There is no emotion... (A Jedi Order Quest)

[TaliesinSkye]

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Special Virtual Council Session, R.Y. 21,105
Transcript
Classified Internal Only
Classified Masters Only
​

Grandmaster Bao-Dur: Atton, welcome. That's everyone, we can start now.

Councilor Atton Rand: Bao-Dur, is there an agenda for this meeting? I didn't see one.

Grandmaster Bao-Dur: I did not create one. This meeting is...more sensitive than most. I believe it is time we discussed what to do about the Sith holocrons.

Councilor Mira: After what happened to Atris, we should destroy them.

Councilor Juhani: Agreed.

Councilor Brianna: Atris was...bitter. After Surik and Katarr I don't think she was ever right, afterwards. It left her vulnerable.

Councilor Visas Marr: The Sith seek weaknesses in those they would corrupt. But can anyone say for sure we have no weaknesses?

Councilor Mical: It is true that the Jedi often seemed surprised by which of their fellows fell. But then perhaps those who weren't surprising got help in time.

Grandmaster Bao-Dur: The past might offer insight. Why did the old Order not destroy the Holocrons?

Councilor Mical: I've encountered a few justifications over the years. Sometimes the author talked about the possibility of the holocrons being a crucial tool in a future conflict with the Sith, or about the importance of insight into one's enemies. Occasionally they mentioned understanding how people fall to the Dark as the key to turning them back. Unspoken, I think, was that the old Archivists would practically have drawn on anyone who suggested destroying any kind of knowledge out of principle. It was very much against the ethos that developed over time.

Arren Kae - Brianna's mother - was on the old Council before her exile. According to her holocron she wasn't sure when the policy of keeping Sith holocrons had been made, only that it predated her by a long, long while. I've gotten the impression that the old Order did not make a habit of addressing longstanding traditions without some sort of crisis to force reconsideration, so the policy may have been mostly inertia whatever the reasons for the original decision.

Councilor Brianna: ...I really should stop putting it off and make time to talk to her, shouldn't I?

Councilor Bastila Shan: It is your decision, Brianna. But we should endeavor to stay on topic.

Councilor Brianna: You're right, please continue.

Grandmaster Bao-Dur: It's alright, Brianna. Were there any other reasons the old Order did not destroy them, to anyone's knowledge?

Councilor Bastila Shan: I recall being taught that they are unusually durable. Is it possible the old Order couldn't destroy them, so they archived them instead?

Councilor Visas Marr: The holocrons I have seen are all unusually dense with the Force, light or dark. I suspect it is an integral part of the process of creating one. The act of the creator leaving an imprint of their mind on it, perhaps.

Councilor Mical: Unusually dense? That sounds a bit like a description I read once of the old force-imbued blades used by the ancients, before saber technology was discovered. Supposedly those can stand up to lightsaber strikes after the process, like a cortosis blade. I guessed it was some permanent variant of a force barrier technique worked into the metal.

Councilor Juhani: Sounds useful.

Councilor Bastila Shan: Perhaps, but there is a reason the practice died out. Lightsabers are much faster in the hand than metal blades.

Councilor Juhani: Hm. Point.

Councilor Atton Rand: So maybe the old Order wasn't able to destroy the things? It's hard to imagine a heavy turbolaser not being enough.

Grandmaster Bao-Dur: If we vote to destroy them, I may have some ideas. But one step at a time. Are there any other reasons the old Order may have avoided destroying them?

Councilor Visas Marr: There is one. I am uncertain what effect succeeding would have on the ghosts of the Sith who created the holocrons.

Councilor Atton Rand: Wait, what?

Councilor Visas Marr: To a strong enough connection, distance means nothing in the Force. When a Sith - or a Jedi - leaves behind an impression of themselves in a holocron, that would create a permanent bond. Sith spirits are normally only found in their tombs where they have gathered sufficient power to manifest, but I am concerned that one could use the destruction of such a connection as power to break that rule and incentive both.

Councilor Bastila Shan: Force bonds are not to be underestimated.

Councilor Visas Marr: No, they are not. Although the risks could be managed, if the destruction were to occur without any sapients nearby. A star system's distance should be adequate. Sith spirits are difficult to combat, but they have limited power to manifest and tire quickly.

Councilor Mira: Could one just wait for a good target to drop by and possess them? I would rather not fight any reincarnated Sith Lords in the body of some poor trader or asteroid miner.

Councilor Visas Marr: ...I am uncertain. I cannot rule it out. A spirit's presence is obvious nearby, but that would mean being within its range of influence. Unwise, if it exists.

Councilor Juhani: This is all speculation.

Grandmaster Bao-Dur: Juhani has a point. So, let us weigh the other side of the scale. Why should we destroy the holocrons?

Councilor Mira: As long as those things exist, they present a risk. We can do our best to protect them, but there are no guarantees. Some clever and foolish initiates could gain access under our noses and fall before we noticed. Enemies could raid the planet and take them all, allowing them to fall into who knows what hands. One of us, thinking we were too wise to fall and needing knowledge in a desperate moment, could turn out to be tragically wrong and turn against the others.

Councilor Visas Marr: They are twisted hatred made manifest, and will never stop trying to drag anyone around them down into the same mistakes their creators made.

Councilor Mical: Holocrons have the ability to choose what they reveal to students according to what their creator would have done; I don't think the Sith would reveal anything useful to a Jedi unless they were convinced the Jedi was fallen already, or well along the process.

Councilor Visas Marr: You are correct, they would not. And attempting to fool one would be to court a true fall.

Councilor Atton Rand: Can Sith sense the things?

Councilor Mical: There are stories of Jedi who followed the Force to find lost holocrons.

Councilor Brianna: We should probably assume that Sith could do the same, then.

Councilor Atton Rand: So wherever we keep them, no matter how well hidden, we have to assume we're painting a target on it for the Sith.

Councilor Bastila Shan: Not a pleasant thought.

Grandmaster Bao-Dur: No. Very well. Everyone please consider the issues and do your own research, if you wish. We'll have a vote when everyone is ready.

 

[Voikirium]

[O] Talk To Mother (Jedi Roster): Brianna has a session with the holocron of Arren Kae, and learns of some Jedi who started families. (Recruit 1d5 Jedi of potentially abnormal power)

Click to shrink...

The Holocron springs to life, showing the face of Brianna's mother.

The face of Kreia.

She chokes it down with a lifetime of discipline, and allows herself to ask the question-- "At your trial, when you were staring down the Council, you defended yourself by saying that you had not been the first Jedi to have offspring. Tell me: who were they?"
--
The sun sets on Opha Des. The swamp water placidly stirs as Gayel Ducte languidly sits on a tree stump, plucking on four strings as he does, letting the wind whisper about him.

"Guess it's about quitting time, huh?" In a flash, the reptilian has launched into the water and is cutting through its depths like a torpedo. When he gets home, his muscles tense and he launches out, landing right in front of what is, for his size, a tiny shack.

It takes him a moment, but he realizes that someone has joined him-- a girl, human looking, though her eyes are covered by a veil. "Tell me-- would you like to hear a story?"
--
Pal sits on a street corner on Nar Shaddaa, his clothes dirty and ragged, his form thin and emaciated. His hair is scraggly, dark, thin.

A shadow falls on him, and he turns, and sees a woman, in robes, her hair a fiery red. "Spare some credits?"

"Sure. I've got money-- if you've got time to listen to a story."
--
The ship docks. A human steps out-- a man, black haired, clad too, all in black, lightsaber dangling on his belt, and his hand twitches as he sees the security.

Gonan and Guinan stare at the man, who claims an Order long dead.

The Twi'Leks and the human stare each other down, Nova Taris behind them.

"So... did you ever hear the story of Leyon the Noble?"

 

[TaliesinSkye]

Omake: Aftermaths​

Councilor Brianna jolted in her chair as the door to her quarters chimed. Turning away from the terminal she'd been staring at to the door, she hurriedly dabbed both eyes with her sleeve. "Enter!"

Bastila opened the door and stepped inside, softly closing it behind her. She offered Brianna a gentle smile and a concerned look.

"Was there something I can help you with?" Brianna asked.

Bastila shook her head. "Brianna, I could sense your feelings halfway across the compound. I'm here in case you need a friend."

Brianna let slip a slightly shuddering sigh. "Thanks. I just...family is hard."

Bastila nodded and took a seat. "It is."

Brianna looked at the floor. "Are...do you ever worry that something awful will happen to your son, and you'll lose yourself? I keep thinking about what happened to my mother, how the old Order would use it as an example of why we shouldn't make connections with others."

A flash of sorrow crossed Bastila's face, and she nodded as she spoke quietly. "I have given the matter much thought. It was very difficult when Revan left. The pain is there still. It is difficult to imagine the pain I would feel if I lost my son as well."

Brianna looked up in surprise. "Do you think the old Order was right?"

Bastila shook her head firmly. "No. It is difficult to imagine the pain of such a loss, but instead of turning away from it I've made myself try. I believe the key to not losing oneself in grief is to find acceptance. To accept and treasure the bonds we make with others for however long they last, and then to let them go with our blessing when their time is over. To see this as the way of the Force. Of life."

Brianna did not respond to that for a long moment. Instead she looked over at the terminal screen she'd been staring at; the Archive file on her mother.

"I think your mother became Darth Treya because she couldn't find that acceptance. She found anger in her grief and wanted to lash out at that which she felt was ultimately responsible. The Force itself."

"Emotion, yet peace," Brianna said, returning her gaze to Bastila. "Passion, yet serenity."

Bastila nodded. "It is right there in the Code. We may feel without losing ourselves. We can love, and accept loss as a price gladly paid for it. We can know grief, and find acceptance. Perhaps it is safer to cut ourselves off from feeling, but that is not truly living. And by denying life, I think we would deny the full beauty and scope of the Force as well. We must live, and prepare as best we can for grief, and when it comes allow those who care for us still to be our comfort and strength. The old Order was at its best when we treated one another as one great family. There is room for family large and small in the Order and in the Code. There always was. I have come to believe we should embrace our connections with others, and grow as people and as Jedi for it. To find the Light in the full scope of life's positive experiences instead of hiding from them all because we fear endings. Prepared and supporting one another, we shall not falter."

Brianna found herself offering a small smile. "The doctrine of Bastila Shan, Jedi Master."

Bastila laughed. "Perhaps."

Brianna looked up and let her thoughts drift, thinking of the future. "You might be on to something."

Bastila quirked an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Brianna lowered her gaze again. "The Council hasn't really discussed what we should be teaching the students about attachment. We've been reconsidering other doctrines of the old Order, and with the wave of new recruits coming from Jedi who had families despite the old doctrine, now might be the best time."

Brianna stood. "Will you come with me to speak with Bao-Dur?"

Bastila's smile was genuine as she stood. "Of course."

 

[Voikirium]

Spoiler: Winning vote

- Request Republic Guard in Dantooine Praxeum (40 PP)
- Introduce a new Battlemaster, to coordinate with the Republic Army and Navy in case of War (40 PP)
- Ask the Dantooine Planetary Museum to return the Jedi Artifacts they purchased from Salvagers (150 PP)
- Deploy Jedi Liaison to University of Alderaan (20 PP)
- Deploy Jedi Liaison to University of Coruscant (20 PP)
- Deploy Jedi Liaison to Corellia University (20 PP)
- Send a Jedi with a Republic archeological expedition(15 PP)
- Destroy the Sith Holocrons, now, as the Republic requests you do (+30 PP)

--
-Request Republic Guard in Dantooine Praxeum (40 PP)

Hitherto, the non-Jedi defense of your Praxeum has consisted of the Khoonda Militia-- which was fine when the largest threat was a Kath hound or Laigrek getting into the academy. Now, though, you are concerned that Czerka might find something a bit meatier to throw your way.

The Reublic sends a full Batallion in response, reinforcing both Khoonda and the Praxeum itself. The 515st is a new unit, but it has all the bells and whistles you'd expect of Republic Military Units.

You hope they won't be needed anytime soon, though.
--
-Ask the Dantooine Planetary Museum to return the Jedi Artifacts they purchased from Salvagers (150 PP)

Getting to leer at your graves has, essentially, been how the government of Dantooine has paid for itself-- and it is not happy to give up those artifacts, at all. They want the creds.

But not as much as you want the desecration of the dead to stop.

And so it flows back to you, carried and protected in a convoy of modified, heavily armed transports, protected by you and the entire Order.

And you must admit, it is a find.

Firstly, of course, there are generic artifacts ripped from people's quarters. Journals, gear, lightsaber parts-- you name it, you found it. What looks like a third of a set of coordinates was in there too, to go with the ones you found earlier. And of course, there are a number of holocrons as well, from Jedi you did not even know created Holocrons. Master Sunrider, Master Oodan-Ur, and Master Vodo-Siosk Baas all left behind holocrons, which were located in the Enclave and which the Scavengers ripped from their homes.
(+70 Knowledge, Holocrons of Oodan Ur, Nomi Sunrider, and Vodo-Siosk Baas Recovered, ??? increased from 1/3->2/3)

However, there are things you recognize not as artifacts but as future designs.

Firstly, the Jedi Council tossed about making Telos even more of a fallback location-- most of it is pretty worthless, but one of the designs you can use is...well, you'll call it the Forge. Essentially, it would channel the Force even more potently through Initiates as they craft their lightsaber, allowing them to make better lightsabers-- and, you suppose, other weapons. Even just knowing how to create such a thing will make expanding the Academy into a proper Fortress clearer. (+20 Telos)

And then, of course, there are the plans of Dantooine.

The Council has kicked around expanding Dantooine into a full temple since Vodo-Siosk Baas first created it and began training students. It will not be a carbon copy of the Temple on Coruscant, however. Instead, they have several different plans to be looked over and considered-- though most were originally designed at least twenty years ago, they would serve as a fine base for your final design, even if there are improvements you can make. (+20 Dantooine)
--
- Deploy Jedi Liaison to University of Alderaan (20 PP)
- Deploy Jedi Liaison to University of Coruscant (20 PP)
- Deploy Jedi Liaison to Corellia University (20 PP)

You send Initiates to the universities which have plundered your tombs, seeking to reclaim that which is yours. There are artifacts, holocrons, lightsabers being paraded about like...like common museum trinkets!

The universities are loath to lose them, any of them, but you manage to come to a deal which allows the Initiate you send to record and copy as much of the data as possible. Master Mical also manages to convince their administrations to part with a few Holocrons, though he can't quite pull off Brianna's strategy of "threaten them obliquely to give you back what is yours you damn graverobbers."

(+6 Knowledge per turn from studied artifacts, gain Holocron of the Unknown Jedi, Holocron of Sar Agorn)
--
-Send a Jedi with a Republic archeological expedition(15 PP)
There is an expedition planned to head to some of the Rakatan ruins on Dantooine-- the Republic never did get to see it as deeply as it wanted, nor, for that matter, did the Jedi.

Zono Varr, one of the new Initiates, helps the Republic team pierce through the defenses of the Rakatan facility. He finds a number of artifacts-- an ancient Force saber hilt among them-- which should help the Order grow, though an annoying number are claimed by the Republic, and much of the rest holds the taint of the Dark Side, and can mostly function as a road map in what not to do.

(+5 Knowledge, Zono gains extra experience)
--
- Destroy the Sith Holocrons, now, as the Republic requests you do (+30 PP) [/Spoiler]

The Justice exits in the Maravara System, an old fortress of the Pius Dea.

The plan is simple enough. You have loaded every single one of the Sith Holocrons you found in Atris' study into an escape pod, and you're going to shoot them into a star. Anything not instantly destroyed should still be impossibly hard for all but the most dedicated Sith to recover.

Mical has not managed to discover the creator of every one of these cursed artifacts, but you know at least one of them is the Holocron of Freedon Nadd-- you were there on Dxun, you stood in his tomb, you know what it feels like.

And it is among them. The feeling you get around it-- if you could taste the color of fire, that would be about it.

Suffice to say, you will be happy to see it destroyed.

But then, that's part of the problem. While the vast majority of Sith Holocrons will be destroyed by a star, some may not be-- and the dark energies released by the destruction of such Sith workings will protect them from your vision.

As planned, the escape pod shunts away. You turn your senses on the star, and watch as, in moments, it plunges into the stars outer layer. It burns, and its evil payload-- the vast majority, certainly-- is instantly destroyed.

It feels like a storm made matter is released in a nanoangstrom of a second, but not the furious call of the dead-- just ancient evil, released. It feels like you'd imagine dipping yourself in sewage would, if your entire body was an open cut-- like something entirely unholy is seeping in. As you feared, you can no more tell if any certain Holocron was destroyed.

Then it is as if your world turns white.

You see-- you see the sands of Korriban, which you have strode as a conqueror. You see the stalk-eyed invaders driven from your lands, but only after you rip the knowledge from their minds. You feel power, you--

You wake on the floor, being shook by one of the soldiers. "Are you alright, Master Jedi?"

"We need to go, now!"

They heed your wisdom and they flee, leaving behind the star-- and whatever else may be there.
--
-Introduce a new Battlemaster, to coordinate with the Republic Army and Navy in case of War (40 PP)
Any member of the Council could serve as the new Battlemaster, except for you or Mical, but there are three in particular that come to mind as options.

[] Bastila: Trained-- and well-- in the ancient art of Battle Meditation, Bastila saved the Republic from almost certain defeat time after time in the Jedi Civil War-- and the common soldiers have not forgotten that. (Reduction in PP Cost for Strategy Coordination options)

[] Brianna: A well-trained warrior, she could pass along Echani philosophy and weapon's training to her students-- though you expect only a very particular group could make best use of it. (Bonus to Jedi Guardian/Jedi Weaponmaster Experience gain)

[] Atton Rand: Having fought as a Sith-- if a Revanite Sith-- he can help teach common soldiers how to battle them, and what strategy their foot soldiers would wield. (Bonus to anti-Sith, anti-Force Order actions)
--

 

[Voikirium]

Atton looks somewhere between shellshocked and braindead as he hears the news. You can't tell whether he's more surprised that you voted for him, or that Mical had the idea to begin with, but you can feel the pressure seeping off of him through the Force.

Not surprising, when you consider who else has held the title.

Your comms chime, and a moment later a holographic image of Sergeant Boncur projects itself to the Council. "Ah, Master Jedi? We uh, we have visitors. They say they're here for training."

Oh boy. "How many, Sergeant?"

"Seven, sir."

"So, not to be Captain Obvious, but has anybody else noticed that we're sort of outnumbered by the Initiates?"

"Yes, we noticed. We have-" Bastila bites her tongue before she finishes the Idiom. "Ah, we're aware."

"Something must be done."

"Something will be done. Send them in Sergeant."

Results of The Year:

95PP After negotiation
95 Knowledge
Holocron of Homonix Rectonia, Holocron of Vodo-Siosk Baas, Holocron of Nomi Sunrider, Holocron of Odan-Urr, Holocron of Sar Agorn, Holocron of the Unknown Jedi
70 Engagement+23 Engagement->93 Engagement
Learning From the Past (Complete)
Broad Applications (5/10)
Dantooine +20 (329/500)
Telos +20 (20/100)
14 Initiates

 

[DaOneInDaCorner]

Alrighty then! With the vote done, have an Omake I worked on! Thanks to TaliesinSkye for helping me edit this.

Back to Basics

Dud-dud-dunt. Dud-dud-dunt. Brianna cast a scathing look to the direction of the obtrusive noise, or more so at its cause. Atton Rand offered a casual, almost jovial wave of the hand in return, before continuing to strum his fingers along the arm of his seat. His immense boredom could be seen as well as felt through the Force by the rest of the Council, even as they conducted their discussions in spite of the noise. With Atton it was anyone's guess as to whether his boredom was a disguise, or his true feelings.

Still, he kept clued into the ongoing noise, even as he mentally kept count of his game within his head. Flip the 2, subtract from 21. At 19 now… good enough, stand. His mental gymnastics kept him occupied as the rest of the members rehashed events. Yadayada dark side, yadayada sending Sith holocrons into the stellar garbage shoot. All pretty standard fare in the Sentinel's eye.

"And so, we move on to the next topic of discussion," Bao-Dur began, his tone locked and steady in that way it always was. "As we are all aware, we are to hold an election for the position of Battlemaster in today's meeting. I assume you all looked over the messages I sent you regarding primary candidates?"

"I would like to say, before anything, that I wish not to be put in such a role. I believe myself more suited to the front-lines of combat, and have not much mind for things like tactics," stated Juhani. Bao-Dur nodded, but frowned.

"Unfortunate, but your opinion will be noted, Master Juhani." She seemed calmed by this, as her presence in the Force mellowed itself out. While a skilled fighter in her own right, Juhani was one of the most easily read of the Council, her emotions echoing outward through the Force she actively suppressed them.

"Do we have any volunteers?" Bao-Dur asked. No voices were heard, no hands were raised, and so the man sighed. "Alright. Let us hear the nominations then."

Brianna was the first to speak, almost immediately. "I would nominate Bastilla." Their eyes met, a mutual respect evident between the two. "Her experience in previous battles speaks for itself. I believe her leadership will allow proper teamwork to be fostered throughout the Order. A core understanding of group cohesion is something that should hold priority."

The Council gave thought to the words, Bastilla taking in the praise with a straight face. Then she spoke as well, "I nominate Brianna." A slight smile, as though she were amused by herself. "She has much to teach, and a lifetime of culture and techniques to share and incorporate. Her fighting prowess is among the greatest of us all. Would anyone disagree?" None did.

Yet more time spent considering the proposal. Bao-Dur glanced around the room, filtering out his thoughts to truly analyze whom he thought fit the role best.

"I nominate Atton."

The man known as Atton Rand lost count of his cards.

Mical met the eyes of confused compatriots, resolve on his face. He returned the harsh flare of the Sentinel without an expression marred by his thoughts. Taking in the confused mass of the Council, Mical gave his take on the discussion. "It is to my belief that the Jedi as a whole were defeated not just by the Sith, but their unwillingness to adapt to new threats. They grew too hidebound, too caught up within their assured safety behind the walls of the temples… I would hope that this new Order we are creating can avoid the same mistakes repeated by the previous generation."

"And how's that involve me?" Atton's voice was cutting, suspicion tinging his tone, though somehow retaining the professional lilt to it that had slowly been creeping into his voice since he'd taken on a Padawan. His posture was tense now with his eyes narrowed, his presence extended in the Force, searching for a trap.

Mical met his suspicion without hesitation and with a calm to his voice. "You have prior experience working with the Sith, do you not?" An uncomfortable question, though Atton had long since divulged such knowledge to his companions, and so with a glare the man gave a tight nod. "You have developed your own manner of defenses against certain Force related techniques, have studied different avenues of approach to defeat Sit-"

"Jedi," he interrupted, hostility now clear. "I learned how to hunt Jedi. Not Sith."

Mical cleared his throat, tripped up only momentarily by the interruption. "Ah. Yes. Regardless, such a long list of experience fighting Force users without your own use of the Force is commendable, and could prove paramount in any future battles the Republic may come to face. It is my belief that you would make an excellent Battlemaster."

Their gazes were locked, matching one another up in a rivalry of wills that had never truly been decided. Bao-Dur's slight clap of the hands was enough to jostle them, the sound of flesh meeting metal resonating in the Council Chamber.

"Right then. Is that everyone?" He looked around the room, searching for detractors, before nodding. "If you all would, please cast your vote."

"Bastilla." Brianna spoke first once again.

"Brianna." Bastilla followed up smoothly.

"Atton." Mical was not far behind.

"Brianna." Juhani unsurprisingly followed the lead of her friend in this matter.

"Hmm. Atton." Mira had an odd smirk on her face as she spoke, an interest in her eyes that was rarely found during these meetings.

"Bastilla." Atton said, odd tone to his voice.

"...Atton." A few measured looks of surprise towards Visas, who remained resolute in her vote despite it.

"And as the final vote here, I too vote for Atton." Bao-Dur concluded, even as the human male slumped back in his seat with shock at the turnaround in today's discussions. "That is," he continued, steepling his fingers together and looking to the former smuggler, "if you would take the position. Of course this is not going to be forced upon you. You are free to reject it and leave it to someone else."

"...what choice do I have, if people think I'm the guy for the job? Would hate to let everyone down." False bravado entering his tone, alongside a hint of resignation. "I'll do it."

And so the meeting was called to an end.

Atton slowly shuffled his way back to his room, mind wandering, before receiving a message from his comms. A look down at its contents had him frowning.

Meet in the Training Halls. - Brianna

He sighed, considering the possibilities of ignoring the schutta before abandoning that train of thought. He had to be 'responsible' now and that meant going to meet other members of the Council when called. He mentally cursed himself as he turned down a separate corridor, beelining for the Training Halls. Placing a hand on the final door, he could sense Brianna in the room inside, not bothering to hide her presence. The door opened with a hiss and he took a step inside.

"Alright, what's so import-"

It took him almost a quarter of a second to register that the presence he'd felt in the room was already fading, and beneath it he could now sense the one that had been concealed behind it. It took even less time for his body to drop, entering an unarmed stance, defending himself.

Brianna took a fraction of the time to penetrate every defense and lay him out flat on his back, the breath leaving his body in a huff of expelled air.

"You were not ready," she cut the atmosphere with a cold voice like a blade. "I was barely making an effort to hide myself from you and yet I took you by surprise. Were we not allies, you would be dead."

The man in question struggled to rise, chest still trying to recoup as air fought to reach his lungs. "Well excuse me for not expecting to be attacked by a crazy schutta!" He was clearly ready for battle now, body entering Echani battle forms that were ingrained in his stance. Even so, Brianna frowned at the sight.

"You are excused," she allowed. "Still, if you are to be in charge of administering training to so many… you cannot allow yourself to be unprepared." The determined sound in her voice took Atton off guard.

"Oh yeah? And why do you care?"

Her frown spoke volumes. "I care because I do not believe you are worthy of the role you have been given. You are lazy and unmotivated, you treat your tasks with behavior unfitting of your station. Therefore, I will ensure that you are ready. I will not have others suffer for your failings."

To Atton strangely enough, her hostility was comforting. Familiar. Put the entire situation into perspective. "And if I refuse?" He questioned carefully.

"Then I shall bring my complaints to the Grandmaster. It is not my place to question the judgment of the Council's final decision, and so unless my hand is forced, I will make do with what I have." She looked the man's form up and down, frowning as her scrutiny intensified. "Your form is unfinished. Stance not cemented in the basics. Whoever taught you did a terrible job."

His pride taking a hit at the slight, Atton was quick to counter, "I'll have you know I'm self-taught. Lots of Echani mercs on both sides of the war, and you end up fighting quite a few if you survive long. I picked up what I could. Excuse me if it isn't exactly up to your standards of perfection, your Highness."

"I am not royalty," she countered. "And that is fine. I will have to bring you back to the basics. Now, watch closely."

So it was that Atton came to immediately regret having taken the job of Battlemaster.

 

[Voikirium]

[O] Honoring the Fallen

Click to shrink...

Honoring the Fallen

Red lekku are matted with blood and filth and worse things. Despite everything her eyes still shine with a keen, low, light, harsh in the absolute blackness that surrounds them. "You know, on Dantooie, there's...I have a journal. It has a few stories you might like to hear."

His only response is-

"Atton!" He wakes up, wiping some of the drool off of his face with the back of his glove. Not that he was asleep, but he wasn't awake, either. The archive is quiet, the journal is in his hands, and she was right.

It does have a story he'd like to hear-- her, the Jedi's, story of going to Ilum for her lightsaber crystal. She-- Ygarra, that is her name, he has burnt it into his brain irreparably at this point-- tells a simple story, as close to straightforward as Jedi ever get. The biggest problem of course, is that like most of the Jedi she's writing about it from the assumption that everybody already knows where it is, so they never actually put down the damn location.

Fuckin' Jedi.

He realizes at a certain point that Brianna is still talking, so he tunes back in. "-And furthermore, you are setting a terrible precedent for the Initiates, some of whom are in severe need of--"

"Alright, alright! I. Get. It. I will go to sleep, after I have checked the damn journal one last time. Okay?" Brianna stands there, her arms folded, looking for all the world like a father. "You aren't going to leave, are you?"

"No."

"Hrm."

There's just one passage he keeps going back to. It describes the ship landing, the stars already out and waiting for them. For obvious reasons, that's likely to be the place where he might find some clue as to its location, but so far she has focused on a singular detail:

And all the stars hang high over head, twinkling like little jewels, sparks dancing an intricate ballet, each a single dancer in the night. Except for the Black Heart, but I don't think we need him around, now do we?

And then she just wanders off, metaphorically and literally, and it's like she's trying to get revenge on him from the grave, or the Force, or wherever Jedi go when they kick off the physical realm-- not important. What is important is that he's five minutes from breaking his own neck so--

Wait. Wait, wait, wait one fucking second.

He knows that term. Supposedly, it's the code name for where Revan sent the real freaks and monsters-- the guys who would have known "Sleep with vibroblades" far too personally. Now, he doesn't know where that is exactly, either, but he does know what would cause that effect-- namely, a pretty damn close orbit around its star, which is the case on that world according to rumor; and while he's no physicist, he know that the gravity of two worlds so close together will have a real effect.

He inputs the coordinates that Bao-Dur already found. XY doesn't work unless Ilum is secretly inside of Tattooine, and XZ doesn't work unless Jedi can survive being pulled apart by a black hole. YZ, though? Brings the screen to a position that looks just about right, the Kaidos Run, where a thousand quasi-debris fields are formed for no, currently, explicable reason-- but, it sure would make a lot of sense if they were being pulled towards something.

"I think I found Ilum."

And he passes out.
--
He wriggles as the ship cuts through hyperspace-- they've chartered a new captain for this so they can focus on, well...

"This is something of a gamble, isn't it?" Mical shifts in his seat.

"What, you trust me enough to teach all the squirts how to lightsaber duel, but not how to find Ilum?"

"I did not say that. I trust you plenty. But-"

Before they can argue, Brianna vomits, which sort of cuts that short. The captain looks back from the cockpit. "Is she alright?"

"Atris-- she walked here. She-- it's here. Ilum."

Now that you mention it, uh.

You only really saw Atris once, when she turned herself in to you. You could sense, even then, the hurt she was screaming into the Force-- a part of you wondered how you ever been blind to it, how the Exile had been blind to it. If Meetra carried the deaths of Malachor, screaming, in her soul, then Atris carried a little death-- every loss at Katarr echoed in her, their melancholy, running far deeper than the simple betrayal that had wounded her at the start of the Mandalorian wars.

Since she does not know about the only other rock that might justify coming out here, and since this looks like an iceball and not an oversized piece of dirt, you think this is it-- Ilum.

It's...the Force here is strange. Not twisted, like on Korriban-- almost more like if Kreia was in your head, except not an absolute nightmare. Every part of this world, you realize, is carved to make you the best you can be-- much as Kreia sought to do for her students, except it has a very different notion of what the best would be.

Namely, you get the sense that Revan himself could not survive on its surface without...inner strength, yes, but more importantly the ability to work with others. You would need allies, connections, to endure the cold of its surface.

In any case, you have found Ilum, for what good that currently does you.
--
Ilum discovered

 

[DaOneInDaCorner]

I had a bit of time on my hands so I wrote up another Omake! Not as long as the first but it covers something I was wondering how everyone was handling, so I explored it a bit. I also love Visas so I thought she'd be fun to get a look inside her head.

Love and Hope

Visas Marr struggled against her thoughts, her body writhing in agony within invisible restraints. Her head shot up suddenly, her small bed within her bare room creaking beneath her, the sweat soaking into her nightwear.

A man with his hair swept back and a few scars lining his face sat alongside Her. His presence could be felt, an all encompassing field of light, a soothing and immense power that was beyond compare. And yet, She did not falter, shaking his hand and greeting him warmly.

"It's been a longtime," She began with a light smile on Her face. "And I've come a long way to find you, Revan."

The memories grew blurry. Hazy and without focus but the barest recollection of lightsabers and blaster fire danced across the Miraluka's vision as she struggled to recall the entirety of the dream. But it was already fading.

With a sigh she stood on unsteady feet, opening her door and taking a step out into the dark halls. Her light footsteps were soundless as she made her way out of the temple, into the no doubt moonlit grassy fields of Dantooine. Her feet tickled against the soft grass, and she made her way over to a stream nearby. Already she could feel her travels were leading her somewhere specifically, and so she followed the will of the Force, leading her to a presence along the stream.

"Couldn't sleep?" The rugged, sardonic tone was oddly soft for her fellow Council member.

"I had a vision," Visas admitted, taking a seat a safe distance away from the other Sentinel. "She found Revan… and She found danger along with him."

Atton was silent, taking even breaths as he turned his head upwards to the stars above.

"She… she's gonna be okay. We all still feel her, y'know? None of us mention it, but that bond is still there, that link that binds us all. She held us all together, but now we need to trust her to be okay on her own. Besides… the more I think about the thought of her out there, in danger, the more likely I am to leave all this behind me and run after her." He took a calming breath.

"How do you not?" Visas couldn't quite tell what made her ask, desperation in her voice she couldn't place the source of. "Two Jedi alone, out there, even those two… these visions I have leave me worried that perhaps we made a terrible mistake to let her go on her own. What if She has need of us, and our belief in Her prevents us from realizing it?"

Silence met her questioning, before a soft presence in the Force prodded at her. She met it questioningly, but allowed him to link with her - a much less familiar link to what she'd had with Her. Looser, less familiar and easily broken.

"What do you feel?" His voice was distant, muffled through the Force.

"... Fear." She answered truthfully.

"I feel it too. But look deeper through the bond. What do you see in me?" He allowed Visas to search further, and a part of his mind was walled off, impenetrable and unable to be seen. However another section was willingly opened to her. She found a memory. The Ebon Hawk, as She sat across from him in deep meditation. The two spoke together, played Pazaak, and Visas felt what Atton felt. Love. Not romance, though maybe that was hidden behind his walls, but that love was immense, and with it was hope. A belief in Her that was not going to be shattered in a lifetime.

Atton prodded her, and Visas retreated from his mind.

"I see…" she admitted, her nerves somehow settled.

"She's going to be okay," Atton said confidently. "Because we still feel her. Let the fear leave you and remember what she was, what she felt like. Everytime I get worried, and I feel that slimy worm called fear crawling back into my brain, I remember Her and it all fades away. That bond exists because she's out there, fighting. She's a survivor… now let's do our part that she entrusted in us, so she can do hers."

"... you're being surprisingly insightful." Atton snorted at the comment, losing the gentle quality to his voice as he laughed.

"Please. I just don't wanna have more work to do because you have an emotional breakdown. Do you know how much work I do now? Some brat held her saber up to her face in class today - lucky it was a training saber but she'll be lucky if her eyebrows grow back in the next couple of months."

Visas felt a smile rise on her lips, as a surprisingly light laughter left her. She stood, mood uplifted. "Then I'll leave you to your peace. Thank you for your assistance."

The man waved her away casually. "Yeah, yeah. Don't mention it. Seriously, don't."

Visas walked away, a peace within her that she hadn't felt for sometime. And so that night, she had her first restful night's sleep in weeks.

 

[PlazmaStryke]

Well, the recent string of omakes and my own actual experiences and love for kotor means that I actually felt like writing. So here, have another, and hopefully you'll like it!

An Old Bond

She was awakened by the sound of an explosion and the groan of rending metal. The shaking of her world and quick awakening from sleep. Her eyes shot open as adrenaline rushed through her veins. Quickly, she sat up and looked around the room, only pausing when another detonation rang out, and the ship she awoke on shook once again. Though none of these managed to impede her balance, or the ship's artificial gravity, it was extremely worrying to her that a warship would act so.

Only full combat should manage to cause such effects. Which only made her question why she was asleep in the middle of an attack, and who the attacker in question was.

Undaunted by her line of questioning, she examined the room, finding a pair of bunks, a small lounge area, a pair of footlockers, and only a single door. She moved to one of the footlockers, only barely noticing her lack of clothing. Without forethought, she punched in a code and opened one of the footlockers, and, upon finding some clothes and a pair of weapons, donned them and picked up the blade that awaited her.

Simple, unadorned, and remarkably unimpressive, it still felt right in a way she didn't think she could express with words. Still confused and ready to fight or flee, she reacted quickly when the only door in the room opened unexpectedly, and brandished her longsword at the uniformed man that ran inside.

"We've been ambushed by a Sith battle fleet! The Endar Spire is under attack! Hurry up - we don't have much time!" Without prompting, and only barely backpedaling from her blade, the blond haired soldier forced out his words in a hurry, some close calls with a blaster still obvious upon his clothing.

"Who are you?" Another man's voice rang out. She was confused for but a moment, before understanding that it was her voice that had spoken. Her question for the man, and her confusion and curiosity. Her heart hurt to hear it, but she had no idea why.

"I'm Trask Ulgo, ensign with the Republic Fleet. I'm your bunk mate here on the Endar Spire. We work opposite shifts; I guess that's why you haven't seen me before." Her blade lowering, and the situation revealing itself to her through Trask, she felt herself nod. "Now hurry up, we have to find Bastila! We have to make sure she makes it off the ship alive!"

She wondered who Bastila was, and felt her mouth open once more...

~~~~~~~~

With a quick exhale, she awoke in her own bed. In the Enclave. She was safe - no Sith attack, no dead men. She was still combat ready, and recognizing this, sat up and settled herself for some meditation, focusing on calming herself down, and eventually turning back to the vision she had received.

It was not one of her memories, but she felt like she had experienced it before all the same. It was, as such, quite obvious just who's memory it was, then. It would seem the man she loved was truly still among the living. And still finding ways to make her lose sleep, it would seem.

While not the worst of Revan's memories to have endured, it still pained her. To hear his voice again. To have another recognition of the bond they had shared for so long now. Not to mention what sins she had played a part in, no matter how minor a role it really was. It was her fault he woke that day so confused about everything, and then working so hard with Carth to reunite with her. Not to mention the failure of her first command, and the men and women lost because of it.

Failing to focus still, her thoughts managed to drift to one of those places she seldom walked...

...A part of her still wondering if she had felt him, those days on Taris. Getting closer to her, coming to save her. She might've been perfectly fine taking on those blasted Vulkurs by her lonesome, but there has long been a part of her that wonders if their Bond had let her know about him, addled and cut off from the Force as she was at the time. Reassuring her, in those dark, hazy days, that she was no longer alone.

...A part of her that ached to have him back. To raise their son together, without the threat of yet more Sith hanging over their lives. To not feel so alone, even when surrounded by friends and her new family.

Refocusing and attempting to let go of such thoughts, she tried centering herself again.

~~~~~~~~

Well anyways, there you go. One more omake for my (very short) pile. In spite of my ability to recall pretty much every part of the Endar Spire (minus Trask's actual wording), the memory portion fought with me a lot. So I went ahead and cut it off there. I figured I could make more snippets like that if I felt up to it at some point, but was otherwise alright with leaving it off there.

Hopefully, I got Bastila's character well enough, as I have no experience writing her, and haven't played through their whole romance in a while. I tried my best, and so I shall hope it good enough!

 

[DaOneInDaCorner]

Culture Clash

Heavy footfalls sounded out with every step the former bounty hunter took within the halls of the Jedi Temple on Dantooine. Arms tucked inside her robes, the woman allowed herself this moment to take in the energies of the Force around her, basking in its presence.

Bao-Dur, meditating in his chambers as he no doubt deliberated on one thing or another.

Brianna performing her daily exercises in the sanctity of the Training Hals.

Atton discussing something or another with the Miraluka Visas - the two had been getting along more. Considering the often tense atmosphere between the last of the Jedi, it was thankful that some were taking to furthering their relationships. Not to say everyone hated each-other, but Meetra Surik had been the catalyst for them all, a glue that bound them all as one. Without her? Well, there was a reason Mira could rarely be seen talking to anyone outside of mandated meetings.

Oh, she could also sense the presence following her around every corridor. With a deep sigh, she mentally uplifted her stalker, a deep and guttural yell of fright ringing out and echoing down the hallways. With a turn, and a hand on her hip, Mira lifted a brow at a somewhat familiar face.

"So," she began, approaching the person, whom was currently rubbing his horns from where they'd landed on the ground. He looked up at her, eyes wide like prey in its final moments. Mira felt herself smirking despite herself, "you've been following me for the last hour. Gonna talk, or what?" She knew she looked cocky, hand on her hip and staring down the bulky kid. He squawked, mumbling incoherently as he rose unsteadily to his feet. Yellow skin with black markings along it, Mira could immediately make out the resemblance between this kid and their resident Grandmaster.

"Ah, hello! I am Ralec - Ralec Varn," He began, voice a deep rumble as the awkward lad towered over the relatively smaller woman. "I was... watching your movements," he explained. "It reminded me of my fellow people. I wanted to ask you, how you came to adopt such a thing - it is not often I see anyone baring your stance."

Mira tapped her foot, considering the question. "Kid," she began in an almost lazy tone, "I have no clue what you're talking about. Besides, I don't have much idea of your culture, Bao-Dur would probably be better suited to that kinda talk if you're looking for it."

The teen shook his head at the suggestion. "My apologies, I do not think I would find myself relating to the Grandmaster." At Mira's raise of the brow he elaborated. "I myself was born to a fringe colony along the Outer-Rim. While the details are lost to me now, I still recall some of it. I however, was taken during the earlier years of the Mandalorian Wars, as one of many, we were adopted young to be raised as Mandalorians. Things are much more... hostile, where I come from." Mira took stock of the towering teen, looking him up and down and finding only what he appeared to already be. "You don't seem the hostile type," she admitted, before continuing her walk, gesturing for the Zabrak to follow. He did so hesitantly.

"Yes, I am considered to be very 'tame' compared to my brothers and sisters. I do not have the heart for violence as many of them seem to." He pondered his next words as they found themselves in the courtyard. "I believe that is what spurred me on to come here. I could not embrace the militant doctrine as many of my fellow people were able to do. It often led me to become ill when I attempted to do so, a dark presence often associated with my attempts at great violence and want for blood-lust. However, there was little I could learn by myself, so when I spoke to my clan leader, I explained that I would be leaving to seek out a life for myself, and as such I offered payment through labor upon a nearby trading ship and made my way to a place that could better my understanding of the Force." His explanation ending when he looked around, catching up to where they'd arrived. A tree stood tall in the center of the courtyard, other Initiates casually making conversation with one another as they went around the enormous structure.

"Nice story kid," Mira stated, finding a stone bench nearby that she sat upon with a lazy cross of the legs. "Now c'mere and sit. You talk a lot." The adolescent hesitated, before he too sat on the stone bench, legs crossing underneath him like the woman. His movements were stiff and seemingly unsure, a reminder to her of how she herself often was growing up - it gave her a measure of fondness for the kid.

"Now," she began. "Stop thinking for a moment. Stop talking, stop doing anything at all. Feel out with the Force..." the boy tried, closing his eyes and attempting to grasp the Force. "Wrong," she chastised, as a link was made between the two. "Here, follow my lead." And so he was gently led by the 'hand', his presence being cast outward as a warmth began to encompass him. His presence was being directed outward, to the tree before them. "Feel this? Follow its roots." With that simple direction, she allowed him the freedom to explore the Force at his leisure. Eventually he let out a gasp.

"It is... it's immense. Connected to everything," Mira let herself smile at the progress. "I can feel the planet, its gentleness, the animals roaming in the plains." His eyes reopened, and he looked at Mira with what could easily be considered awe. "T-thank you Master Jedi! I have always wondered what it was that felt missing throughout my lessons growing up... it is good to know now what it was." A joyous smile lit the gentle giants face, as he offered an awkward bow.

"Glad I could help," she said truthfully, rising to her feet. "Well, I'll see you around kid. Try and practice that some more on your own time." With a wave she left him to his own devices, inwardly pleased at the success she'd helped him achieve.

A/N

Okay, so for anyone that saw this before the edit, you'd know I initially made the kiddo a Dathomirian... a sub-species of Zabrak that doesn't yet exist in this time-period! Oopsie, and thanks to @The Englanderish for pointing it out for me. It led to what I think is a far more compelling character - a quick deep dive tells me that the Zabrak colonies were one of the first and hardest to be hit at the beginning of the Mando Wars. That in mind, I put this kid as having been quite young when it all happens, resulting in him being still quite young now - Mandalorian Wars began in 3976, and KOTOR 2 ends in year 3951, so I'd say his colony probably got sacked around... 3967 - 68 or so? Just an estimate, I hope you guys enjoy!