June 17, 2009

459. Manipulation of Emotion - Raezyr

Standing up for himself did feel good, and he said as much. He felt even better when Raezyr and Trychon grinned in response. He didn't say much as he led them back to the village, listening to the two young men talk, and pondering the things they had told him that morning. The more he thought about what they had said, the more it made sense, and it only confirmed in his mind that one of these two must be the Chosen One.

They made it back to the village just in time for the mid-day meal. Violet had already dished them up a meal, anticipating their arrival. It was hot, and filling, and afterward they washed it down with a tankard of ale.

Afterward Mannix took them to the Temple, and sought out Brother Bruno, an elder on the High Council, and the one responsible for the radio.

Bruno was frail and skinny, even more so than the rest of his race, and his gray hair flowed down over his back and shoulders, reaching almost half-way to his waist. He was sitting in meditation on a stone bench in one of the inner alcoves of the Temple, he looked up at their approach. His face looked surprisingly young, but his eyes gave away his advanced years as they were pale blue and watery.

Still he was quite nimble for his age, and hopped up quickly when they arrived. Trychon and Raezyr discretely eyed the medallion that hung around his neck. It seemed almost identical to the one Father Monahan wore and the one hanging in Brother Odilo's hut. "Ah, you're here," he said, his voice surprisingly strong. "Father Monahan had other matters to attend to, and told me you wished to see our radio. I am, after all, the most knowledgeable about it. Please, right this way."

He led them to a set of stairs that spiraled into the upper reaches of the Temple, and finally came to a heavy wooden door with iron hinges. He opened the door and led them inside and pointed to the equipment sitting on a wooden table. "It's a bit out of date. It was given to us by some traders many, many years ago, just in case there was an emergency."

Trychon and Raezyr looked at the instruments and then at each other. "Outdated" was a gross understatement. The thing was ancient. It was covered in toggle switches, knobs and the readouts and gauges were all needles. It was no wonder the trades had just given it to them, they were probably unable to sell the unit, and would have had to scrap the thing anyway.

They were both dismayed. Originally they had planned to use the shuttle's comm system to contact Aitchkay for pickup, once their business here was finished, but this radio was so old, it would take hours for a signal to reach the droid, if it ever even got there. It made it even more important to find a way to speak with this Varth person in private. If it was indeed who they suspected it was, then maybe he might have a way to radio out.

Brother Bruno showed them how to operate the machine, even though they were sure they could have figured it out eventually, anyway, and sent out several "distress" calls, despite the fact that they would never reach anyone. Still, they needed to at least make things look good.

They thanked Bruno for his time, and he lead them back down to the main floor of the temple. They said their goodbyes and Mannix the two Sith apprentices made their way back outside.

Mannix gave them instructions on how to get to Violet and Mathis' work places, then excused himself to go to Brother Varth and attend his duties. Trychon and Raezyr both went their separate ways to begin learning their new trades and earning their keep.

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