**Bnar Medical School,**
**Mymidon,**
**39 ABY**
Inside the transparent castle of glass, mirrors and clean marble floors, various medical staff and laboratory technicians roamed the hallways with their trays, datapads and luggage. The droids of the faculty hurried along on their own, either with vital organ transplants, in communication with a holographic projection, or holding some conspicuous box that held a randomised subject for practice. The rooms were all symmetrically lined and boxed in order to avoid heavy traffic, as patients struggle by themselves or with transportation, and shuffled through the hallways. Behind the steel doors of a restricted section of the laboratory was the research area for fauna dissection and anatomical study. This would usually be the loudest section, because of the beasts sent to their deaths in most cases, however today it was very silent.
At a particular surgery table, inside a concealed theater, the Krath Priest known as Wrooshuu lurched over the corpse of an unidentified animal. The beast clearly put up a struggle to die, as it’s guts were dismantled across it’s claws and it’s blood splattered against the white coat of the Wookiee. The corpse lay on it’s spine as the ribs were arched highly above it’s head, a clear sign this animal used to walk on four limbs. It’s tail twitched and jolted as Wrooshuu dug his scalpel and instruments inside the offal of the creature. Then the steel door hissed and parted for a dark robed figure to enter with an anti-gravity pallet. He carefully rolled his military boots across the clean marble as to not make a sound, with only a soft clicking coming from his heels. He edged closer towards the Wookiee, with his fists tightened and side stepping closer. The darkly dressed man was within reach to attempt a deadly blow to the neck, his bright eyes focused with pure concentration. Then broken by a sharp and riveting voice in his mind.
*You can place the items on the opposite desk, Marcus. No need to ‘bite fist’ my neck. I heard you walk in through the doors.*
His leer of concentration turned into a relaxed look of disappointment, as his lips curled out with a puff of air signalling he failed. Marcus, former Battleteam Leader of Devil’s Shroud and now Rollmaster of the Clan, whipped two fingers towards the surgery table as he ordered the company droid to do the lifting. His gaze then returned to the back of the Wookiee’s head, in an effort to understand what he just felt. Marcus approached from behind, as curiosity got the better of his power-driven mind, to look upon the corpse of the animal and his target.
“Did you do that? In my mind?” Marcus prodded the Wookiee.
*Of course. How else am I supposed to talk to you privately? I’m not hauling around some immaterial droid if the infinite uses of the Dark Side can allow me to penetrate your subconscious and seed in some conversation without the need for your grey matter to process it.*
An expression that can only be described as your first day meeting your local politician was what glowed across the Rollmaster’s face. His nasal area scrunched up as his forehead ridges tensed completely from this thought in his mind. Marcus felt that the sheer audacity of someone invading his private thoughts should be completely taboo, especially as trying to eliminate potential foes like Wrooshuu. The Rollmaster inhaled deeply through his nose as he was becoming furious, and then hit the literal wall of putridity. The thick smog of rot from the corpse drown his senses completely, as his nose scrunched tightly, his mouth tightened and his eyes began to turn pink and stream salty tears. Marcus rushed away to gasp for some air, but it only gotten worse as the smell stuck to his robe, damping and sinking into the cloth. He leaned against a medical tool cupboard and gasped for something purer to fill his lungs, as his mentality tried to slip back from fear to reality.
“What the frak! I have never smelled something so frakking disgusting. What did you kill!?” Marcus shouted out to Wrooshuu, as he tried to prevent his stomach from keeling and emptying onto the floor.
*It is a predator from the local jungles that has been tainted with the Sith alchemy floating around the temples. This one has been losing it’s fur, metabolising all of the reserved fatty acids, muscles and nerves, and vomiting anything held within the digestive system that is currently stuck in the claws. It has also been rotting away whilst alive, so you are not the first to smell it. Did you have a real reason why you have come to visit me? Other than to ambush me and smell my subject?*
Wrooshuu, after placing his tools down, removing his surgical clothing and stepping aside from the corpse, turned to face Marcus then stared with his blank expression at the Rollmaster. He crossed his thickly bushed arms across his chest and awaited an answer patiently. Knowing Marcus as he did, it was usually some sort of threat mixed in with a sentimental goodbye. After finally regaining his composure, the Rollmaster faced Wrooshuu and walked towards the boxes being placed on the surgery table.
“I’ve been trying to contact you for awhile, but knowing the immediate changes in the Clan and your lack of holding anything to contact you by. I figured you’d respect a more personal approach. I brought your personal items from your office, including those slug things, and the official letter of change from Locke himself. There’s mentions of the position opening to lead the battleteam, so i’ll leave that open for you. There’s also some questions i’d like to ask you if you have time.”
Wrooshuu nodded slowly as he began to reach up and stroke his beard, contemplating the news.
*Thanks for the transport of my stuff, if you’ll have your droid take it to my quarters I’ll unpack later. But leave the Dagobah slugs here for now, I will need to inspect them for parasites and decontaminate them from the travel. Whats the news from Locke?*
Marcus motioned for the droid to quit his removal task and ship them back onto the pallet, as he then took the glass container of slugs from the table and handed them to Wrooshuu. The Wookiee gladly accepted and peered into the container in delight.
“Well, he installed a new Quaestor of Shar Dakhan into position, it’s Anima. He went through this personality change that I don’t quite understand, but his new name is Atra Ventus now. Anyway they’re talks that some of the elders are returning and talking with the summit for some unknown reasons. I wasn’t allowed inside. Aren’t you at all interested in the position?”
Wrooshuu who continued to stare happily inside the glass, as he slowly turned the container to inspect his pets, began to walk towards the exit.
*I am neither interested nor pleased that either positions are changing, I will however continue to do my best in serving you both. Now the thing I am more concerned about is these elders reaching Locke for discussions. Since when do we ever find out that elders publicly discuss with the Consul of the Clan? I am certain that there is a productive reason behind it. Speaking of leadership, you should find one of the other team members and see if they wish to lead.*
Marcus nodded slowly as he followed the Wookiee out of the laboratory and down the hallways, both walking in parallel as the passerbies looked at them in wonder.
“So who do you propose to lead then? Syn?” Marcus replied in a gentle whisper.
As the two reached the automatic doors for the medical school, the glass hissed and parted away for the individuals. As suddenly as they parted, a young and springy Cathar bounced in front of them in a cheery posture, her golden fur shining in the daylight.
“Hi there! I’m Rosie!” Her sharp canines shined brightly as her eyes curled into dark arches above her cheeks. Both Wrooshuu and Marcus glanced at the Cathar, then towards each other before the Wookiee planted his huge paw across her face and moved her out of the way by force.
*No, not you. We need to find this Atra and converse with him. Purely for Clan security of course.*
Marcus nodded in agreement and began to lead the way across the courtyard of the faculty campus, and towards his shuttle.