"Ganner. I would say that it is a surpise to find you on Kashyyyk, but it really is not. Welcome."
Gash smiled, though the larger man did not. The four companions set off throught the twisting maze of foliage and tree growth, winding their way along the massive tree branch to the nearest inn- or the Wookiee equivalent thereof.
* * * * *
Gash woke up that morning at about oh-four-hundred hours, Coruscant time. He'd been informed of the planned negotiations which would take place at roughly ten o'clock that day, and as was typical for the Jedi Master, he rose early. Rising with the sun had become a thing of habit for Gash, who had spent most of his life as a renegade, a rogue, and a scoundrel. As a Sith, he'd been hunted as an enemy of the New Republic long before he'd even recieved formal training. When his foster father had revealed to the Republic secret service that Gash- or Searthen, as he was known then- had discovered his Jedi heritage and begun discovering the secret arts of the Dark Side. Then, becoming a Sith had not been an act of evil or some grave, psychological trauma. Rather, it was simply a matter of his own ignorance, and arrogance; the belief he'd be able to tame the Dark side. The NRI had come in full force to his planet, laying figurative siege to Asthentia's capital city, and capturing the young Prince Jiren. The gruesome interrogation which had followed had driven Gash further down the dark path he'd chosen.
His face on the datapad of half the New Republic agents in the rim region, Gash had run, falling far into the dark arts. So rising before his enemies and running longer and further than they could had become something necessary for survival. Quick, silent, vengeful brutality had allowed him to survive what may have been ten years on the run. An allergy to bacta meant that each Jedi he met inflicted lasting and permanent damage. The scarred visage and partially-mechanical body that resulted had isolated Gash's heart from the warmth or love... and brutality grew from there, in it's place. Kashyyyk was a living reminder of this; Gash had been on planet when Aaron Astrin had stirred up an insurrection, unbeknownced to those Jedi who, scant years later, would find him as one of their greatest antagonists.
Gash entered the capital building remorsefully, his mind flashing back upon the morbid visions of what had been, by-and-by, a wasted life. If heaven weighed your wrongs against your works of good, Gash was destined for hell; for what had he accomplished as a Jedi? He entered the main chamber, a large, circular, Old-Republic-style auditorium, massive enough to house a squadron of fighters. Several rings of balconies built into the walls formed the areas for diplomats, and the door through which Gash had entered lead into one of these.
His mind snapped back to that question of his Jedi accomplishments. They were scant... oh, a few naval battles, of which some good had come. The formation of the Rogue Jedi Order- and yet, RJO's worth still pended. Even as a Jedi, his failings were there; Chadd Fearsons, was one. An Obi-Wan Kenobi sort mistake, Chadd was finding his way quietly down the dark path, discovering his own potential for power in the Dark Side. He would even try to overthrow Gash as the leader of the Rogue Jedi, if Gash's foresight served... a tragedy. A true tragedy.
A group of Wookiees entered the huge chamber in the diplomat's balcony directly opposite to Gash's, shouting in the Jedi Master's direction.
[You are right on time, Master Jiren.]
Gash checked his wrist chronometer curiously. It was only eight o'clock- or so he'd thought. The timekeeping device noted that it was, in fact, oh-ninefifty hours. The conference was a scant ten minutes from it's beginning.
[Yes...]
Gash responded. [Puntuality is valued among the Jedi. Thank you for your warm welcome.]
[It is quite deserved. I am Rhitycllaa, and I will represent the interests of the Wookiee Senate in these matters of diplomacy. Each sector will be represented by it's own Governor.]
[Of course.]
The Jedi Master's responce was nonchalant, but uncertaintly lingered in the back of his mind. Rhitycllaa had left it in no uncertain terms that these negotiations were to be highly structured, and that the Wookiee government would not be bullied into a decision. While Gash had had no intention of doing such a thing, it occured to him that Wookiees had seldomed formed such tight-knit and cohesive ruling parties. Could the fierce Wookiees be forming into a more human-like society? Something wasn't right.
The other Wookiee senators filed into the room, each group joining in their own diplomatic balcony, Ganner, Han, and Lowbacca joining Gash. The Jedi noted that most of the overhanging enclosures were occupied by a group of distinctively-furred Wookiees. More striking than that, though, was the arrangment of positioning- all of the Wookiees had been positioned on one side of the chamber- even when it meant the Wookiees occupied all five levels of the chamber. Gash was left alone with his comrades on his side. A statement to be made, certainly...
Kashyyyk was not as Gash Jiren had left it. Rhitycllaa stood, speaking in a clear Wookiee voice.
[Welcome, gathered Wookiees and fellow sentient beings. We come together this day to hear a proposal by the honorable Admiral and Jedi Master, Gash Jiren.]
Some Wookiee applause greeted Gash as he stood, speaking into his booth's microphone. Using the Force to gently press on his vocal cords, he approximated Wookiee speach quite well.
[Thank you for hearing me, Governor Rhitycllaa, and my grand Wookiee friends. I come before you to propose something not altogether unprecidented, but important- and, indeed, vital- nonetheless. As you may know, I am the Military Commander and Grand Senator of the Rogue Jedi Order, a new foundation of the Jedi. We do not subscribe to the radical views of such Jedi as Kyp Durron, but nonetheless intend to play a more active and cohesive role in the galaxy's defence than the Jedi Council.]
[We have heard this, Master Jiren. Continue.]
[The Wookiees are not complacent. You fought the Empire, you fought Thrawn. You've produced some of the greatest warriors, and finest Jedi, that this galaxy has seen. One of those stands behind me, one still lies cold at Sernpidal, his life given in a great and glorious act of service to the Republic. I ask you, now to join myself and my Rogue Jedi allies, to once again lend the Wookiee's powerful hands to the defence of our galaxy.]
One Wookiee senator to the left of Gash stood, appearing small from the great distance across the main chamber. He spoke in a gruff tone, even among Wookiees. [Protect it from what?]
Gash blinked, phased only for a second by the unexpected question. [From the many dangers which lurk in shadows, my good friend. The Naboo Sith Order is nearing the completion of the
Sugarcult Eclipse Star Destroyer; the New Order continues to-]
Gash was cut off rather suddenly by a flurry of objections by Wookiee's all around the stadium. Gash caught small flecks of their protests.
[-you are an enemy of the New Order, how can we believe you-]
[-lies, the New Order has shown Kashyyyk nothing but benevolence-]
[-corrupted Jedi, addled by the Force-]
Gash sat back down, glaring across the chamber at Rhitycllaa. He was far too calm- far too composed. He radiated no surprise, no regret or nervousness. He had known this was coming. In fact... Interesting. A duplicit Wookiee...
Gash closed his eyes, his consciousness flowing through the slip-stream of the Force, into Rhitycllaa's mind. A normal Jedi would never use his powers in diplomatic encounters, but Gash was no normal Jedi- his vows as a Rogue Jedi dictated that the use of his powers for the greater good was never a sin. The Wookiee's thoughts were carefully guarded, but not carefully enough- breaking through the barriers around his mind, the Jedi Master's eyes shot open at what he found.
But now, how to prove it?
The barks and cries died down, and Gash stood again.
[I assure you, my Wookiee friends, the galaxy is in dire need of your assistance; as much as ever before. Question me, then, if you will.]
A grey-haired Wookiee jabbed his finger accusingly. [You talk about helping the galaxy- what about the Wookiees? What is in this for us?]
[Besides a galaxy not wrought with an Imperial axis of evil? The resources of RJO and it's allies, and the defence of the New Republic and Rogue Order Navy fleets.]
Another Wookiee spoke.
[How do we know you aren't lying about the New Order? How are we to know you simply to not maliciously wish their deaths?]
[The New Order are the descendands of the Empire that enslaved you. Their oppression of the galaxy is well known; even if it is not directed towards you, I needn't present proof of it. They ally openly with the Sith.]
[And what of the Sith? They are...]
It went on in that fashion until the fall of night, as if the Wookiees had forgotten who their enemies were. While Gash fought valiantly for his side of the argument, by the time the 'negotiations' were ajourned, it had become apparent that the Wookiees would not be moved from their ignorance in traditional fashion. Gash left the chamber numb with disbelief.
* * * * *
In the escort speeder, as it drove across the tree branches on the short ride home, Gash was still in a state of shock that the Wookiees of Kashyyyk could so easily forget those who had enslaved their entire race. That state of shock did not, however, stop him from noting that the speeder began to slow well before the knot of wood where their inn lay.
"Driver, why are we-"
Gash stopped when the Wookiee turned around and pointed a blaster straight into his face. [Out of the speeder. Now.]
Gash stared, disbelieving, at the Wookiee driver. "Please, don't do this."
[Out.]
Gash followed, noting the four bowcaster-bearing Wookiees standing around the airspeeder, glaring menacingly at Gash and his comrades as they exited the vehicle. Gash made a few quick hand signals at his friends, and addressed the Wookiee who seemed to lead the band.
"Why are you doing this?"
[Shut up, Jiren. This ain't going to be no diplomatic encounter. Just die.]
* * * * *
Two minutes later, Gash and the three other Jedi stood over the subdued and restrained forms of their attackers, security speeders blaring as they rambled over the massive tree branches to where they stood. Noticing a small piece of flimsiplast strapped to one of the Wookiees, Gash bent down and retrieved it. It turned out to be a book- a small manual, written in Wookiee script. Denying that he'd taken anything from the subdued creatures, Gash allowed them to be escorted to their inn, and explained what he'd discovered once there.
