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— OUTER RIM TERRITORIES
⠀⠀⠀ THE PHINDIAN PACED AROUND THE HALL OF THE PALACE. Or what was left of it after the invasion. Jyu Poal's patience had been slipping to none since the princess had fled the capital, before he was able to capture her and force her into marriage to legalise his place.
Many search squads had been sent to find her, roaming around the planet per Jyu's request to find Milada so he can wed her. Yet, it wasn't what he truly wanted — his only wish was power, and it did not matter how he got it.
"Brother," a voice ringed, pulling the Phindian male out of his thoughts, "a ship is approaching the planet and the pilot had introduced himself as the Jedi Master Obi Wan Kenobi,"
Loralu waited patiently for his brother's reply, glancing between the ruins out of the immense windows and the ruins of the hall which was not long ago shone brightly in the sunlight, perhaps the moonlight as well.
"Obi Wan Kenobi?" The Phindian asked, not looking back at his brother, "if it really is him, he shall pay me a visit," he mused, having a plan in mind.
"So we do let him in?" Loralu was uncertain and perplexed over his brother's reply.
"Of course, you idiot," Jyu muttered the last part, rolling his eyes at Loralu's doltishness. He heard movement behind him before the doors shut and he was left alone again. His plan had a high chance of working, which will ensure in success for him to annex the full power over Gala.
Obi Wan's ship had entered the system where Gala was, but he was met with an unpleasant sight of Phindian ships stationed around it and the atmosphere of the planet seemed to have lost its teal and the full of life beauty. What had happened? He really did feel regretful of leaving Gala seeing how terrible it seemed to have gotten while he was gone. The monitor flashed and a message of approval had been shown. Obi Wan accepted the tidings and proceeded to land in the capital.
As soon as he entered the atmosphere, he was met with a burning flaxen gas instead of the clouds, the yellow fog covering the whole planet made it hard to see past your nose and he had to use the Force and intuition to land his spaceship successfully. Once he landed and opened the shuttle, he was met with a toxic smell of burnt trees, salt and acid which almost caused him to keck. What in the name of the Force had happened here, he wondered, eyes roaming around trying to pick up a sign of life.
"Obi Wan Kenobi," a foreign male voice called out and the Jedi turned his head to the source of it, making out a faint green light of a mask and a red of a blaster the creature held, "follow me,"
Without any words, Obi Wan did as he was told, climbing out of the ship and following the sentient who he soon learnt was a Phindian. He felt himself walk on the dead grass which not long ago was alive and covered the city of Galu, the smell was somewhat tolerable now but still unpleasant to his senses. From the directions they were walking in, he figured that he is being taken to the castle and Maker, he was eager to ask Smérgl what in the universe had happened to Gala.
"The King is waiting for you inside," the Phindian stopped before the gates, pushing them apart and motioning for the Jedi to enter.
Without hesitation, Obi Wan made his way inside and was surprised by how clean the air seemed in the main hall. But he was more taken aback over how demolished the whole interior looked, ruins of the beautiful pillars and ripped paintings were surrounding the throne which was covered in thick layers of dust as if no one had been there in hundreds of years.
"Very well," a voice echoed and Obi Wan's right hand found his lightsaber hilt in instant, "no need for weapons, Master Jedi," the voice cooed and another male Phindian stepped out of the shadows of a destroyed column.
"Where is the King?" Obi Wan asked, eyes fixed on the foreign sentient in the hall, voice harsh and demanding.
"You're talking to him now," the Phindian smiled and ran to the throne, plopping on it and placing his foot on the seat, taking the position of a half rest, "I am Jyu Poal, the King of Gala," he laughed as he introduced himself, hands raised and eyes closed, lost in his own world.
"Where is Smérgl?" The Jedi said through gritted teeth, not wanting to play these games.
Jyu's face fell alongside his arms as he frowned, "dead,"
Obi Wan's eyes barely widened as his whole body felt paralysed. King Smérgl could not be dead, not so soon at least, "how did he die?" He managed to ask, slowly walking over to the throne.
"Oh," Jyu made a shocked face, "I killed him,"
The blood in Obi Wan's veins grew cold and he began to shake in fear, anger? He was unsure, but he was sure that it had been the call of the Dark Side, "and what did you gain from it?" He mumbled, trying his best not to let the dark consume him.
"The throne, the new home for my people," the Phindian bent his fingers as he started to list, "the planet rich with resources, a planet which is located at the most convenient location for the Syndicate to trade," he paused, looking at the Jedi Master, "the list goes on, Master Jedi,"
"Where is the princess?" The words left Obi Wan's mouth before he could realise. Jaw clenched as his hand never left the lightsaber hilt.
"You think I know?" Jyu declared, rising from his throne and walking down to Obi Wan, "I've been looking for her for three weeks now, you tell me where she is!" He now stood before the Jedi Master, neon green eyes staring into the deep blue ones of the Jedi, "she had fled Galu as soon as we captured the castle,"
Obi Wan stood still, watching the Phindian before him intensely. He was glad nothing had happened to Milada and she had managed to escape him and his people, he assumed she went into hiding with Elan and the hill people as they were always separate from the capital.
"But," Jyu began, "if you find her, I will willingly give in for the trial of the Galactic Republic for such atrocity," he suggested, hopeful the Jedi would accept the offer, knowing well that they are the peacemakers of the galaxy — aiming to ensure honesty between all.
The suggestion was too tempting for Obi Wan as he wanted nothing but Jyu to be punished for what he had done, and without thinking further, blinded by trust, he agreed.
