Ta'a Chume'Dan

[Nick Cousland]

The city of Ta'a Chume'Dan was the administrative capital of the Hapes Consortium. A small, neat city of only a few hundred thousand inhabitants, it was nevertheless the hub of governmental, commercial and legal activity for the entire Hapes Cluster, due to laws requiring all major business to be done on Hapes itself. There were movable landing pads throughout the city to fit in as many landing ships as possible.

The name Ta'a Chume'Dan indicated "Queen Mother's Residence" in Hapan, and the most remarkable sight in the city was the royal palace, a fairy-tale castle perched on the black basalt crag that dominated the settlement, which served as a key symbol of the monarchy's grandeur and power to the administrators and bureaucrats of the population - as Ta'a Chume'Dan itself served a symbolic and administrative role for the worlds of the Consortium.

Probably due to the isolationist policies of the Hapans, however, New Republic sources disagreed as to whether the palace overlooking the city was the Fountain Palace, or Star Home, a magnificent interstellar starship built as an exact duplicate of the royal seat. It is likely, however, that it was the original Fountain Palace which stood in Ta'a Chume'Dan, and it seems certain that the Lorell Hall was also set on the same bluffs

[Darth Paymon]

Paymon landed his ship in an open field area for him and Luke to converse away from everyone else.

[Luke Skywalker]

Having landed in a hanger bay, Luke walked the short distance to the field. There he saw a ship. He walked across the field until he was about 40 meters from it. He stopped and waited for Paymon to exit the ship.

[Darth Paymon]

The loading ramp lowered,Paymon slowly made his way down the ramp,taking a smile as he saw Luke,"My Nephew.."He spoke,giving a bow,"Grandmaster Skywalker."he said.

[Luke Skywalker]

Luke returns his bow. "Greetings Paymon. It is good to see you. I have high hopes for this meeting." Luke begins to close the distance, now about 20 meters from Paymon. "I am anxious to here how you are, and what your proposal of alliance is." Luke's voice carries in the quiet evening.

[Darth Paymon]

Paymon smiles,"I have high hopes as well."he cleared his throat,"I want to add numbers with the Jedi,So we can have some sort of an ally..we have no one..and I choose you over the Sith any day..the Sith believe that Peace is a Lie,well I can show you,that what I want is nothing more than Peace..plus,the Jedi will have full access to our scientific resouces,as well as any knowlege we have,as well as our fleets.."He said,then spoke,"I am not evil anymore,Luke..though I don't believe I can be completely a Jedi,I have done unspeakable things."he says,his deep voice carrying out to Luke,Paymon doens't walk with his cane,nor are their any sabers on his body,all of his weapons were removed,showing his deffinately was a sincere man.

[Luke Skywalker]

"That is very tempting. I believe we can come to some sort of an agreement. One of the things that I would ask is that we have proof positive before we move on someone, and not just heresay. I'm speaking of the RGE. I am currently investigating something that occured. If it proves that there is corruption, then I would support a move against them. But I will not move on someone without proof," says Luke. He pauses a moment, "Something is not right in the RGE, but I don't know what it is yet. But I am going to find out."

[Darth Paymon]

Paymon smiles softly,"I won't attack anyone who doesn't deserve the attack,Luke..I can tell you that I once knew the men who were pulling the Empire's strings,and you don't want to have to deal with him."he said,then looks away for a brief moment,then he speaks again,"You will find,the hands of the dark side work in mysterious ways."he said.

[Luke Skywalker]

"Very well, tentatively we will form an alliance. I cannot officially declare it. The matter must first go before the council for approval. I believe that I can counter any opposition there may be. The council meets two days from now." Luke adds, "I know you were hoping for an answer today. I'm sorry, but I cannot give it to you."

[Darth Paymon]

Paymon shakes his head,"No..Patience is a great strength,the greatest warrior will wait for years on end so that way when the time is right,he can strike,and prevail."He said,then nodded to Luke,"Admittedly,I have enjoyed getting to see my nephew.."he said,"Your mother would be so proud of you.."he spoke to him carefully about his Mother.

[Luke Skywalker]

"Thank you Uncle. It is good to hear you are doing well, and are no longer on the path of darkness. And don't kid yourself. If you want it bad enough, you can come back to the light. What you think are restrictions placed on the Jedi, you will come to realize they are actually liberties. I sense the struggle in you, the darkness trying to get a foothold. I will be here to help you whenever you need it," intoned Luke, with the Force behind his words. He genuinely wanted his Uncle to find peace in the light. "If that is all, I need to get back to Yavin IV, I sense a darkness falling on the Jedi. I want to be there when it happens."

[Darth Paymon]

Paymon nods,"I'll..think about it deeply,my nephew.."he listened to him,"I sense it too,you should head back,I understand your duties as the Grandmaster of the Order."he smiled and turned to walk back up the loading ramp to his ship,sending messages to his fleet and doing other things.

[Luke Skywalker]

Luke waived good-bye to his uncle, then turned and made the walk back to the hanger. Once there he prepared to go to orbit, and then hyperspace.

[Darth Paymon]

Paymon's shuttle enters hyperspace,heading for parts unknown.