Prisoners of Their Own Device

[Auro Syrdash]

Outer Rim Territories
World of Fray
Palace of Baku
Guest Chambers
c. 2918 AOK

As Auro Syrdash emerged from his quiet meditation, he noticed that his friend and fellow Saber Blade, Maya, had drifted off to sleep in her bed. Leaving his small albek companion, Pablo Jill, snoozing on the precognitive Rodian's lap, he slipped out of the room.

As Auro made his way from the medcenter to the guest chambers, he found solace in the Living Force. Through the walls of the stately palace, he could feel the ever present pulse of life around him. Upon reaching the quarters of his oldest friend, Unna Hi Chaanu, he drew a deep, calming breath, exhaled slowly, then rapped gently on the door…

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

Unna had been examining herself in the mirror and making the finishing touches to get ready for the night's events. She had had many visitors to her room that day and didn't expect another knock at her door, when suddenly she heard a rapping at her door. She walked over to the door and opened it. When she saw who was on the other side, her eyes widened with surprise.

"Auro," she smiled timidly, not sure of what brought him knocking at her chamber door. "Please, come in." She held the door open for him to enter and would shut it behind him if he came inside. She refilled her water glass and filled one for him as well then held it out for him to take.

"What brings you here?" She asked. She then took a few gulps of her water as she waited for to speak.

[Auro Syrdash]

He entered the chamber and gratefully accepted the water she offered him and gulped it down until it was gone. As amphibious humanoids, Vurks such as Auro were at home in aquatic environments reminiscent of their homeworld, Sembla. They were a resilient species and did not find themselves at any significant disadvantage on dry land. However, it was no secret to Unna that Auro had always relished diving into and swimming through the mountain lake they had grown up beside on Alderaan.

"I'm here to talk to you like the brother you grew up with, not the guy responsible for a mission gone sideways."

He handed her back the glass with an appreciative smile. "Thanks, I was parched," he added.

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

Just as soon as Auro handed her back the glass, she walked across the room to refill it and bought it back to him. "I've been parched too. I have been talking a lot more than I usually do lately. It has been making my mouth dry." Her demeanor was friendly and as if she were making a joke about her usual quiet disposition.

"I'm glad you are here as my brother. Do you have anything in mind that you wish to discuss?"

[Auro Syrdash]

He took the glass and downed another swig of water. "Don't I always?" he answered playfully. "Actually, I think maybe I've said enough," Auro told her, his tone much more serious. "Maybe too much," he admitted.

"I think it's your turn," he told her. "Whatever you have to say to me, I can take it."

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

Unna gulped down the rest of her water and sat the glass down on a coaster. "I haven't seen these in forever. They're called coasters. They keep the condensation that collects on the glass from ruining the table." Unna gestured to the couch. "Please, sit."

"I'll get right to it. I am attending dinner with Lady Baku tonight. Afterward, I will be accompanying her to a function and providing protection. She found the words you spoke earlier to be hurtful and has not invited you because of that interaction. I was going to talk to you about it with Ashla, but you are here now. My suggestion was for Ashla to stay with you while Gadeon accompanies me to provide protection for Lady Baku. I suggested this arrangement, because I figured you would be more comfortable with Ashla, while I think Gadeon would be better able to provide protection, should it be required. Of course aspects are open to group discussion, but Ashla is on board."

Unna sat down next to Auro. "My brother, I have hoped that you would take this news well and understand that I have a job to do. I can't imagine you wanting to go to a function with Lady Baku anyway. I wouldn't normally agree to go where my dear brother is not invited, but she feels she needs my protection and that is what I am here to do."

[Auro Syrdash]

Auro sat on the couch and spun a coaster on the little table in front of them. He carefully set his glass down in the center of it. He certainly did not want to cause a diplomatic incident by ruining a piece of palace furniture.

After listening attentively to all that Unna told him, Auro acknowledged her with a single nod when she had finished speaking and looked her in the eye. "That's what I'm here to do also, sister. I know your heart is in the right place and you're attempting to keep things civil, but the forces initially meant to protect Lady Baku are badly depleted. Maya is still recovering, and we're all that's left. It's dangerous to spread our squad any thinner than it already is by leaving me behind with Ashla." Auro shook his head.

"No, Lady Baku can speak with Biggs Saar when he arrives at the palace tomorrow morning. Trust me, I'll gladly welcome a reassignment. However, I've already spoken with Master Chun regarding my place here and regardless of who doesn't approve, my orders stand: I'm to remain here and carry out my mission. That means Lady Baku will either have to deal with my presence at her function or contact Master Chun herself to have me officially relieved of duty. That's her call. Until then, she's stuck with me," he concluded with a heavy sigh.

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

Unna appeared genuinely surprised of Auro's change of heart. "I am surprised that you feel so strongly about protecting Lady Baku, when you were so adamant about us all leaving just a few hours ago. I do not have the power to tell you whether or not you can attend, I'm sure Lady Baku feels just as strongly about the issue as you do. We will just have to agree that this decision is not ours to make and let Lady Baku and Chun talk it over. I had something I needed to discuss with Chun anyway."

"A secondary reason I thought it would be good for you to stay behind from the event is that Mya is still recovering. I have not forgotten about her vision which you conveyed to me. She needs for someone to look after her as well. I know that isn't your job, but it makes sense to me, given her condition and Lady Baku's wishes. I can not tell you what to do, but I feel that this needs to be brought to Lady Baku's attention. I wouldn't want her to be surprised. Perhaps it would be best if it came from you."

[Auro Syrdash]

Auro slouched forward, elbows resting on his knees as he rubbed his forehead. "Let's just say Master Chun and I had a heart to heart talk," he told her. "He reminded me of my duty to the Jedi Order; of my oath."

Auro sat up straight again, looking Unna in the eye once more. "Something Maya said got me thinking about Graff. I could picture him imprisoned aboard the Unyielding Light with Jenna. It really put things into perspective for me. Even after all he's endured, Graff is unwavering in his loyalty to the Order. If he was in my position, he'd never abandon his post. With an example like his, I can do no less," Auro concluded.

"I've thought about Maya's safety. She's a Saber, Unna," Auro said ardently. "Maya is willing to lay down her life for the Order, but she reminded me that the future is fluid; always in motion. If the Masters want us to keep guarding Lady Baku, maybe they know about some threat she's facing that we don't. No matter what she might think of me, Lady Baku is safer with all of us together, not divided. If you think she should hear this from me, I'll go to her myself. You know her better than any of us; I trust your judgement," he said, standing up from the couch.

"Are you going to contact Master Chun now?" Auro asked her.

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

"I agree that it is best for us to stay together, but Lady Baku was adamant..." Unna concealed her lightsaber and her discblade beneath her dress as she spoke and walked to the door. "I should contact him now. I will speak to Lady Baku about this when she is available. I am sure she is busy and wouldn't appreciate the interruption."

"I will make a call."