Jedi Infirmary and Research Lab

[Luke Skywalker]

Medical personnel bring in the shuttle pilot. Healers begin to check him over. They note excessive bruising, not connected to the landing. "How do you feel?" one of them asks him.

Security alerts Luke Skywalker to the situation.

[Lord Zairon]

The man coughs, "Mostly fine..." He says, "Just a little horse from the smoke. I escaped mostly unhurt." He says. "They didn't...*cough* catch me until orbit and I made hyperspace...*cough* just in time." The man holds his shoulder. "I'm a little bruised up and such from that shaking and the landing, but I...*cough* don't think anything is broken. Mostly sore. I think I'm fine."

[Luke Skywalker]

The healers confirm the diagnoses. Some smoke inhilation, and bruising from the straps, but otherwise ok. They order him on oxygen for the next half hour.

Luke enters the Infirmary and waits for the healers to finish. As they move away he moves forward. "Greetings, I am Grand Master Skywalker. Do you feel well enough to talk?"

[Lord Zairon]

"Skywalker..." The man looks at Luke. In the force surprise and admiration radiate from him. "You...you look just like the recordings..." He says in awe. "I...I can talk, sorry that my voice is horse." He says with a cough. "Did you get my message? I expected to be here yesterday..." He looks away and coughs, "But the damage slowed the craft down. My name is Ross Morgavi. I come from Carratos to see if the Jedi...can help us..."

[Luke Skywalker]

"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Morgavi. In what way do you need the assistance of the Jedi?" asks Luke, curious as to what this man's story is. "Please tell me your story."

[Lord Zairon]

"Please, you're the great Skywalker. Just call me Ross." He says as he lays back and looks up at the roof reciting his story. "I came from Carratos. I had a family and friends." The man said closing his eyes as if re-imagining it. "I wasn't military. Simply a citizen born on Carratos and never really had a reason to leave. I had family, a job, everything. It wasn't the perfect life." The man says before coughing a bit, "But it was life. I'm not sure what changed though. One day stormtroopers were sent into the towns. They grabbed people at random. I'm not sure why." He says his eyes starting to water. "But...they..." He gets quiet for a minute clenching his eyes tightly shut. "They grabbed...they grabbed my son Benjamin and...along with the others rounded them into City Hall. Nobody was allowed in...we tried...oh god how we tried."

The man lifts his hand to his eyes and covers them as he lays back facing the ceiling. "My wife...Mary...she tried and...well the stormtroopers under the orders of 'Grand Lord Ire' gunned her down." His voice cracked. "It caused a riot. Those who weren't killed were captured and like the ones rounded into the City Hall haven't been seen since."

"After that, I realized the people of Carratos needed help. I sent the message and stole a transport before I fled here." He took a deep breath as he tried to collect himself. "That man...nay, that monster Ire. He needs to be stopped. But we have nobody to run to. The military is loyal to him, he runs the government and I couldn't think of who else could help." The man grabbed Luke's arm. "Please Master Skywalker..." He said with a cough, "The people of Carratos need you...I know you aren't an army. But if you can...at the very least kill that mad man..." He pleaded, "Right now due to his powers you call the force...due to that magic. Nobody can stand up to him. We could get a stable government. But we need him dead."

[Mara Jade Skywalker]

Mara enters the infirmary and finds Luke talking to a wounded man whom she does not recognize.

"Hey," She addresses Luke as she walks up to the pair. She looks down at the man, wincing slightly at his many bruises. "I received a comm about an emergency. What's going on?"

[Luke Skywalker]

Luke listens to the man's story, and reaches out with the Force. He tries to determine if the man is telling the truth. He can detect no misdirection, but something doesn't seem quite right.

"Master Mara Skywalker, this is Ross Margovi of Carratos," says Luke. "And he has an interesting story."Luke quickly updates Mara on what he has just been told by Ross.

"Ross, I can promise you that we will look into it. What we will be able to accomplish, I'm not sure," adds Luke

[Lord Zairon]

The man squeezes Luke's arm. "Thank you...that's all I can ask for." The man says his eyes looking at Skywalker with awe and trust. "I trust the great Skywalker will save Carratos. Thank you. He's a monster. Thank you."

[Mara Jade Skywalker]

"Hm, interesting," Mara replies. On the surface, the man seems genuine, but something doesn't feel quite right. It's worth investigating nonetheless.

[Luke Skywalker]

"Please stop calling me that. I'm just Luke. What else can you tell us about Ire?" asks Luke. "How many men does he have under his command?"

[Lord Zairon]

The man looks confused, "How many men? Ma--err Luke." The man says, "He controls the Empire. He runs it. Most the people are simply pawns to him. Nobody can stand up to him because we don't have power like you do." He sighs, "I wish I could be more help, but I don't know anything about the military and who is loyal to him, how is afraid, who is forced, and such."

The man looks sad, "I'm really not that useful I'm sorry. He controls the Empire though and Carratos is his main base. The only person I know who could help you would be a friend of mine who works in the palace named Sandy." He says, "She could help sneak you in, because with the Empire's armies at his command, a full attack would be impossible. However, she can probably get you inside the palace. Would you be able to use your magic for stealth or something?"

[Luke Skywalker]

"We'll have to see. I have a meeting with a member of the RGE hierarchy in 2 days," responds Luke. "We'll begin making plans after I meet with him."

[Lord Zairon]

Confusion crosses the man's face, "A...a meeting with...those monsters?" Ross says surprised, "Why do you have a meeting with them?"

[Luke Skywalker]

"The meeting was scheduled due to some other events. It matters not now. This will give me a chance to gage their reaction to an inquiry. Valuable information can be found in such meetings sometimes," Luke adds. "This is just another step in the process to uncover the truth."

Just then a healer comes in, checks Ross' vitals and oxygen level. "We would like to keep you here overnight for observation. Give some of your injuries a chance to heal, and make sure there is no permanent damage from smoke inhalation."

"I think it's a good idea too," adds Luke. "We'll come back tomorrow and check on you. We'll give you an update on what we find out. Good-night Ross."

"It was nice meeting you," says Mara. "Good-night."

Luke and Mara waive and head out the door.