Jaken could make out what appeared to be a rocky outcropping.  While it didn't particularly interesting, it was oddly round in structure.  Almost as though it were a dome that had been made to look like something else.

"Uh...that's a the particularly interesting Dome Rock," Marn lied.  "Continuing on..."

The rest of the day went on without incident and Jaken raked in a small pile of cash.  Not enough to recoup their losses, but enough to get them on their way there, so he rested easy that night.

* * * *

The next morning was cloudy, so less people were enjoying the outdoors and more were looking for underwater tours!

Jaken...

Jaken was able to recruit a full mornings load of customers.  Things were looking good but Jaken was getting the impression someone else was running a competitive business.

Jaken decided to poke around to see what he could find out.

Jaken couldn't put his finger on it, but he definitely got the feeling that something was going on.  But he'd spent half the day looking for what it was and Marn would get mad if he didn't get more customers...

Jaken decided he would have to wait until later to figure out what was going on.  Either until tomorrow, or until something obvious cropped up.  Meanwhile, he got back to his official job.

Jaken managed to draw in a large crowd of people to fill the subs schedule through the day.  With the sub at full capacity, Jaken was free to spend a few hours as he wished.

Jaken decided to look to the Force, since he had been having an unshakable feeling.  He found a quiet place, and calmed his mind, then reached out with the Force, to see if some Force user was behind his nagging feeling.

Jaken felt an overwhelming feeling come over him followed by images.  He saw an underwater facility.  Then people fighting.  Then people being kept in slave pens.  Then a young Gotal boy.

As Jaken came out of his trance he saw an adult Gotal standing in front of him.

"You...you're a Jedi, yes?" he asked, an anxious look on his face.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:18, Fri 29 July 2016.

Trying not to act as startled as he was, both by the dream, and the sudden appearance of the Gotal, Jaken replied timidly.  "Sort of..." then after uncurling himself from a lotus position, continued "I'm a Padawan.  Why, do you need help?"

"My son, they've taken my son!" the Gotal cried.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:47, Mon 13 June 2011.

"Please, calm down sir," Jaken urged.  "What are you talking about?  Who has taken your son, and to where?  Why do you think I can help?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:48, Mon 13 June 2011.

"You're a Jedi, right?" the Gotal said.  "Jedi are supposed to help people."

"In order to do that, I will need you to answer my other questions," Jaken said.  "Who has taken your son and to where?  And why have they taken him?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:48, Mon 13 June 2011.

"Slavers!" the Gotal hissed.  "They've owned me for years as part of their fighting cartel.  But now they've taken my son in order to keep me quiet.  I tried to expose them to the crowds so that they'd let me go, but they kidnapped my son instead."

"What slavers?  Where have they taken your son?" Jaken asked.  "Don't worry I promise we'll get him back."

"They've given him over to the Franchise entertainment firm, the same people who own me right now," the Gotal explained.  "They're using him to get me to keep quiet about their use of slaves.  I fight in the swoop-dueling ring.  Most of the spectators think we're there of our free-will.  Some do.  That's where you come in.  If you can 'trick' your way into the arena, you can bring down the whole firm!"

"Now I see why you didn't go the authorities, you didn't want your son to get hurt." Jaken said as he slowly nodded.  "How can I get myself into the games without anyone becoming suspicious?" he asked.

"Here," the Gotal shoved a datacard at Jaken.  "This will tell you everything you need to know about how and where to register.  The fights aren't publicly known, but they're not terribly secret either.  Anyone in the right circles knows how to find them.  I have to go."

The Gotal looked around, then disappeared into the crowd.

"Wait!" Jaken called out in vain.  He wished he could have asked more questions, but he would have to wait.  He stared down at the datacard.  He was going to need some help on this.  He headed back to the rest of the group, to see if they could, with the information on the card, somehow get him into this swoop-dueling ring.

"That's what the thing under the ocean was!" Marn guessed.  "Let me see that card."

"Swoop fighting?  You'll need a partner for that," Troy said, thinking.  "Perhaps your Gotal wants you to take his son on with you."

Jaken noticed that Jarael was gone.

"I don't really understand swoop fighting," Jaken admitted, his mind absent wondering where Jarael was and hoping she'd show up soon.  "Why do you need a partner?  I really wish the Gotal had stuck around so I could ask him more questions."  Before Troy could reply to his question, he suddenly asked "Where's Jarael?  Don't tell me she's been captured by Mandos again."

"Jarael's out selling tickets," Troy explained.

"But we'll need to act on this now," Marn said.  "Alright, kid, you and me will go get you registered.  Troy, you and Jarael come down as spectators later on.  We'll keep in contact."

"Wait Marn.  It sounds like Troy knows something about swoop fighting, things we need to know." Jaken paused, then turned to Troy.  "Why do you need a partner?" he repeated.  "What is swoop fighting?"

"Swoopdueling combines the thrill of Swoop racing with the excitement of a gladiatorial combat. Combatants use anything from swoop and Speeder bikes to jetpacks and winged creatures to provide aerial combat for spectators. Most events start in the central arena, but quickly move to many sub-arenas, where various environments and hazards were recreated. Combatants try to outmaneuver, outrace, or outfight their opponents. It sounds like you'll be in the Tandem Open.  So one will likely be piloting and the other fighting.  Unless your partner doesn't know how to do either one; then you'll be doing both."