers in the complex. The double-wide, ornate doors to this tower are 
always open. Unlike the other towers, this one has a wide section near the 
top that removes the tapered look the other towers have. Above this bulge is 
where the Jedi Council Chamber is located. 

Merina walks through the gate and stops. She looks up at the towers, 
impressed and amazed by their height. She turns to Ashton and smiles. "So 
there I go looking up again, then" 

Ashton chuckles, "Well, Coronet City is a bit more level than Republic 
City." He smiles as they pause well inside the gateway. "Welcome to the 
Praxeum," he says, arm sweeping across the courtyard in a display-fashion. 
The Jedi Knight turns to Tirol'dyn and nods a thanks to him. Tirol'dyn 
grins, but nods and excuses himself from the pair. 

Merina nods again to the retiring Jedi. She exhales softly; this place has 
taken her breath away. "Oh, but I like Coronet City" she says her voice soft 
with wonder "at least you know where to look. And it can be a sight for sore 
eyes." 

Ashton grins, nodding knowingly. He walks along the path leading toward the 
center of the courtyard. A massive tower rises before them - the Jedi 
Council tower. But this is not his intended destination. As the draw closer, 
he veers off the path and into a small clearing of grass, complete with a 
long bench that faces west. He gestures to the bench invitingly. "Tralus is 
the same way... always nice to go home once in a while." 

Merina sits lightly on the bench. "As is Ascella, though I have not been 
back home in a long time. So Coronet is as close to home as I'll call 
anything right now." she momentarily tenses, and forces herself to take a 
breath. "But I wasn't there long before" she stops. "Before coming here" Not 
quite the truth, though close enough. 

Taking a seat on the bench with Merina, he turns sideways to look at her as 
she speaks. He nods as he senses the warmth that thinking of home brings 
her. The pause brings a small frown to his face. "Yeah, it doesn't sound 
like you're too happy being here... You mentioned some trouble last night. 
Can't you go home?" Ashton remembers she was very worried about something 
last night and he wasn't about to pressure her into talking before she felt 
more comfortable around him. Now was the moment of truth, he supposes. 

Merina intertwines her hands together. There is a long pause. She is 
considering what to say. When she speaks, her voice is hushed. "It isn't 
that I can't go home" she explains, "but that it might not be safe for me 
there." she chews on her lip. "But it wasn't me that made that decision." A 
puzzled look crosses her face. "But he took me from Corellia, Jhrogan did" 
she seems confused by this. "But I was on Arkania" A roiling of emotion 
inside her becomes apparent. She shuts her eyes to quell images. She opens 
them again, eyes wide like saucers "If anything, it was there that wasn't 
safe" 

Ashton nods, listening as Merina attempts to make some sense of what she is 
saying while she is saying it. He lifts an eyebrow at the mention of 
Arkania. His concerned look lightens slightly, "Now that depends on what you 
consider safe..." He leans back against the bench's backrest, hands clasped 
at his belt. "So what started all of this, Merina? What happened that turned 
your life upside down?" 

Merina gives a small laugh. "Upside down is a mild word for it. I wouldn't 
know where to begin." She answers her own question. "The beginning I 
suppose." She trails a hand through her hair. Having caught the attention to 
her mention of Arkania that seems as good a place as any to start. "Yes, 
Arkania. Not the nicest place. Our freighter crashed outside the city, and 
we made our way, somehow, to that pathetic excuse for a town." she stops. 
"You won't approve" she says with a shake of her head "no one does, but my 
brother abandoned me there. He had his reasons I suppose. I have to find 
him" Her voice becomes more distant. It is clear that this is the mere bones 
on which a greater story hangs. 

"Trade City you must mean... " Ashton says, knowing the seedy town she's 
speaking of. He doesn't emit any real emotion to the tale, not because he's 
not sympathetic, but because he promised her - no judgement. Therefore he 
couldn't really make any statements about her brother's actions without 
being judgmental, even if he didn't make the promise to her brother. "How 
long ago was this?" he asks, referring to her being abandoned on Arkania 

Merina nods. "A few months ago. I took a job waiting tables in that dive 
near the spaceport until I had credit enough to get anywhere else." she 
sighs. "But there was trouble. I think the Ocicat was sabotaged. Before we 
took off that day, he'd had a visitor who was none to pleased over 
something. And next thing I know we are falling out of the sky. And that 
wasn't the end of the trouble" she looks at Ashton full in the face. Her own 
expression is contorted with concern and something bordering on horror "but 
things have happened to everyone I've told." 

Ashton shrugs slyly, as if to say he isn't too worried about that. "Merina, 
I can take care of myself. If you don't feel comfortable talking about for 
fear for my safety, I'll respect your wishes." But he seems quite confident 
in his ability to take care of himself. And that gunmetal blue cylinder 
hanging from his belt is an indication that he probably is pretty good at it 
too. He shrugs lightly, "I don't need to know everything to help you... I 
just need to know /how/ I can help you..." 

Merina nods. She seems relieved to not have to retell the whole of the tale. 
She takes another deep breath. "My brother was smuggling dead bodies for 
experimentation purposes. I don't know who they were intended for, I didn't 
even know that was what we were carrying." She exhales loudly "because *I* 
believed the manifests that said they were medical supplies. Noone is going 
to believe that though, are they, that with a crew of two, one didn't know 
something like that" She chews on her thumbnail for an instant before 
continuing. This is not easy for her. "The cargo supposedly perished in the 
crash, the cryo-vac units damaged. All that was salvaged was a crate of 
blasters. I don’t believe that though, because too many people seem 
interested in that ship and in that cargo." She stops but it is clear there 
is more. "And I know there are at people looking for him, and the only 
person who I knew who would know where he was is" she starts to shake "all 
that is left of him is a damp spot on an elevator.and I..I..was the one 
who.." she shakes her head and stops this train of thought. She will not 
allow herself to go there, or to speak of it "So I need to find my brother. 
I need to find out what this is all about. before someone finds him first." 

Ashton stares thoughtfully for several moments, and without even trying he 
is sensing the entire flow of emotions and surface thoughts of Merina as she 
speaks. He nods slowly as she concludes, lifting his head to look at her. 
"Where we you coming from when your ship crashed? I mean... where did you 
pick up your cargo?" He seems to be on to something, but he isn't sure of 
his skills in obtaining the information he needs. He might need someone else 
on this with him, if he planned on helping Merina. 

Merina sighs. She feels comfortable telling him this, more comfortable than 
she expects. "we picked up the cargo at Nar Belsa, and then we made a brief 
stop in Coronet, though not to pick up any cargo. The freight was all 
documented as sensitive to light and heat and thus was sealed to customs 
inspections." She steeples her fingers. A glance at her wrists will reveal 
mostly faded ligature bruises. "It was in Coronet we had that visitor I told 
you about, but that person didn't know I was onboard at the time" she 
shrugs. "Jhrogan brought me here because he thinks these same people are 
after me and that I'd be safer here. They haven't connected me though yet. 
except for..."she simply stops, having answered the question. and realizing 
she may be saying too much. 

From the southwest comes a blonde human woman, on the smallish side of 
average. Her steps are quick, and the girl definitely seems to have a goal 
in mind. She examines the courtyard, searching for someone or something in 
particular. However, once Moira's sighted the object of her search, the girl 
seems a little reluctant to approach it. Standing a good 50 feet from where 
Merina and Ashton sit on a bench, Moira ponders whether or not to disturb 
her master. Is it important enough to interrupt a private conversation? Not 
too sure, Moi simply makes her presence known, not approaching until she 
knows it's safe to do so. 

"Corellia, huh?" Ashton nods. "Nar Belsa is probably a more likely starting 
place for our investigation." He looks over to Merina in her thoughtful 
pose. "If you want my help, that is." At that moment, he senses Moira's 
approach and he allows a smile to cross his face. He turns slightly, lifting 
a hand to her and gesturing her towards them. He turns back to Merina as 
Moira approaches. "You don't need to come if you fear for your safety, but 
if you permit me, I will accept your safety and your mission as our 
priority." He knows already that the Council has approved his course of 
action and he gets an inward laugh that they were tuned into the situation 
even as he and Merina were speaking. 

Merina is resolute. "I need to know what this is all about. I know it is a 
small thing, but it is important to me" she rubs her wrists. "I have to find 
him first" She seems inclined to say something else. "And would you still 
accept this mission, my..my safety, even if, even if I were to tell you what 
happened to the one being I know of who knew where Ric was, up until" she 
shuts her eyes. "the other day" she is fearful of the answer, but feels 
compelled to ask, or to tell. 

Good, so approaching is safe, and the Padawan girl does so at this time. 
Moira's demeanor as she heads toward the pair is calm, but not as cheerful 
as usual. She does, however, offer a smile as she arrives, just late enough 
to miss Merina's statements to Ashton. "Evening, Master. Ma'am." she says. 
Then the girl just trails off, as she decides the best way to break the 
news. Better to talk a moment or two first, so as to feel out what's going 
on, and what is appropriate to share. 'Tai would probably just tell it all 
mentally and go work on fixing things himself.' Moira thinks, and this 
manages to cheer the girl a bit. Of course, the path Tai might take doesn't 
quite fit with Moira's own preferences. Suddenly, Moi realizes she's not 
introduced herself to the stranger. "Oh! I'm sorry, my name is Moira 
Brennan." 

Merina looks up, surprised. For a moment words fail her. She had not heard 
the padawan approach, and she regrets her last words. She should not have 
said a word about it. Still, what's done is done. She inclines her head in a 
greeting to the woman. "I'm called Merina" she pauses. "Merina Singapura" 
for the first time, in a long time, gives her full name. "Maybe I should 
give you too leave to talk" she says this out of her own discomfort. 

Moira 
This Padawan learner is a human female, about 5 foot 5 inches in height. She 
is probably in her early twenties, though something about her makes her look 
younger. Perhaps it's the expression in her blue-green eyes. Not quite 
innocence, but something akin to it. Moira has a kind face, heart shaped 
with a gently sloping nose. She's pale of complexion, not exactly sickly, 
but not tan. One might get the impression that tanning is impossible for 
her- too much sun would surely cause her skin to burn. Her hair is ash 
blonde and board straight, pulled back in a ponytail to keep it out of her 
way. Her face bears an open and friendly look, completely free of any 
artifice or insincerity. An Ossus native, the girl's voice bears the 
slightest accent, the only remainder of home she carries with her. The only 
other unchanging feature of that girl that is Moira, is a ring that she has 
recently added to her right ring finger. The non-wedding band hand. It's a 
pair of wires, black and white. But they seem to be molded of the same 
material- only upon very close observation do they seem separate. She's 
back in her training robes, and upon first glance it almost looks as if a 
sea of brown fabric has swallowed the young woman. There are several layers 
to the outfit- leggings and an shift underneath, in a beige-brown, then 
darker brown robes over that. There's a sash-belt thing on which hangs a 
belt clip, presumably for her borrowed training light saber. When it's 
there, the light saber might be recognizable as the red-handled model that 
was one of Ashton's early attempts at making the weapon. Her shoes look to 
be solid enough, and comfortably worn. They're made of some type of 
weathered brown leather, and extend just above the ankles to offer a little 
support. 

Ashton is about to answer Merina as Moira arrives by his side and introduces 
herself to Merina. While a breach of protocol, Ashton really doesn't mind. 
He doesn't want Moira to be like some of the quiet little pups he sees 
following Masters around all day. He likes that she has an assertive nature 
and he nods up at her from his seated position. "Moira is my padawan, 
Merina. She'll be accompanying us on this investigation." It's decided then, 
at least as far as Ashton can tell. He looks at Merina and answers her 
questions directly, "And yes, I will still keep my word. I am sorry that 
something bad had to happen... to you or anyone else. But as long as there's 
a chance that your brother can be found, you won't be satisfied to sit 
around doing nothing. And I cannot allow you to do /something/ without 
someone to protect you. I think we can do that..." 

Merina nods, accepting this, though not fully understanding all that it 
means. Suddenly she realizes she must be forthright with Ashton, in fact he 
may already know what she so desperately doesn't want to admit. "I don't 
think you understand" she says, hesitantly. She pitches her voice low to 
prevent it trembling with only moderate success. "Bad things have happened, 
yes. To me, but also" she stops again. "but also that I have done" she 
cannot keep the misery from her voice. "even if I had no choice" 

Whoa. -What- did she just walk into? Moira blinks, deciding silent is the 
best way to be if you want to listen. Of course, any breach of protocol goes 
completely unnoticed- like she really knows what the protocol is in these 
situations. Moi just does what seems like the best, most polite thing, and 
hopes it's acceptable. But hey, there's a reason she's still learning. So, 
she just smiles again as Merina introduces herself, doing her best to put 
away the puzzled feeling and concentrate on finding out what's going on. The 
situation she approached the pair to discuss, the problems with Spectre, are 
put on hold for now. With luck, perhaps Ashton already knows. 

Ashton lifts a hand as if to wave off Merina's explanation. He didn't even 
need the Force to get an understanding of what had happened. He had been 
dealing with politicians and law enforcement for 6 years and had trained in 
investigative techniques before then. He had caught on to the tale that 
Merina held secret. Instead of spelling it out, he simply asks a question. 
"Did you intend to do it? No, you said you had no choice, so I assume it was 
for self-preservation." He offers a reassuring smile to Merina. "I told 
you - no judgment, remember? And you can't continue to punish yourself for 
preserving your own life." 

Merina listens and nods, but does not quite take in what is said right away. 
She replies with a question "or someone else's? That would be the same too, 
would it not?" She sighs, as a memory rises in her mind. She still cannot 
believe her own actions, but she cannot think of another course of action 
she could possibly have taken. And it *was* self-preservation, as she would 
have been the next to go. 

Hmm. Now is definitely not a good time to speak, since there's nothing Moira 
could hope to add to the conversation. And also not the time to introduce a 
new topic. So, Moira waits and listens, trying to gather as much on her own 
as is possible, so Ashton won't have to explain step-by-step later if he 
really does want her to assist. 

Ashton nods slowly to Merina. Even as he focuses on this conversation, he 
senses worry in Moira and not about this topic. But there would be time to 
deal with those things at a later time. For now, Merina's concern must come 
first. Even the Council believed so, or at least Master Siobhan had just 
told him so. "Especially in defense of someone else. Some times it's 
necessary to take a life to preserve another one." His shoulders slump 
slightly, the unfortunate experience of his trials to Knighthood still fresh 
in his memory despite that they were over years ago. "I think we need to do 
this. For your sanity and peace of mind, and for your brother's life. When 
can you be ready to leave?" 

Merina is immensely relieved. Her debilitating fear lessened in part by this 
smallest glimmer of hope. Of all the people who have said they would help, 
finally, it seems as though someone truly can and will. She cannot keep the 
peace of such deliverance from coloring the tone of her voice "There is 
nothing holding me here. I can leave whenever you say." 

Finally, something distracts Moira from her intent listening and semi-intent 
harping on Spectre's abduction. Things seem to be looking up for someone, 
and that naturally makes Moira more than a little glad, too. She smiles 
suddenly, though she still doesn't speak. Nothing to add, really, beyond her 
presence and help if her master needs it. So, she clasps her hands in front 
of her, left holding the right at the wrist, and tries to look pretty, or 
something, until the time comes that she can add something. 

Ashton nods with another smile. "Good. I'd like you to stay here in the 
Praxeum tonight, if you don't mind. We'll be leaving in the next couple of 
days, and you're free to roam about wherever you want. All I ask is that if 
Moira or I are not near, that you speak to Tirol'dyn before leaving the 
Praxeum. You met him on your way in?" He raises his hand above his head, 
indicating the tall fellow. "He's in that tower over there... the only 
closed door on the ground floor." He points to the Residence hall. "One of 
our friends will follow you or accompany you if you leave. I want you to be 
safe until we leave..." 

Merina doesn't seem sure of this. Surely he over-reacts. She is used to 
coming or going as she pleases without a chaperone and is unconcerned with 
her own safety, oblivious to the possibility of threat. Truth told though, 
this notion does not stem from rational thought. She thinks to protest but 
then thinks the better of it. "If that is how it is to be, so be it. I will 
take you at your word and believe you have only my best interests at heart. 
We have a saying in Ascella you know, about believing those we do not know 
since they have not deceived us." 

Speak to Ashton or herself before leaving? Hmm, perhaps Moira should ask 
what she's supposed to do if Merina does come and announce she's leaving. 
But pesky questions for Ashton can and probably should wait until later. So, 
it's more of that silence and standing. And good at standing she is, that 
Moira. Silence is a little tougher, but for once she's got it covered. 

"Just until we leave," Ashton says assumingly. He rises from the bench, 
"Come on... we have guest quarters you can use to get refreshed. We have a 
full dining hall if you're hungry and the beds are relatively comfortable." 
He cracks a slight grin at that. "We'll get you settled in and tomorrow, you 
can do what you want. If you want to roam wherever you want, you can. And 
you can feel safe knowing there will be someone there to protect you if you 
run into any trouble." He steps away from the bench to give Merina room to 
stand. 

Merina stands. She feels a release of stress, but is still not completely 
convinced. Still, she has not felt so comfortable in a long time. She face 
is brightened by her first sincere smile. "alright" she agrees. "as you 
decree" 

END LOG