"Master," you call as Dooku turns to depart. "I would like to accompany you to the enclave, if you'll allow me."
He stares inscrutably at you for a time, then turns to continue walking. You take that as assent and fall into step with him. Together you walk out of Vandor and into the Dantooinian plains that seemed to stretch on forever into the horizon. Your robes flutter in the light breeze, and in the distance you see clusters of Iriaz grazing and calling to one another in short melodic trills. They seem unfazed by your approach and simply stare calmly as you pass them by before returning to their activities. "They sense that we are not a threat," your master explains. "The animals that live on Dantooine are naturally attuned to the Force, and can perceive ill intent. It is part of the reason the Jedi chose to settle here."
You travel in silence for a time, contemplating the myriad ways that the Force touched even the smallest or seemingly insignificant lives. And also the increasing soreness of your feet - goodness, you never realized the different between walking the smooth Temple floors versus walking on uneven earth. To distract yourself, you opt to try broaching what had been vexing you for some time now. "Master, I have to ask...why are we here?"
"Why am I interested in having the enclave rebuilt, you mean," It's more a statement than a question.
You nod. "Yes, Master."
"In your time as a Jedi Knight you will many times find yourself in a position to witness or be party to destruction. For all our Order's adherence to pacifism we are remarkably adept at finding ourselves in the midst of the worst conflicts to be found - and end it by blade as much as by words. You will learn many means of destruction during your instruction; your lightsaber forms, mastery of the Force within you, and even more mundane skills. Better to begin that road by learning a more important virtue: the values of rebuilding a thing of importance."
It was an interesting explanation, and it clarified your purpose here; learn how to create before learning how to destroy. Dantooine was a perfect object lesson on the cycle of birth, dead, and rebirth. Governments rose and fell, the Order grew and waned, and Dantooine moved onward with an almost cosmic indifference. Still...you sensed that while your master certainly considered your education a large part of why he chose this place, he held motives of his own that remained unclear to you. Mustering your courage, you say as much...and Dooku smirks a tad. "All in good time, my bold apprentice. I would not wish to falsely raise your hopes until I can be certain of what lies within the enclave."
That raised more questions than it answered...but now you were very, very curious. What did your master think was left behind that the millennia hadn't spirited away?
"We're here." He announces, gesturing forward. Squinting your eyes you can just make out the edges of the Enclave estate. It's less than an echo of the images from your history books: the courtyard has been entirely retaken by nature, wild grasses spread unevenly over cracked pavement. The exterior seemed to be intact from the remnants of the old repair efforts, but it was clear that nobody had taken care of it in a very long time. He gestures to the west entrance, looking at you expectantly.
"You...want me to go in first?" you ask hesitantly.
He nods. "It is a great history that we will restore, together. It is only fitting that you be the first to stand inside - the first Jedi in thousands of years, I suspect."
"T-thank you, Master," you bow your head gratefully.
"Think nothing of it," he waves his hand dismissively. "I shall be behind you shortly - for now, go forth and enjoy your moment without intrusion. I shall be most interested in what you have to say."
You enter the Enclave, and....
[] There is nothing here. More than nothing...there was Nothing; a pit of it nestled somewhere below, reverberating outwards and bouncing off thin barriers of light that stretched just barely around the enclave. This place was an absence in the Force, not so much a wound as simply not there.
[] You can hear words and steps long gone by, carried on the dusty air. Something about this place...you could touch its history, see the phantom shapes of men and women moving past you.
[] It was...just another ruined place. You sensed nothing special or abnormal here, just echoes of echoes still sending their messages with nobody to hear them.
Do You Tell Dooku?
[] Yes.
[] No.
