[D8LA] Long Arm of the Law

[Cal Arcton]

"Yeah." Cal said with a sigh. "Good point." He was silent for a few moments.

He looked at Quinn. "So... Commander Leo, Doc, and I are are all working on the Empire problem. What do we do about this Seneschal?" His expression was expectant.

[Quinn Largo]

"Honestly, I don't know. Everything I've learned about him suggests he's immensely powerful. Wait, who are commander leo and doc?"

[Cal Arcton]

"Oh." Cal grinned. "Well Doc is the doc. Yara. She and I go back a ways. Don't remember why I started calling her that, but that's how it is."

"Commander Leo's the leader of the militia." Cal was making sure to speak softly for this part. "Been working with him and the Rebel ambassador."

[Quinn Largo]

"Oh yeah...I guess the doc used to be a rebel. Anyway, I don't really know. There's a Witch who knows more about him, but she's essentially told me and Kor everything she knows and I'm not sure how much help she can be. I think it all hinges on Runi. She and Sharn woke him up. They would know where he is. Maybe even what weaknesses he has. I've tried to appeal to the Light in Runi, convince her he's bad news... but I don't think I did a very good job of it. I'm hoping she'll make the right decision though."

[Cal Arcton]

"Runi..." Cal sighed. "I don't know. She and I talked a bit, but there's something..." He shook his head, not finishing the thought.

"She was worried. I think she think's he's invincible." He smiled weakly. "I'm hoping that she's wrong. I mean, a Jedi took down both the Emperor and Vader. This guy can't be any worse than them, right?"

[Quinn Largo]

"Fear is a path to the dark side. It can only lead her closer to him."

[Cal Arcton]

Cal shrugged. "Don't know what I can say about that. She's got a lot of weird stuff in her past, though. I mean... the Inquisitor is her mother, too. Her long lost, thought to be dead mother. That's a hell of a thing."

He shook his head. "I guess what I'm saying, Runi's a complicated person. I'm not sure..." He pressed his lips together. "Is it just a matter of knowing where this fella is?"

[Quinn Largo]

"I don't think so. I mean... it'd be great if we could convince him to not be evil... but someone like that... they've been completely taken by the Dark Side. I doubt redemption is possible for him."

[Cal Arcton]

Cal sighed. "I've had enough time convincing gun thugs to give up and go straight. Doesn't seem likely from someone who's been doin' evil twenty-thousand years ago, or whatever."

He grimaced, his hands clenching as they rested on the counter. "Look, this isn't my sort of thing. I'm just an old sheriff good at findin' people and shooting 'em. Well, a bit old, thirty-three isn't that... nevermind." He sighed. "Just... what do we do?" It was the first time he'd ever asked a sixteen-year-old that question.

[Quinn Largo]

"I guess, we maybe try and confront him. Trust that things will go as the Force wills them. Even if we don't end up winning now, so long as we walk away knowing more about him and his motivations, we can gather others to stop him in the future."

[Cal Arcton]

"Well..." Cal let out a long sigh. "I guess if you need any help on that, you can count on me. At least, so long as I'm not busy with the Empire thing." He grimaced. "Maybe there really is something to the two of them going together. It's funny timing that this guy wakes up, and we get a star destroyer showing up same week. Maybe if we solve one, the other will sort itself out?" He sounded doubtful.

[Quinn Largo]

"There are no coincidences. The Force governs everything. I'm not sure, but I'd guess the Seneschal might try and take over these imperial forces. It seems like the play to make."

[Cal Arcton]

"Yeah, I suppose that's the sort of thing I'd do if I was an ancient dark lord just woken up from my nap. Grab the nearest bunch of assholes I could find, make myself chief asshole." Cal said.

After a moment, he smiled. "It's weird, hearing you talk about this stuff. Just last week, I'd swear you were dealing Sabaac cards from your sleeve. Was that just a cover? Or do Jedi get one vice, or something?"

[Quinn Largo]

"Ah... well... Uh..." She cleared her throat. "I guess I'm not the best Jedi. Running away from home, I had to figure out how to make money, you know? Bit of begging worked pretty well, but only for small amounts. So I started learning how to gamble. And everyone else was cheating, so I learned to do that too, I guess."

She cleared her throat a second time.

"My Master only noticed me after I tried to scam enough credits out of her so that I could go back to the table."

[Cal Arcton]

"Huh." Cal chuckled at that. "Well, I can't blame a kid for doin' what she needs to do to survive. And yeah, in my experience, outside of friendly games, pretty much everyone is cheating."

"So, does that mean your master was at the table too? Or just nearby?" He gave Quinn a gentle smile. "Why don't you tell me about her a bit?"

[Quinn Largo]

"No... she was just... someone I tried a sob story on. She felt the Force around me, and decided to teach me. I guess she had her reasons. Anyway, she's a Mikkian. You ever seen one?"

[Cal Arcton]

Cal scratched at his stubble. "Think so. I've seen a lot of different species; did my fair share of travel as a marshal."

He gave her a nod, silent encouragement to go on.

[Quinn Largo]

"Mikkians don't really understand dishonesty. I mean, they're not naieve. They understand it's a thing and people do it. But they themselves are just brutally honest. It's a matter of honor for them. But she never told me it was wrong for me to lie and cheat. She just told me that if I was going to do it, it needed to be for the right reasons. I haven't always done that... I still don't always do it. But, I mean, she made a lot of sense."

[Cal Arcton]

"Hrm." Cal acknowledged that, crossing his arms over his chest. "Well, I suppose that sounds about right to me. I've shot more'n my share of folks, but I don't think I've ever shot someone who didn't deserve it."

He smiled. "Sounds like she made quite an impression on you."

[Quinn Largo]

She shrugged. "She was the first person that saw me for who I am, not what they want to see."