2008-01-27 - Refugees on Coruscant

Coruscant: Public Train Station 728
This Station is covered and enclosed in a rather decent glass structure-- but there is something dreary and alltogether humdrum about this Sector of the City. In the first place it is almost empty of traffic, a startling juxtaposition against the manic rush of the rest of the world. In the second place, the horizon here is dominated to the north by what can only be called an eyesore. Where much of the City is constructed of glittering silver and gold, here a massive behemoth of a concrete factory looms over the tallest of towers, and here it brazenly displays the emblem of the Kuat Drive Yards. Huge smoke stacks stand like towers about its great facade, and perhaps the factory would seem less desolate if these stacks actually spewed their smoke. But most of the factory's windows are dark, and the rest of the Sector has this abandonment in common.
Although several bridges meet in the hub of this Station, there is very little foot-traffic here, and most of it furtive. Several of the pathways are littered with discarded rubbish: something seldom seen on the streets of the City. Further down, the foundations of all the buildings are lost in a strange brown fog that seems to emenate from a huge gulf in the otherwise continuous construction. Strange lights, too regular and varied in hue to be flashes of lightning stand out like beacons beneath this reek, but little can be discerned of their origin from here.
Windom emerges from a magtrain. Just outside the doors, the boy takes a quick look around, making sure things are safe. Not spotting any trouble, close by at least, the boy turns and motions for others to follow. A group of alien refugees troop out of the magtrain. They appear weary and a bit overwhelmed by events. Windom turns and speaks to one of their leaders in an alien language and points to the Ramp Down. The leader nods and heads that way, the others following.
Into the Magtrain station area moves a massive feline sentient. The Tikar is robed in black, though it's fur matches the clothing exceptionally well. It seems like it could serve him well when trying to hide or blend into the darkness somewhere. His large head scanning through the open area above the heads of other beings milling through the area. His nostrils twitching rapidly, though it seems that maybe he is actually using a different sense and the motion is just a vestigle response to his mind working.
His eyes seeming almost unused, he moves quickly through the crowd toward the boy at the head of the alien throng.
Just as Brandoise steps off the ramp and onto the station platform, he finds himself approaching a herd of aliens. Tailing close behind him is a C1PX5 Protocol Droid. "Master, Master, do not leave me behind!" the droid quips as it too finds itself among a crowd of refugees. "Oh bother..."
The Bothan sighs softly, shaking his head in regards of the droid. He pulls his robes closer to his body as he shuffles towards the refugees. "Be careful down there, I nearly got my face evaporated a few days ago," the Bothan says towards what appears to be the leader of the refugees or, at the very least, the one leading them down the ramp.
Windom spots the large feline being. As the refugees start off towards the Ramp the boy tentatively approaches the Tikar and his droid. "Escuse me, Sir. Do you speak Basic?"
"Frrrash no speak Basic so good, but drrroid help speak. What need?" The Force has guided him here. His mind wonders for a moment what it has in store for him, but he closes these thoughts to focus on the task at hand. He motions to the silver protocol droid that has been following him valiantly despite his lack of speed to match his large master. The mechanical man steps forward and says, "Greetings. I am known simply as Machine. I am fluent in four thousand base languages and over five hundred thousand sub dialects. How might I be of service?"
Brandoise passes up the refugees and walks in the general direction of the Public Magtrain. The Bothan's pace slackens to an idle walk. allowing the C1PX5 protocol droid to catch up. The droid silently steps in line behind its master, content with being ignored. As the pair make their way across the platform, the droid's curiosity gets the best of it. "Four thousand base languages?" B1M-B0 queries, directing its attention to the nearby C3Z2 droid. "Quite the advanced programming. I myself am only fluent in over one thousand languages. My cere-33A processing modules is several generations old..." 
The Bothan quickly turns around, giving a less-than-playful punch to B1M-B0's chest. "That's enough, droid." Turning towards Frrash, Brandoise says, "Sorry about that. This bucket of bolts has a real hard time minding his own business."
Windom glances at the droid but addresses Frrash. "I'm taking those refugees to a spot under the surface where I hope they'll be safe. We've been robbed a couple times before on the way. Somebody like you ... big and strong ... could you escort us to the camp? I'd pay you for you time, of ocurse."
The droid translates for his master despite the nod of understanding from the black robed cat. "Frrrash prrrotect. Not need moneys. Come, show Frrrash wherrre go." his hands are hidden inside the sleeves of the opposite arms, folded across his chest.
Not bothering to see if his droid is following, Brandoise steps onto the Magtrain. Despite his best efforts to ignore his droid, B1M-B0 scuttles close behind.
Windom nods at the feline and starts off towards the Ramp, where the refugees have gone. He chatters along the way. "These refugees need all the help they can get. I don't know where else to take them. Nobody wants to help, but somebody has to."
The Tikar is not a government agent and has no answers for this young human, he can do what he can do though, and that is make sure that no other troublemakers bother or harm them more as they attempt to find a safe haven in this quickly declining Republic. Frrash nods only and walks beside Windom. He does turn to the others and says, "All stay close to Frrrash. Frrrash prrrotect." Then he continues walking, his yellow eyes searching for danger.
The young nods and pulls a weapon from his belt before descending down the ramp. The refugees allow Windy and Frrash to pass and then follow closesly.
Coruscant: Old Walkway Near the Surface
A heavy gloom hangs about this area, and here it has grown thick enough to reduce visibility like a fog. But within it, this foul brown reek cannot be mistaken for a fog. It stinks, and for those unused to the smell it is enough to make one gag-- a combination of sewer and land-fill allowed to ferment in the sun until all sun has been blotted out by this noxious cloud.
Although the visibility here is poor, a few things can be discerned. First, you are much nearer Coruscant's surface-- although how near is imossible to say, and few there are who would risk a dive over the edge of this walkway into the blind drop to either side. But the foundations of many old towers loom out of the oppresive darkness, stained with long exposure to this environment.
Second, despite the appearance of the towers above, this Sector of the City is not wholly abandoned. Here and there a flashing sign, garish and colorful and somehow lude in this setting flickers and splutters beneath an open doorway. The sound of seedy music haunts these desolate streets.
Finally, a sort of descent can be seen where part of the walkway falls away, crumbling. Here, a pile of old starship parts and less savory pieces of waste have been piled against the side of the path, forming a foul but navigable slope into unseen regions, presumably close to the planet's surface.
Windy comes down the ramp and waits for the feline. He points at the dark street in front of them. "Its a few blocks down. Its just a street blocked off at one end and buildings on each side. Its not as safe as I like, but it work out okay." The kids starts down the street. He looks up at the Tikar. "How come you're so generous?"
The darkness does not seem to effect the Tikar at all. he looks down the street with a cautious gaze. If there are some that can tell, though, the slits in his eyes have widened to allow in more light and thus allowing him to see better. He begins moving slowly at the lead, knowing that the other will tell him when and if it is time to turn off the street they are on.
"Frrrash no need money. Trrrust Forrrce to prrrovide what Frrrash need." He sniffs at the air again.
The boy looks at the alien and says. "I think its great that you're so generous. I'd bring these people home if I could. My parents have credits. But they're not really into helping anybody. Not like the Jedi. The Jedi are the guardians of peace and justice, you know? Thats why I'm helping. To be just like the Jedi." Windy's brow furrows and his nose scrunches up. "What's 'force?'"
"Forrrce give Jedi strrrength. Frrrash trrrain as Jedi now." His gaze focused ahead of them as they slowly make their way. A few passing people get a warning glance from the Tikar and then give the group a wide berth.
Windy stops in this tracks. One of the lead refugees almost stumbles into him. The boy looks up with awe on his face and his eyes wide. "You're ..... a Jedi?"
The Tikar looks down at the boy, his face passive. At least that's the way it looks to non-Tikar. He is looking at the boy with kind eyes. Even a bit of humor in them. He speaks quietly. "No say loud. Dangerrrous time for Jedi." He pauses. "No, Frrrash no Jedi yet. Only Padawan. Student. Frrrash take Trrrial though. Become Jedi soon." Then he motions to the street for them to keep moving. He leads the way again.
Windom nods at Frrash and starts forward again. But his eyes don't leave the Padawan. Hero worship is clearly evident on his face and in his eyes. "What's it like being a Je ... I mean a ... pah dah wan? I bet you get to help out all the time?"
The feline's steps forward are steady slow and determined. His eyes roving the area before them and do not look back at the boy as he speaks further. "Jedi life is harrrd forrr many. No can think of self. Only of otherrr. Most time spend meditate and learrrn forrrce. Also trrrain. Jedi like prrriest. No like picturrre box perrrson, always help, neverrr hurrrt. Harrrd life. Devotion. Patience most imporrrtant skill Jedi learrrn."
Coming into the dark alley, Eluriel pulls her cloak up higher over her shoulders and dons the hood. She sees looks at the two sentients but moves swiftly past them for the Cantina. 
Windom mouths a silent 'oh' as Frrash explains. The words sink in and the boy looks thoughtful for a few moments. But his expression eventually shows determination and he nods slowly. "If that's how the Jedi live, then thats how I need to live too. The Jedi have always inspired me. I've always wanted to help others and to help the Republic. The Jedi are the Guardians of Peace and Justice, right? Thats what I want to do to. I'm not a Jedi. But that doesn't mean I can't help out."
The boy spots the woman pass by, but she is gone and turns back to Frrash.
Frrash stops as the woman approaches, he cannot see her face but bows his head regardless. His nostrils twitch as he smells her and recognizes her immediately. He says nothing, but watches her move past. Perhaps making sure the woman is safe before continuing on. "Perrrhaps you have gift of Forrrce. Frrrash no can tell now. Find Frrrash afterrr and maybe see." He sniffs a bit more and then says, "Now, wherrre we turrrn?"
The boy lights up again at the mention he he might have 'force!' "Me? A Jedi? No, I don't think so. I mean, I wish. But ... here it is." Windy points to a side street on the left. On either side of the street is a tall building that towers up into the level above. Down the street, completely blocking it is a huge pile of rubble and trash. In the enclosed space, there is already a group of refugees huddled around fires or cowering in improvised shelters. The boy looks at Frrash, a little ashamed. "Its not much ... its not much."
The Tikar nods as the others are found. He stays at the entrance to the alley as the other make their way in. Once they are all inside and beginning to make themselves temporary homes, he looks to the boy and says, "Boy do good worrrk. Help those cannot help selfs. If Forrrce strrrong, make good Jedi." he looks back at the refugees and then back at Windom. "What morrre Frrrash do to help?"
Windy smiles at Frrash and shakes his head. "Nothing else. Its safe enough in there. I've taken up too much of our time anyway. I'm sure you have better things to do. Thank you for your help, Frrash." The boy gives the Tikar an elegant bow before looking up at it and nodding. "Maybe ... we'll meet up again someday soon!"
The Tikar nods to the boy. Giving a long look to him, he then steps back out into the streets and moves into the darkness.
Category:January 2008 RP Logs