A time to survive

The war with the Separatists is closing. With the deaths of Count Dooku and General Grievous the Separatists forces are disorganized, but a wounded animal is at it's most dangerous. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine has ordered the destruction of a high value droid factory on Bixis E-72 on the edge of the outer rim. Unbeknownst to him Master Yoda has felt a stirring in the force there and has sent Jedi Knight Lorbek and his padawan to investigate. Together with the clones the jedi must nutralize the droid factory and discover what dwells in this Planetoids heart.

Kysgin Yarrow: Key of the Mind

Keldooine, a small world on the fringe borders of the Outer Rim and Imperial Space, isn't viewed as much more than a trade stop between systems. That being said, inventory changes many a hand as ships drop cargo and new vessels pick them up. These transactions are governed by none other that Yarrgos the Hutt. Renowned for his personal skills, cool temper, and brilliant financial mind. Keldooine doesn't have a named leader, but if it did, it would be Yarrgos.

His meeting hall, the largest chamber of his subterranean “mansion”, was adorned with historical art pieces from all across the universe. The air supply system pumped the room full of rich oxygen scented with exotic incense and herbs that made one feel relaxed. Trusting. The great table before him was piled high with delicacies made from the finest ingredients the planet could produce. He had a taste for the lavish, to say the least. Yarrow himself was fairly petite, as far as Hutts go. He was coiled tightly, his dark brown skin wrinkled with age, and a long midnight blue wig of exquisite hair hung down his back, as was the style. Serving droids brought him plate after plate of “stuffed this” and “baked that.” The two Kel'Dor business owners he was meeting with didn't seem to have much appetite. To his left was his infamous bodyguard. A one eyed Duros, who was not know for mercy, or ever missing a target with his carbine. To his right, taking notes, was his young ward. A Ryn named Kysgin. The subject of this story.

Now, one of Yarrgos greatest achievements in his rise to power was the financial overthrow of a noble family of Ryn that made their home on this planet. The Gherallow family was one of the last known communities of Ryn, living together in one place. Their nomadic species has a tendency to travel, never knowing one home for long. This family made due by traveling to and fro on star ships, but always finding their way back to Keldooine. When Yarrgos made it planetside, they were enslaved within the month. He siezed their finances, killed two of their elders, and kidnapped the child of their leader as a hostage. He raised the boy as his own, as his personal ward. Taught him the ways of the Hutt, the numbers for business, and the tricks of the trade. In honesty, he had become fond of the lad. This was 20 some years ago. This was young Yarrow, who adopted the last names, intermixed, of his two families. After this much time, Kysgin, Ryn blood boiling in his veins, was going out of his mind.

The meeting lasted several hours. Contracts were signed, and business arrangements were made. More than a few threats were dropped as well, but the Kel'Dor merchants left with their heads, and a new trade route. In this meeting alone there were no fewer than a dozen infractions of imperial law. Young Kysgin seemed nervous, but in his mind he was gathering all the courage he had. It was time to go on stage and give his greatest performance of all (his Ryn heritage made the hardest trials of life feel very much like a great play.) He tucked his Datapad under his arm and walked out to face his Lord Yarrgos. There he stood calm and collected on the outside, shaking and weeping on the inside.

“Kysgin. My boy. You have something you wish to discuss with me? You stand like a man on the gallows.”

“Lord Yarrgos. We have something rather important to discuss. To put things quite clearly, I am leaving you. I can stand this place no longer. I thank you for all you have taught me, all the privileges my upbringing has endowed to me, and the honor of helping your rise to power. But I have a small vessel awaiting my journey off world, and towards my future.”

Yarrgos looked as though he had eaten a Ferillian Saltroot. He blinked a few times in disbelief, then let forth a huge baritone laugh that filled the chamber.

“ Hurrhurrhurr. You are most amusing to me my young ward! You, more than any, know that your leaving this place would put by business at too great a risk. You have far too many documents and insight into the dark corners of my trade world. No, my child, you will be here until I decide you may leave this place. And that will not be any time soon. Hurrhurrhurr.”

“On the contrary, noble Yarrgos. In staying here with you, your assets and holdings would be at much greater risk. You have taught me well the ways of getting what you want, through planning and trickery. For years now I have been planning my exodus, and today will be that day. You see, being in charge of the vast majority of your personal notes and records, I have created an encoded file holding a documented time-line of your transactions over the last six years. This could very easily fall into the hands of the Imperial Law Enforcers off planet..”

Yarrgos' eyes narrowed angrily, and his faithful Duros gun-hound drew forth his rotator carbine, leveling it towards Kysgins head. It's battery cells hummed to life.

“..Now before you do anything too hasty, my Lord master, you should be aware that this encoded file has been circulated through the Ryn database. I know you've heard of such a thing. A secret network of information sharing between all of my noble people spanning all systems. There is no way to infiltrate or dissect it. If I don't regulate my file once every 24 hours, it will crack open and spew forth a hefty data load of your crimes into the main network, which will find it's way to being published all over the verse. So if I were to come to some kind of unfortunate end, it would not bode well for you and yours. Now, I don't want to leave on bad terms. Quite the contrary. I wish nothing more for you to feel pride for my careful planning. I simply need to see the world. I must spread my wings and taste the flavors of the galaxy. I wish to build my own holdings. I wish to grow my own networks, and make allies in high places. I want to rise, and fulfill my own potential. On my journey, I shall even endeavor to send business your way. Have faith in your Ward Yarrgos, for the student has become as the master. Great indeed were your lessons.”

With that Kysgin turned and began to pace out of the meeting hall. His noble tight fitting gray robes were immaculately clean. His long white hair was braided down his back, and his fine chin beard hung equally low in front, bound by tiny silver rings. The rings on his fingers glistened, and his countless earrings twinkled with tiny electric LEDs. He walked like a man with power. He had truly grown up into his lifestyle. Before leaving he turned quickly on his heals to once again address his Master, who appeared to be dehydrating out of rage and shock.

“Oh, and once last thing, dear Master. You will be funding my journey. I have many years of wages coming, and I expect their interests has become quite high. I expect regular transfers to my personal account every few span. If I don't find the funds suitable, you will be made to know. As will my allies across the Ryn mainframe. Farewell great one. May your investments flourish and your tail grow long.” He gave the graceful bow of a Ryn performer, with the professional poise of a Noble blooded Lordling.

Kysgin Yarrow, having planned his escape for almost a decade, had used his brilliant mind to ensure his success, yet for all his mental prowess, he failed to have the foresight to put enough fuel in his tiny star-ship. Be lost power a few Parsecs into the Outer Rim. It was his great luck that saw to it that a Republic Transport ship picked up his SOS within a few days.