“It is pleasant to see you all, though i wish the circumstances were better.” he said softly.
“I appreciate that, we all do.” Karen spoke for her siblings.
“Your mother took great pains to make sure that all of you were taken care of, and her will reflects the wealth she accumulated over a long and at times very violent life.”
“What do you mean?”
“She took the barest amount of money to keep herself afloat and take care of you. Once she settled in the Mid Rim, she just let her investments accrue interest and reinvested. She suspected that someday you would need funds to do whatever you needed. She took great pains to see that you had those resources.”
“Do you know anything more about what happened on Qwart’aran?”
“A little, but it’s all bad news. Your family home was destroyed, as were all the buildings on the property. There is an insurance policy on the property and i will see the funds make their way to you. The store is another matter. It again had a policy, but as per her instructions, i am using the proceeds to take care of the farmers who lost necessary goods when it was destroyed. It’ll net out to you each getting about 6,000 credits when everything is said and done.” the Trandoshan nodded, and the Zeltron asked him a question. He couldn’t hear the conversation but was certain that they’d ask him if they needed to.
“The rest of her investments and monies are going to be divided per her instructions and you each get a share of her estate. I also have keys to safe deposit boxes in a half dozen banks across Imperial Center that i am supposed to distribute to all of you.”
“What’s the damage?” The trandoshan asked quietly.
“Interests equal out to about 65,000 credits each.” The Twi’lek let out a low whistle.
“You were talking about really big sums of money?” The Zeltron asked him.
“That’s just your individual interest on your investments, not touching the principal.”
“What?” They collectively looked at him.
“You each have a considerable amount of currency invested in companies and other things across the galaxy. Each year, those net out to approximately 65,000 credits of income for each of you. Given the circumstances of what happened, i went ahead and prepped your yearly income for this year as a credstick. Each one is DNA coded to you and you can use them to buy anything else you would need.” He slid the box onto the surface of his desk and handed each of them their cred sticks.
“Principal?” The Zeltron asked him again.
“Basically, you have inherited shares of a host of companies and in exchange for the support you have shown those companies by giving them money, they give you a dividend every year. That’s their way of showing that they are responsible with your money. The rest of your investments are mostly bonds and other funds that draw interest. In exchange for letting that organization use your money they give you a little back in the form of interest.”
The Zeltron nodded slowly. “If you have any questions, i will be happy to walk you through these fairly complex financial ideas.”
“How long have you been taking care of her financials?” Karen asked him.
“Your mother was the first client i picked up after i graduated. Our relationship stretches back further though. My parents were ambassadors for the Republic, and were on a trade mission to Cato Neimoidia. They were caught up in some sort of intrigue during the build up to the Clone Wars and we were all taken hostage by terrorists.” He wiped his glasses softly as he continued the story.
“I’ll never forget that day. Your mother and her companions rescued us from a penal camp in the outer reaches of Cato Neimoidia. The roar of her Jetpack and the sound of lightsabers woke me from the worst sleep of my life. They rescued us and got us back to the safety of Republic space. I went to school and worked hard and eventually i bumped into her again. She became a client and i have taken care of the finances ever since.”
“She never told us.”
“She wanted to keep you out of that part of her life. She wanted you to be able to enjoy a peaceful life away from the violence and the bloodshed.”
“I wish we could have gotten to know that part of her better.” The boy Jake said quietly.
“The Senator from Mandalore wants to see all of you, something about citizenship paperwork. If you need anything, let me know. I also have emancipation paperwork for your droid and I need to talk to you two for just a moment.” He pointed at the two humans.
“What for?”
“I need to talk to you about your fathers.” The words sank in the air and the room suddenly felt terribly cramped.
“It’s okay, We’ll have a chat and then meet you guys out front, okay?” Karen said with a hard smile. Her father was a touchy subject for her, and she could not for the life of her figure out why. She’d never even met the man. “Give Niner the good news, would you?” Zan nodded and the three aliens left the room. “So what about my no show dad?” She turned her attention back to the lawyer.
“Ordinarily Jedi don’t have wills or anything of the sort, but when your father joined the Republic government he was given a salary and a generous benefit package. Your father never spent a dime of it, and his retirement package left an impressive death benefit. Your mother made you the sole beneficiary of that after his disappearance. I also should inform you that you are the heir to your grandmother’s title on Chiros.”
“What?”
“If you’ll sign these documents, i’ll transfer your father’s assets to you.”
“You met my father, didn’t you?”
“Twice, once on the day your mother saved my life, and then on the day when she dragged him in here to take care of the arrangements for his pension. The Jedi are not used to planning for their descendants, as most don’t have any or acknowledge the ones the do have.”
“Then why did my father?”
“Your mother was quite pregnant when they came in. I think they’d been engaged in some sort of physical activity because they were both quite out of breath.”
“All right, what kind of numbers are we talking about?” Bryce showed her the display and she nearly dropped the tablet. “How much?”
“Read the display carefully. I have accounts with you and your father’s names on them, i just need you to sign in the indicated areas to take ownership.”
“All right…” She signed the electronic documents with trembling fingers.
“You are now a very wealthy young woman, Karen Pryce.”
“Thank you, I think…” She sat down as she contemplated the numbers she’d seen.
“She never told us.”
“She wanted to keep you out of that part of her life. She wanted you to be able to enjoy a peaceful life away from the violence and the bloodshed.”
“I wish we could have gotten to know that part of her better.” The boy Jake said quietly.
“The Senator from Mandalore wants to see all of you, something about citizenship paperwork. If you need anything, let me know. I also have emancipation paperwork for your droid and I need to talk to you two for just a moment.” He pointed at the two humans.
“What for?”
“I need to talk to you about your fathers.” The words sank in the air and the room suddenly felt terribly cramped.
“It’s okay, We’ll have a chat and then meet you guys out front, okay?” Karen said with a hard smile. Her father was a touchy subject for her, and she could not for the life of her figure out why. She’d never even met the man. “Give Niner the good news, would you?” Zan nodded and the three aliens left the room. “So what about my no show dad?” She turned her attention back to the lawyer.
“Ordinarily Jedi don’t have wills or anything of the sort, but when your father joined the Republic government he was given a salary and a generous benefit package. Your father never spent a dime of it, and his retirement package left an impressive death benefit. Your mother made you the sole beneficiary of that after his disappearance. I also should inform you that you are the heir to your grandmother’s title on Chiros.”
“What?”
“If you’ll sign these documents, i’ll transfer your father’s assets to you.”
“You met my father, didn’t you?”
“Twice, once on the day your mother saved my life, and then on the day when she dragged him in here to take care of the arrangements for his pension. The Jedi are not used to planning for their descendants, as most don’t have any or acknowledge the ones the do have.”
“Then why did my father?”
“Your mother was quite pregnant when they came in. I think they’d been engaged in some sort of physical activity because they were both quite out of breath.”
“All right, what kind of numbers are we talking about?” Bryce showed her the display and she nearly dropped the tablet. “How much?”
“Read the display carefully. I have accounts with you and your father’s names on them, i just need you to sign in the indicated areas to take ownership.”
“All right…” She signed the electronic documents with trembling fingers.
“You are now a very wealthy young woman, Karen Pryce.”
“Thank you, I think…” She sat down as she contemplated the numbers she’d seen.
“Now, Jacob.” The lawyer turned his attention to Karen’s brother. He sat a bag on the edge of the desk. “Sign here and this is yours.” The lawyer handed him a tablet.
“Oh, okay.” Jacob signed the electronic document and passed the tablet back.
“Good, enjoy your father’s contributions to your future.” He handed him the bag.
“What’s in here?”
“I don’t exactly know, but it sets off our drug sniffing droids at least once a week. If you could get it out of here, that would be absolutely perfect.”
Continued in
The World City (Part II) Here
“Oh, okay.” Jacob signed the electronic document and passed the tablet back.
“Good, enjoy your father’s contributions to your future.” He handed him the bag.
“What’s in here?”
“I don’t exactly know, but it sets off our drug sniffing droids at least once a week. If you could get it out of here, that would be absolutely perfect.”
Continued in
The World City (Part II) Here
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