Why was he there?
Darth Renatus sighed as he stood near the waterfall that formed the veil around the city of Jan-gwa. There was a list several klicks long full of reasons not to interact with Gungans. And yet, there he was. The Justicar sighed heavily and returned his attention to the datapad in his hands. The screen cast a pale hue across his moon-kissed features in the darkness of the shadowy cliff walls and the dark sky. He glanced upward, his black-gold eyes catching the glow from the city itself. Flashes buried in roiling clouds in the distance foretold the coming storm. Lovely.
The Firrerreo's attention returned to the datapad even as he ran his fingers through the black-grey strands of his hair and he double checked the description. He was here for one Callus Bo'amar. The Epicanthix was a rogue, not belonging to any clan in particular, which meant anything pertaining to him was Howlader's problem, the Master-at-Arms. Somehow, that particular man had a remarkable gift for making his problem's someone else's. This time, that someone else was Renatus.
Frankly, he didn't overly know why he was being sent after Bo'amar. Just that he was. The most recent location on file was Naboo of all places. And that was precisely why there was mud encasing the Justicar's boots.
He sighed, a remarkably common sound for Renatus, and made the final stretch towards the city itself. The Gungans were wary of him and he could hardly blame them. They hadn't had the best track record with off-worlders to say nothing of the people of Naboo themselves. There wasn't any reason for him to make that worse.
"What'sa brings you'sa here," a soft-spoken Gungan asked as he neared the entrance.
Renatus appraised them for a moment. He took a deep breath before responding with his calm, lilting tone. "I am in search of a man who has been seen here," he remarked. Shouldn't be too hard for them to pick an Epicanthix out amongst so many amphibians. Then he passed over a gold credit chip. "An apology for the disturbance."
The Gungan's eyes bulged at the sight of the currency. Quick hands received it and offered their thanks. "Me'sa see who'sa might know," they replied before scampering off.
In the meantime, the Justicar appraised the city itself. It would be so much less effort to just...crush the entire place. His fingers twitched as he momentarily envisioned the impressive display of power. But, it would be woefully inefficient. There was a high chance of death for those that were not yet at their time. It was not his place to hasten their passing.
The man blinked and glanced to the side. It had become quiet. Also, he was beginning to suspect that the Gungan wasn't intending on coming back. That was just one of many things that felt off. That sensation only grew until he was filled with a sense of foreboding and an all-consuming need to move.
Move now!
Renatus twisted and stepped to the side just in time to see a blaster bolt scorch where he stood. His head continued the turn even as he had stopped, leading his eyes to fall upon the dark silhouette of a man coming out of one of the bulbous platforms. He was wearing a rather nonchalant outfit, seemingly opting for practicality over robes. At his hip was the empty holster for the A180 blaster pistol in his hand and at the other side was the familiar sight of a lightsaber. The Justicar tilted his head and looked the other man in the eyes.
Callus—who this man no doubt must be—was nearly bald, but the Firrerreo could make out his dark grey hair and beard. Of note, there was a vicious looking chemical burn clawing from his left collar bone along his chin and face. That must have hurt. Blue-grey eyes met Renatus' and they shared a silent moment.
"I am not here to fight, Bo'amar," the Justicar intoned. Just bringing you in. He flexed the fingers in his right hand, causing the knuckles to crack loudly. "Why attack first?"
The older man's chest hefted as he took a deep breath. "I got my own reasons. Plenty of them, in fact." Something flashed across Callus' eyes in that moment which Renatus couldn't interpret. "Not that there's anyone left I'd care to tell."
Well, that was uninformative. Renatus sighed again and titled his head with a raised brow, as if to say 'really?'. Already, Callus seemed prime to push their conflict further. He could see it in the man's rigid stance and militaristic focus. If we are going to do this, he began internally. "I would suggest we take this elsewhere."
In an attempt to drive the point home, Renatus raised a hand and began curling his fingers inward. He bathed himself in the dark embrace of the Force and demanded it comply. And so it did. The platform Callus had claimed began to shudder and crack, as if being pressed upon from every direction at once. That threat was one the Epicanthix could appreciate. It spoke to a real danger.
So, Callus quickly repositioned. He opened his own connection to the Force and suffused his limbs with its power. He rushed to the edge of the platform and vaulted the railing, dropping into a roll at the bottom before sending some shots over his shoulder. The smell of burnt lumber filled Renatus' nostrils as the unaimed bolts struck the ground at his feet. He released his iron grip on the Force and pushed back at the sudden rush of exhaustion from his display.
Thankfully, he hadn't quite drained himself in an effort to arrive at the location of their conflict. So, that feeling would pass in time. Only now he was in a trap of his own making. Renatus needed to chase down Callus and the man had a head start.
How annoying.
