[b]In the life of a Jedi & Friends
Bestine Minor, Safe Refuge
The search for a new padawan[/b]

Tohkran watched on as he saw Meilyan was instructing some of the younglings on how to meditate, chuckling softly when she noticed that two of the younger boys had actually fallen asleep and was shaking them awake to remind them that meditation was not the same as sleeping and proceeded to instruct them in the way to clear their minds and focus, without falling asleep. "She's becoming a fine teacher." He mused to himself, it was true Meilyan seems genuinely to care for the well-being of the children and he saw that instructing them also gave her further insight of her own capabilities, by teaching them she was teaching herself.

Well that, and Huyang was also instructed her in saber combat and fighting thanks to his accumulated knowledge over the centuries since his construction as a instructor for jedi younglings and lightsaber expert. Perhaps if Meilyan was interested by helping to instruct the younglings more often he could also satisfy Huyang's request of a additional teacher or a assistant in his teachings at the same time. Something to consider he thought to himself and then smiled seeing Meilyan make the children laugh as she briefly levitated off the ground and rolled mid-air.

He became aware of a presence approaching and turned just as the shadow of the Herglic Marack enveloped him, smiling he nodded. "Ah, Marack, good to see you my friend. Is the ship prepared?"

"As ready as it will be." The Herglic said with a shrug. "Still want to go to Atzerri? It isn't the most hospitable place you know."

Tohkran started to move to the landing pad, Marack walking at his side as he answered his friend's question with calmly. "Yes, I have heard rumours a force user might be hiding there, they might be false of course but since it is close to here I figure I ought to check it out if there is any truth to it. From what I gathered, while a unsavory place, it is a planet where one can find refuge and hide." Nothing further was added as the duo reached the 'Killer Whale' and boarded it. Tohkran making himself comfortable while Marack went into the cockpit which was adjusted for his size and within moments had the freighter lifted up from the ground and into space.

It was not a long hyperspace journey and some time later they dropped out, Marack saying over the ship's intercom they were approaching the planet now and that he was finding a suitable location to land for Tohkran to start his investigation if the rumors were true of a possible force user hiding on the planet. Once landed he bid his friend to stay with the ship while he went out and started to search for some of the local cantinas and other, similar establishments to see if he could learn anything about local tales or legends of a person or being with 'mystical' powers.

After passing though several establishments in Talos, mostly getting only nonsensical gibberish from drunk spacers a few of the stories Tohkran was hearing started to form a pattern. Several of the stories mentioned odd happenings in the Pemblehov district, though considering the drug trade there it could easily be a wild bantha chase.

He nodded to himself and frowned, while it was feasible for someone to hide in a district like that it also bode concern that if he questioned things further there or seemed too overly curious other people might take interest in him, unwanted interest. But with nothing else left to do he decided to venture into the Pemblehov district and see the if the things he heard about that place were true or not and continue his investigation.

Pemblehov seemed much like the the descriptions he had heard, not the cleanest looking area of the city though brightly lit enough to almost rival the traders plaza. the crowd was more likely to stick to themselves here though except for those that were working, several of which called out to Tohkran as he passed trying to entice him to take part of their services including a gungan and togruta female among the many twi'leks that were visible. 

There were also a number of less flamboyant characters seeking Tohkrans attention offering all manner of vice from simple Tobacco to Deathsticks, Rill spice and Rokna blue. Most of these people had a bodyguard nearby, some remaining less conspicuous than others.

Taking a deep breath and smiling kindly at the nice scantily clad Twi'lek but refusing her offer to join her in a private room he continued on his way, perhaps, in a district like this a newcomer had to face some thugs eventually. So perhaps if there was a force user here he should learn if there was anyone the locals gangs, thugs and other criminal groups avoid after either having a single person keep several opponents at bay or simply managed to persuade them to do something they normally would never do.

After some discrete inquiries, and being told to shove a blaster up his arse in multiple colourful ways by a few people he questioned, Tohkran learned of a dealer who seemed to be rising fast despite the competition in the area.

Until about a year ago the dealer, was relatively unknown, like the majority of the pushers in the district. then for some reason more customers began to repeat their business from him, fewer complained and even a few regulars from others began to buy from him. The dealers product wasn't above standard, in fact is was of pretty average quality. Eventually a few of the more prominent and wealthier dealers tried to find out how this low level dealer was getting so much business. some of them sent discrete questioners most of which came back with little of use, others tried sending enforcers to eliminate the dealer, they never returned.

"I see... well thank you for that information... but I sadly have to refuse to shove a blaster up my arse... even if you pay a hundred credits to see it... Good day." He quickly left before the man could offer more credits and decided to go on the information he had received to find out if he could meet this dealer and see if his suspicions were correct of where he could have gained the edge to rise so quickly.

The dealer was actually rather easy to find, despite the attempts on his life he chose not to hide so that his clientele could more easily find him to feed their cravings. Tohkran found himself at a modest apartment complex, his information lead him to believe the dealer had set up shop in the basement of the complex.

Walking into the complex he made his way to the basement to find the dealer, frowning to himself however, if he was a force user he was not sure what to think of using his gifts to be a drug dealer but he would first meet him to see what to make of it all. It was wise remain guarded and wary though.

The basement was large, likely intended to be used as a storage facility if the apartments above had been owned by a single entity, as it was more than a few people had moved in with crude lean-tos thrown up against structural supports or walls in the basement with clusters of trinkets or other basic utilities for living around them. A few quiet questions soon lead Tohkran to the dealers area of the basement, a section that had reinforced walls around it and appeared to be a secure lockup area from the complex's original construction. At the entrance stood a Gungan and a Human armed with blasters and vibroblades, security it appeared.

Tohkran approached the security, leaning on his cane, mostly trying to convey the appearance of someone who wasn't a threat, that or at least make the appearance that he was someone they could easily handle if he was a threat. "Good day." He bowed his head. "I was told a certain businessman resides here, I was hoping to meet with him and perhaps discuss some maters."

One of the guards stepped inside the door and returned with a strongbox a moment later while the gungan kept their eyes on tohkran. "Leave your weapons here." The human said as he opened the strongbox, a pair of blasters were already inside.

Tohkran retrieved the blaster at his side, which was more for show than anything else, and placed it in the strongbox.

The human guard eyed the cane Tohkran held for a moment before tapping his foot.

Tohkran looked at the guard and smiled softly, "You wouldn't try to take an old man's walking stick, would you?" He said, putting some suggestion wit hthe force in his words while tapping his leg, indicating it was a prosthetic due to him having it lost at the hands of a oversized bug.

"I've seen plenty of otherwise harmless folks hide blades and occasionally blasters in 'walking sticks' my boss prefers caution. Leave the cane." The human guard replied

"I suppose that is understandable, but most people would also install such things in prosthetics, so I suppose it is only fair you also check my leg if you wish to carry out your job? I do rather wish to keep it though, unless you have any spare hover chairs around, preferably ones that are not made or supplied by jawas." He replied with a smile as he placed the cane in the hand of the guard.

"You make a valid point." The human said as he walked back through the door and retrieved a hand scanner. "Pants, drop em." The guard said flatly.

He raised a brow and calmly rolled up his pants to the point where the prosthetic was attached to his flesh. "Scan away."

"Keep being difficult and we'll make this a body cavity search, in the interests of being thorough of course. I said drop them." The guard replied flatly again.

He shrugged and dropped his pants unceremoniously. "At least be so kind to not push a blaster up my ass, I had that rather strange offer several times today. Among other things to stuff in there..."

"I'll only stick something up there if I intend to pull something else out." The guard replied with a grin, "Him I cant speak for." He said as he nodded his head at the Gungan guard who was eyeing Tohkrans crotch.

"Haa," The Gungan replied with a slight snort. "Meesa not interested, hesa's 'concealed weapon' would makes a jawa weeps."

The human guard laughed and began scanning Tohkrans leg. After a few moments the human stood up again and nodded that Tohkran could pull his pants back up and proceed through the door as he put the strongbox back with Tohkrans cane and blaster in it.

He endured it in silence and nodded to both guards after he pulled up his pants and let him through, limping as he moved forwards.

Once through the door Tohkran was in a well lit and spartan hallway that had been painted a soft purple colour with several doors along its length all heavily secured by electronic and physical locks. At the end of the hall was an open set of doors that lead to a room furnished in lavish fashion and set up similarly to a throne room... if a small one.

He frowned at the sight but continued making his way to the chamber with the throne room setting, looking for the supposed Balosar dealer he had been told about.

Tohkran would need to wait for a few minutes before he caught sight on anyone, a door to the side of the room opened and a spacer and a balosur, likely the dealer emerged. The Balosar ignored Tohkran after a brief glance at him and continued speaking with the spacer, shaking his hand and assuring him he would find the product to his liking. before bowing slightly and letting the spacer show himself to the exit. 

With the spacer gone the balosar turned his attention to Tohkran. "Ah a new customer! what can I get for you my friend?" The balosar said enthusiastically

Smiling Tohkran extended a hand. "Well I heard that you were a up and rising dealer in this district who surprisingly manages to stay not one, but two steps ahead of anyone else."

"Indeed, indeed. Elan Sel'Sabagno is my name. I like to think I stay ahead of the competition by providing discretion and superior customer service." he said with a broad smile. "Maybe with a good bit of caution when it comes to who gets in here as well." He added referring to the guards at the main entrance.

Tohkran tried to cautiously sense anything from the Balosar but he wasn't getting any hint of him using or being capable of using the force. "Well Elan Sel'Sabagno, I am Toh and I was wondering what exactly you have in your stores as it were you can trade with. Though I must say this is not what I expected, I mean, no offense and excuse me for saying this but I hardly expected a Balosar to be running such a profitable operation, surprising that none of the others tried to take you out for muscling in on their territory. You must have a interesting edge."

"Oh some have tried, and failed, this place is quite secure... even if I have had to replace the front doors a few times." Elan said with a shrug and a frown at the entrance. "As for my edge, lets say I know some powerful people, used to work for them on coruscant before I 'upgraded' as it were and as I said, I provide superior service." He continued as he turned to a table along one of the back walls that held a number of containers. "But business, yes business. I have a wide range of products on offer for recreational needs, Black Hole, Thyssel Bark, Gunjack, Magravian Cat, Slick. Or if you're looking for something with a stronger kick I have Rokna blue and my specialty; the finest Deathsticks in the galaxy, 100% pure."

Tohkran nodded slowly going over the drugs, he really started to hope that this man was not the force sensitive he was looking for. "Quite the selection, no, ah problems with the Syndicate or one of their affiliated groups I trust? It would be somewhat problematic if I buy goods only to have the Syndicate move in and take it all because one hasn't paid their fees."

"I mentioned knowing powerful people yes?" Elan said as he picked up a vial of Slick and examined its viscosity for a moment. "Now I will warn you, I don't deal in bulk or large quantities, after all I don't want my customers ODing, these drugs are for recreation after all, cant have customers killing themselves by accident, bad for them as well as my business."

"Naturally, the last thing one wants is have a customer die." Tohkran said, still smiling but growing a bit more restless inside, he was starting to believe he had hit a death end. "How much are you asking for your... 'recreational' goods."

"My prices are competitive I assure you, 200 credits for the really good stuff, ranging from 30 credits for the less potent kinds. Single dosage only." Elan said as he put the Slick down and picked up a Deathstick. "So, you wanna buy a Deathstick?"

Tohkran sighed and waved his hand, "No I don't want to buy any deathsticks."

"You don't wanna buy any deahsticks." Elan said as he put the drug back on the table. A moment later Tohkran found an inactive vibroblade at his throat, the wielder was not Elan and appeared to be a living shadow now that Tohkran had reason to focus on them.

Tohkran rose a brow. "Impressive. Your edge, or one of them I take it? Rather sharp too."

"My bodyguard." Elan said with a nod. "What did he do?" Elan asked the Defel.

"Used the same trick on you that I used on the spies the other dealers sent after you." The Defel answered. "Think carefully about anything else he says." The Defel added, keeping the blade at Tohkrans throat.

So this sentient knew what a mindtrick was and he could use it himself, so the rumors and tales he had heard about were true, partly at least. "You are quite skilled at keeping out of sight, understandable I guess. I was actually hoping we could talk." He calmly said, he figured if he made any move he would feel how sharp the 'edge' really was.

"To Schaduw..." Elan said with a puzzled look. "Most people don't even know he exists..."

The body guard... Schaduw, stayed silent.

"Most people probably didn't knew what to look for." He looked down at the blade at his throat and then at Elan. "If am to be killed without having a conversation I would humbly request my body and personal effects be delivered to a Herglic at the spaceport, he will have them returned to my people."

"Who said anything about killing you, just don't try tricking me again with whatever powers you seem to have." Elan said as he moved away from the table and around the room a little. "Do you actually plan to buy anything or are you just going to waste my time?" Elan said as he turned to face Tohkran again, gesturing for Schaduw to lower his blade as he did, the Defel lowered the blade but otherwise didn't move away.

Tohkran nodded his appreciation and rubbed his throat a moment before answering. "How much does a conversation cost with your man, Schaduw, was it? Assuming he, and you have no problems with that."

"Cost..." Elan said, seemingly confused at the word for a moment before the meaning registered. "Well I can't say its a terribly orthodox request... lets say 200 credits then." Elan said with a smile.

Tohkran nodded and then glanced over at Schaduw. "Assuming you have no objection of course?" He said while holding some credit chits in his hands but not yet handing them over.

Elan took the chits and waved to a side door, though not the one he had come from with the spacer before. Schaduw merely inclined his head and headed towards the door.

Following Tohkran went through the door, seeing a chair he went to it and sat down with a sigh, massaging his leg, the flesh and blood one. "Well." He started, looking up to regard the Defel. "I must admit I was starting to believe the tales and rumors I heard were false until you sensed what I was doing to Elan, my apologies for that but I was not interested in buying any Deathsticks and was looking for a excuse to leave and cut my losses."

The light was such that trying to make out Schaduws expressions was next to impossible as the Defel replied. "Who are you?"

"As I said, I go by the name of Toh, Tohkran in full. And as you may have noticed we might have something in common." He replied, looking curiously at the Defel.

Schaduw shook his head and spoke again in a peculiar tone of voice as he spoke again. "Who Are You?"

He blinked. "I am Tohkran.... jedi." He blinked again and shook his head, looking at the Defel. "Well... that was surprising, you are strong... natural talent or trained by someone?"

"I found a while ago that I could get some people to answer my questions if they wanted to or not, or convince them to do other things, even forget things at times." Schaduw said simply before tilting his head. "You know there is a bounty on jedi?"

Tohkran nodded, "I am aware, are you inclined to collect it? Though I would suggest to not do that, there is a bounty on force users in general, which I suspect you are too, though you may perhaps not know it that you are using the force for your persuasion skills."

 "A hunter tried to take me in once, when persuasion failed my blade dissuaded him sufficiently." Schaduw said as he held the blade before him and ran a finger along the flat of its edge. Tohkran could see the blade was clearly the work of a masterforger.

"I can believe that. How came you to be in the service of Elan here?" Tohkran asked, interested in the answer.

"He pays me, gives me a place to live, a purpose." Schaduw said as he leaned against the wall. "And it gives me a chance to help his 'customers'."

At that last part his eyebrows perked up, looking around, he doubted if there was surveillance in this room Schaduw would have said that out loud but still. "I see, and may I ask how do you help his customers?"

 "You'll find Elan is far from the worst of the dealers in this area. He only gives out single doses, preventing overdosing as he said. but he was a medical student on coruscant before he got too deep into the drug trade. in addition to the drugs themselves he keeps a stock of medicines that can reverse the effects or temper the side effects of the drugs he sells. usually they don't solve the addictive effects but they do temper the less pleasant effects." Schaduw said as he sheathed his blade again. "When customers leave with their product I tend to slip them a counteragent. Elan doesn't keep as close an eye on the medical stock levels, he uses them on occasion to make other drugs but otherwise just keeps stock levels consistent and orders more then one is getting low. I'm sure he knows someone else is taking them, though I'm not sure he is particularly worried about it either."

"I see, very noble of you to do so, I commend you on your actions. Know I think I ought to come clean why I came here, looking for you from the rumors and tales I've heard." Tohkran continued slowly, tracing through his beard for a moment to order his thoughts. "As I said, my name is Tohkran... and I am a Jedi. I do hope you either have not heard or at least have a skeptical view of most of the boogeyman tales surrounding Jedi. Either case, I came here hoping to find someone strong in the force, because I heard rumors of such a individual being present on this planet. I was hoping to meet this person and talk, just like we are doing, and perhaps be able to offer him or her safety from the hunters out there in return for training and help me do some good in this galaxy at war. If that person was interested of course, I do not force anyone and I am happy to answer any questions you may have for me."

"What do you mean by that 'good in the galaxy'?" Schaduw replied after a moments thought.

"Well for example, I have a small shipyard business and I refuse to make war material for any of the current sides in the wider galactic conflict, if I have to take a governmental contract it is either for the local police forces or, currently a contract building medical frigates for the Republic. Other examples are that I would like is to see slavery, which I see with increasing pace being more widely accepted by the CIS, be abolished. The jedi were once called the peacekeepers and guardians of the Republic, aiding police forces into apprehending criminals and be diplomats during times of war, I would like to see those days return."

"That does sound more enticing that guarding a drug dealer and trying to limit the effects of his drugs on his clientele." Schaduw replies, "And you think my persuasion implies I could be one of these Jedi Guardians?"

Tohkran leaned forward and studied Schaduw for a moment. "Your persuasion abilities are what I, and others like me, call a 'mindtrick' and might indicate you have other abilities. Have you ever managed to do other things that are unexplained abilities? Besides your persuasion, perhaps when you were in a high emotional state that things moved on their own or levitated, perhaps you once needed a weapon to save yourself and one flew from the ground right into your hand?"

"I rarely find myself in situations that I can't talk my way out of." Schaduw said with a shrug.

"That is commendable I suppose, but yes if you are interested I would like you to welcome you to join my company and learn whatever I can teach you, at least the techniques and abilities you are interested in or have a affinity for."

Schaduw tilted his head back in thought for a few moments before he spoke again. "If I were to go with you, who would help Elans customers?"

Tohkran scratched his beard. "You bring up a good point, you mentioned that he wasn't particularly worried about the missing medical stocks, do you think he actually knows what you are doing and is ok with it? Perhaps you can actually use your persuasion abilities to make Elan rethink his life a little, to do what you do currently. Stopping the trade in drugs is rather impossible, but perhaps making sure a dealer actually slips his customers a counter-agent once in a while and doesn't oversell his drugs to them just to keep them addicted and earn credits might be a good thing." Tohkran offered.

"I could do that." Schaduw said as he pushed off the wall and walked out the door. seeing Elan across the room he walked straight towards the balosar dealer.

"Finished talking already?" Elan said as he fidgeted with something in a case.

Schaduw stopped a pace from Elan and looked him straight in the eye as he spoke, using the 'mind trick' as tohkran had called it to lace his words. "You will start giving your customers the counteragent to their highs when they buy them, you will not charge them for the counter agent." he said in the same peculiar tone he had used on tohkran.

"I will give my customers the counteragent, I wont charge them for it." Elan replied looking a little vague for a moment, he blinked a few times as Schaduw broke eye contact but otherwise showed no evidence to knowing what had happened.

Tohkran followed quietly and observed Schaduw using his abilities, not interfering, after a moment he cleared his throat. "Well then, Schaduw, does that mean you accept my offer?"

"Offer? What offer?" Elan asked raising his voice a little.

"I'm leaving, you'll need a new bodyguard. You shouldn't need worry too much though, the other dealers are pretty convinced you're untouchable at this point." Schaduw said in response to Elan. "Maybe Derrick at the gate could do it, he's competent." 

"Derrick is noticeable, not a shadow on the wall that most people dismiss." Elan said with a snort "I could increase your pay if you're unhappy with the current amount." he added with an almost pleading tone.

"This job was never about the money" Schaduw replied as he turned away from Elan and walked to Tohkran. "Lead on then." he said to the Jedi.

Tohkran nodded and bowed his head towards Elan. "I hope your business stays as healthy as the health of your customers." He says and leads Schaduw away, back to the entrance to retrieve his blaster and cane. As they walked he turned to Schaduw, "You should also know I have several others who I am currently instructing to understand and develop their abilities. I hope you get along with them." He said with a smile and then went silent as they reached the entrance and he nodded to the security. "Hello again, I am here to collect my blaster and walking stick."

"Sure gimpy" The human guard said as he opened the strongbox which now only held Tohkrans gear.

He ignored the look Schaduw was giving him at the name and just chuckled, accepting his blaster and cane back. "Oh I do believe Elan needs to talk to you Derrick." Tohkran added and with a last smile turned and walked away, with a almost literal shadow following him. The journey to the Killer Whale was without trouble and Marack was already waiting for them. "Marack, my search was successful as you see. Schaduw meet my friend Marack, Marack meet Schaduw, who will in time become someone who allows me to call him friend as well." With the introductions done there was nothing else to be said really and they walked aboard the freighter with Marack going to the cockpit once more, leaving Tohkran with his new padawan who he started to talk about what it would be like to be among the others in Tohkran's care.