Quote (Ryln_Telumb)
Information was always in demand; and when one dealt in secrets that concerned some very, very important people, there was bound to be friction.
Ryln Telumb probably knew nothing as well as he knew this singular fact. His "fiancee's brothers" had done this to him? Were he there to hear the Sullustan's pitiful explanation, Cale would have smirked. Telumb was a decent liar at least, a trait that served Cale well in this instance as he made his way back to the Sullustan's apartment far sooner than he'd have expected to—or cared to, considering the stench in that apartment that seemed to have permeated Cale to the bone. The Inquisitor wasn't sure which was worse; the oppressing heat and humidity of this woebegone world or the equally-oppressive smell of its inhabitants. But he found solace in the knowledge that, having quieted his mind and reached into the Force, sensing the presence of a pair of what must have been Jedi, one way or another he'd leave this world soon.
How depressing it would be to die here though, he thought. He'd just have make certain that he wasn't the one who'd die today.
Cale took his time, knowing that Telumb—predisposed as he was to making excuses—would keep DeQora and Farris there for some time. The Sullustan had been more than helpful; to Cale's pleasant surprise, he wasn't simply an old friend of DeQora but a former friend as well. He had sensed that Telumb's resentment for DeQora was real. Too easy, Cale thought. He sighed. DeQora and Farris had been dreadfully predictable. Cale had expected more from the Heroes of Bellassa than to run straight to their nearest contact. Either DeQora wasn't as smart as Cale remembered him, or perhaps he and Farris had some sort of engine trouble. He made a mental note of it.
It would have been smarter of Cale, he knew, to find the Jedi's ship and wait for them there. Perhaps it was the heat, or perhaps Cale's eagerness to see the expressions on DeQora's and Farris's faces when they saw him, but either way he didn't want to wait any longer than he had to. He was close enough to Telumb's apartment now that they should sense him. If not him specifically, than at least a familiar and discomfiting presence approaching, a soft warning in the recesses of their minds. This was no doubt the cause of Daneira's unease. If nothing else, she was certainly perceptive.
Cale wondered only one thing, as much for sport than anything else: would he get there even before Telumb contacted him?Added (11 Mar 2013, 0:32 AM)
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Cale had frowned on his way to the Sullustan's apartment, sensing that something had gone wrong. The call from Telumb never came. Cale quickened his step, but nonetheless it came as no surprise to him when he arrived to find DeQora and Farris had already gone. This left the Sullustan with some explaining to do. It would be obvious enough from the nervous sweat on Telumb's jowls that he was petrified to see Cale again so soon, but the Sullustan also stammered terribly as he attempted to lie to the Inquisitor what had happened. Telumb had done his best to stall them; no doubt this was partially true, but it was obvious to Cale that as soon as Farris had sensed Cale coming and confided this to DeQora, they put together that this was a trap and that Telumb was in on it. At that point, Telumb had undoubtedly caved to the angry man with the lightsaber, just as he had earlier with Cale, and told DeQora everything. Cale additionally learned as he questioned Telumb that the Sullustan had given the Jedi the component they needed for their ship.
A mixed blessing for DeQora and Farris. They had eluded Cale, but only for now. And they wouldn't sleep any more soundly with the knowledge that he was right behind them.
Telumb, meanwhile, might never sleep soundly again. The Sullustan sat on the floor, huddled in a corner of his apartment, rocking back and forth, shaking his head and muttering "No, no, no!" to himself. Cale considered torture to be something of an art. Using the Force for psychological torture was more amusing—and more of a challenge for Cale—than simple physical torture. "There's so many better things to be afraid of than pain," was perhaps the personal mantra of which he was most fond. Telumb, having been shown things he'd never known he was afraid of, stood no chance. He told Cale everything, and now the Inquisitor had no further use for this broken, smelly being.
For a moment, he considered whether or not to kill Telumb. This moment's consideration was probably more than most other Inquisitors would do for the Sullustan. Killing for no reason wasn't as enjoyable a power trip for Cale as it was for some of his peers. Killing someone didn't prove much. Killing someone as weak as Telumb proved nothing at all. And who knows, if the Sullustan ever emerged from his fearful stupor—some never did—he might be of further use.
"Should really open a window," Cale said as he stepped daintily around overturned tables and Telumb's sundries still strewn about the floor of the apartment on his way out the door.
