Part 1: Memories
Eshan - Several Years Prior
The Sorni family complex was less of a private estate, and more of a seclude enclave hidden away from the rest of the world. Unkempt and untamed wilderness on all sides, the only way to get to and from it effectively without getting lost was some sort of space faring craft. Due to the Matriarch's political presence particularly in the military sector, visitors were not uncommon to the compound. So when the Consular-class cruiser with the emblazoned logo of the galactic republic landed nothing more then an eye was batted. As the ship touched down somewhere from within the estate, a Echani dressed in the garbs popular within the senate at the time came out to meet the embarked, less of of necessity and more out of the cultural practices and politeness of it. The Cruiser sat in silence, a large monolithic obstruction disrupting the serine of the seemingly eternal silence around them. As Corrina Esseu, the Matriarch's hand stood waiting she looked down at her datapad, the Matriarch had only one scheduled appointment for the afternoon, a Jedi Diplomat sent to negotiate a trade agreement between the Echani and the Arkanian, which would hopefully if all things went according to plan help ease tensions between the two races. Corrina was inwardly preparing for a long and stressful affair, the Matriarch was not one to easily "roll over and die" as they say, and accepting an agreement with the genetics masters would be considered a great insult, due to an awkward situation arsing when a batch of Arkanian genetically modified cattle ended up going made and killing a group of Echani farmers. As accusations were thrown and hurtful comments about one another mothers were called an important trade route between the inner rim and the colonies was distributed. Henceforth the diplomatic core and the Jedi were sent in to try and resolve the situation and get the trade routes moving again. Though if the Jedi could not get the Matriarch to agree with her sway in the government she could easily make any movements towards resolution, a failure.
A few moments later the landing platform descend and out of the craft stepped out a lone figure, his brown robe was showing the signs of age as the color was begining to fade in patches by the knees and arms were the stitching was starting to give in. At the Jedi's side, a lightsaber attached to his belt hung simply though the diplomatic core prided themselves in their ability to resolve conflict without the need of violence, but the lightsaber stayed to remind those they were dealing with of the authority and the power that the Jedi and in extension the Diplomat held and indeed if it came to it they could defend them self still. His name was Romulus Kelden, an aging Corellian Jedi Master and an old friend of the Matriarch. Age had not been kind to him his light brown hair and beard were slowly going grey, and he walked with the gait of a man twenty years older then his forty five years. Though his haze colored eyes were still as bright and mischievous as they were in his youth. He had one job and that was to do the impossible and produce a trade agreement to be brokered and that he intended to do, Matriarch be dammed.
As Romulus walked up to Corrina and the ships loading platform began to close behind him, he stopped three feet away and bowed as per tradition. Corrina watched his bow as she returned the same to him, he had presented himself with a traditional bow used either to share among equals or those of which you aren't sure of their status it was a cautious move on the Jedi's part but it was a smart one and in return she returned the same style of bow to him. She examined the Corellian and to her surprise he seemed different then the usual sort of diplomat that came to the complex. He seemed less "fake", less of a forced smile and the sense that they would back stab you at any moment and more at peace with himself and his surroundings having a decidedly more warm and rustic feel to him then that of the white collar bureaucratic she is usually forced to deal with.
"I welcome you to the Sorni Estate oh honored Jedi." She told him in a polite informal tone. Of course it was all part of the formal rules and regulations that came with such interactions. She would state greeting A and he would respond with standard greeting B and they would progress in that order for sometime. It was procedural and by the book it prevented mishaps and kept everything moving swiftly and pleasantly along. So the Jedi's unorthodox response ended up catching Ms. Esseu off guard.
"The Honor is all mine, I'm Romulus Kelden representative of the Republic Diplomatic Corps and a Master of the Jedi Order. And I'm assuming that you are the Old Crow's Assistant?" He asked the young lady with a smile on his face and a glint in his eyes. Corrina was taken aback to say the least, no one that she had ever met had dared to call the Matriarch anything other then her title. She was one of the Echani's greatest modern military tacticians, a genuine living legend. And her was this Corellian calling her an Old Crow! It was blasphemy! It was heresy! And at that moment Corrina knew that these diplomatic negotiations were either going to be some of the most interesting that would have observed if not the shortest. She took a breath and reestablished her composer as she pressed a button on her datapad as the floating information vanished as she put on a smile and nodded at the Jedi Master, intrigued and a bit concerned for his health in the next several hours.
"Yes I'm the Matriarch's Assistant my name is Corrina Esseu and I will be your guide through the compound. I'm assuming that you would like to go see milady to commence talks as soon as possible?" Ms. Esseu asked trying her best to keep on following the proper form and order and not lash out at the Jedi.
"Ah yes, that would be most kind of you. I would like have this dreadful business taken care of as soon as possible." Romulus replied and in truth it was always because he wanted to get out of the open area of the landing platform. Though Corrina had brought no guards out with her out of the idea to look peaceful and benevolent, reaching out with the force the Jedi Master could feel at least four scopes focused on him and their was probably more hidden away just to make sure no surprise occurred..
"Very well then, Master Jedi if you would please follow me inside. I will send out someone afterwards to escort your crew inside" Cornnia told Kelden as she turned and began to walk towards the large sliding glass doors at the other end of the landing platform. The Jedi Master nodded and turned around giving a hand sign to the small crew inside of the cruiser signaling the all clear as he began to walk after her. In his mind he slowly wondered how much the Matriarch had changed in the twenty three years since he had last scene her. Of course back then she was not the dreaded Matriach but rather a wily young leader of a well established clan after the assassination of her father and mother and he was not a Jedi Master, rather a fresh new Jedi Knight and a very young and inexperienced Jedi Diplomat sent on his first solo mission to deal with some minor clan disputes that ended up becoming a six month long civil war with Romulus caught in the middle.
As Romulus was led through the compound, he marveled that not much had changed over the years. The floors were still made of a light colored wood, and the walls were made of translucent paper with small supporting bars running across. In all its form it was very minimalist, compared to most estates and compounds of the government elite it could by some standards be considered embarrassing. Though it had the desired effect, to promote an air of tranquility in the air. As they moved through the building they say little signs of life, a man with a mop cleaning the floor down a side hallway and servants keeping their heads down in respect as they passed moving quickly. The soft sound of their footfalls was all that was heard and yet still these occasional noises just seemed to add to watchful zen like silence of it all. The literal paper thin walls let the natural light in to the building reducing energy coast by allowing the small orb like light fixtures seemingly floating by the ceiling to stay off during the day and afternoons. Soon enough they came to what appeared to be the center of the compound. Corrina looked back at the Jedi Master and put a finger to her lips as she slowly opened the sliding door.
They stepped out of the minimalist temple like interior into a large sprawling garden area. Large trees soared into the sky, and to the right of them a small waterfall lazy went about its business as the water cascade down into a small pound were fish swim. The pond spread out and two tributaries ran out stretchering and winding through the garden. In the center between these two small shallow rivers was an island with a large tree in the middle, with four wooden bridges leading onto it so that one could cross the river from any of the four entrance points to reach it. and the grass cut short and uniform. On this island two figures were sparring against one another the sound of metal hitting on metal ranging out through the silence. Corinna singled for Romulus to follow her, which he did with grace as he tried his best not to cause too much noise. As they neared closer to the two figures, he noticed something and that was one of the figures was much smaller then other, she seemed to be little more then a girl maybe six years old at the best.
They watched as the figures sparred with practice swords still made out of metal but with blunt edges and lacking the Ultrasonic vibration generator commonly found in most melee instruments. He identified the taller figure to be the Matriarch, but he knew nothing of the younger figure though he assumed her to be her daughter or something along those lines. Romulus admired the fight, the Matriarch still looked as beautiful and elegant in the art of battle as she did all those years ago she was moving effortlessly between blocking and attacking. She didn't seem to be pulling back at all for the younger girl, who compared to the Matriarch was a mess her frizzled panting for air as she heroically did her best to starve off the attacks and to send out a few attacks of her own. The Bruises on her arms and legs were apparent that even though it was just a practice session the Matriarch was not one to hold back, knowing that pain taught lessons easier then words. Romulus sensed something though, something familiar as he watched the two fight. The older Echani had deflected an overhand slash by the girl catching the hand guard of the blade and sending it spinning out of her hand on the ground a few feet away. Romulus expected the fight to be over there but from the way that Ms. Esseu was still watching intently he knew that this was not the case. The Matriarch moved forward ready to end the fight, but the young girl moved dodging the blade as it came down rolling to the side. She was within grabbing distance of her own blade and as her oppente recovered and moved in with a yell another slash aimed for the the ribs to come down hard that would sever her in half if the blade was sharp. Though this did not deter the girl as she made a move going from the blade as the world seemed to move in slow motion as her hands came around the hilt and she swung around hard, her reflexs moving almost unnaturally for those of a normal body as her blade came up and stopped as it came pressed against the Matriarch's neck, though in the same case her opponents sword was pressed firmly against her own side as they both looked each other in the eyes still as statues.
The Matriarch was the first to pull away, a small grin on her face as she nodded at the girl. "That was better little pup, but you still have much to learn."
The girl fell to the ground sitting panting in exhaustion as she looked up at her mother. "But I won! I killed you!"
The Matriarch shook her head as she knelt down close to the child. "Their is more to winning, then killing your opponent pup. One thing for that matter is surviving the before mentioned battle, which if you have so quickly forgotten you would have not if our blades were real."
"But you didn't win either though... Because I killed you!" The small girl declared proudly.
"Valka..... My little girl you have to remember what I'm teaching you is not a game. Our lessons can be fun yes, but these are not the true purpose. I'm teaching you our way of life. An Echani without his or her fighting will is like a pilot without a ship. Our fighting style is our way of life it is what defines us as a people and what guides on the correct course of life. I need you to remember, this. We do not take pleasure in killing, we fight not for the joy of fighting but for the necessity of survival. We are not warlords and barbarians, we are philosophers and soldiers. But most importantly we are survivors and if we can do one thing in our lives it is to endure like our ancestors and their ancestors before them have done. Do you understand me?" The Matriarch explained in a gentle tone to her daughter as she squatted down in front of her a kind and understanding grin on her face but her eyes alight with the fire of determination.
"..... Yes Mother" Valka said as she looked down at the grass she was sitting down on, in a small disappointed voice.
"Good, now I need you to go practice through your defensive forms, do not come back inside until you have ran through them at least ten times. Mother has to go talk to some people now." The Matriarch explained as she sat up and then finally turned to face the Jedi Master and her Assistant.
Romulus watched the scene unfold in front of him with great intrigued, he had sensed something when the girl had made her counter strike against her mother with the quick recovery of the sword, he had a hunch and if it was true he might now have another reason for coming as well. Though he put those thoughts behind him as the Matriarch smiled at him, and walked over to him and without giving him much of choice enveloped him in a large hug.
"Romulus, you old fool! Of all the Jedi in the Galaxy to send to broker the agreement of course they would send you. Well come inside we have much to discuss......."
Part Two: Awakenings
Sector Rangers' CR25 troop carrier- Present
Valka eyes slowly cracked open as she came out of a dream, or what could have been better described as a memory. Her vision was murky and blurry as it slowly came back the light fixture overhead seemed overbearingly bright as she tried to turn her head away from it. Her ears were ringing and for a moment the only thing she could hear was her own breathing as she looked around, she seemed to be in hospital bed of sorts. As she looked around, she caught the eye of a figure some feet ahead of her as the figure turned around, it stopped and looked back at Valka before slowly approaching her. As it grew near the Jedi Master realized the figure was not a living creature but in fact a medical droid. The Medical droid began to talk to the Jedi, though she heard mostly nothing as her head was pounding and throbbing as she was still lapsing in and out of consciousness. Moments later she slipped back into unconsciousness as the darkness swept over her once again.
~~
Some time later the Jedi Master awoke again, her vision was much clearer now and she was able to make out the features of the room much clearer. She seemed to be in a medium sized room, the walls, floor and ceiling the same gunmetal grey hue. It seemed to be a small medical bay of sorts, probably that on a moderately sized ship. She was laying on a small hospital bed, two other empty ones were on either side of her, a figure in the corner of the room seemed to be floating in a bacta tank. Directly in front of her lay a shelf with a series of medical equipment laying, apparatuses and devices blinking and shining in the bright light. The Medical Droid from before was still moving around, seemingly going through its rounds when it once again noticed that its patient had roused it walked over and began to speak, and this time Master Sorni could make out what it was saying. It spoke it cold metallic tones, without a sense of warmness or life to it, factual and too the point.
"Hello Master Jedi. It has seemed that you have awoken once again. I'm the on board medical droid for this Sector Ranger group.
Sector Rangers? Were was she? The last thing she remembered was the fight in the hanger bay up to the point when somebody dragged her out of the LAAT's Pilot chair. Had she been captured? No, that didn't make sense the clones that were attacking the temple did not seem too keen on taking prisoners, or keeping anyone alive for that matter, they were following strict shoot to kill orders... Then were was she and how in the world did the Rangers get involved? Valka deiced that the best course of action would be to ask the medical droid, for it probably had a better understanding of the situation then her at the moment.
"Droid, if you don't mind answering why I'm I here?"
"You and your other companions arrived on a LAAT over three days ago. I was ordered to attended to any hurt among your crew including you and Mr. Vor'loch. You had severe internal bleeding, exhaustion and blood loss, though I wasable to stabilize you have been unconsciousness since you arrived on the ship ." The droid explained to the Jedi. Master Sorni nodded as she listened to the droid explain the situation. At the mention of Vor'loch, Valka eyes brighten a bit, and she assumed he must be the one in the bacta tank in the corner. Valka reached out in the force and found out the droid was not laying that she could sense others sensitive to the force aboard, which meant that somehow they had made it out of the temple alive. She needed to find out what was happened and brought up to speed preferably as quickly as possible.
"Can you tell me where the others are right now?"
"The other Jedi have been staying in the cargo hold along with your LAAT" The droid respond in its same even level tone
"Can you lead me to them?" Valka asked the droid wincing as she slowly began to raise from the bed, the pain racing up her side as she did even as she inched along.
"I can yes, but I would advise against it for the Bacta has done its work but you are still healing and it would be foolish to reopen any of your wounds, if it could be prevented." The droid replied, but the Jedi Master was not listening she was not sitting on the edge of the bed. She took a deep breath as she brought her bare feet down on the cold metal of the transports floor. Her torso roared like a kryat dragon in retaliation from the movement the cuts and the bruises still sore but she did not care as she slowly stood up on her own. She gripped onto the small nightstand next to her for support letting her body steady itself before she took a few abrogating steps which at first felt as terrible and monumental as the trails of Hercules as she moved towards the table with the medical apparatuses and equipment which lay her robe and the rest of her clothes which she was stripped down out of, to allow access to her torso now being in the more basic undergarments. In what felt like a life time she reached the table and slowly put on her clothing as it felt as the fire of pain began to die down if only a little bit, still taking her a much longer time to get dressed then it normally would. She knew that soon she would recover and be back to normal but at the current she felt pretty much useless.
"Come on then lead the me, my friend" She said turning her head back to he droid, the droid whirred in agreement as it began to move forward stopping by the Jedi's side allowing her to lean on it as a sort of crutch as they moved of the medical bay. They remained in relative silence as the progress through the bowls of the ship, it was surprisingly empty almost as if it was a ghost ship of sorts. The only signs of life being the occasional stray article of clothing or forgotten parcel of garbage, but beside that it was empty. The only sounds that were emanating were that of the Jedi Masters feet and the soft hum of the droids electronics. In a way it reminded her of the gardens in the Temple or her families home back on Eshan: tranquil, peaceful, designed so that one could easily communicate with their inner self if only not to go insane from the isolation. But slowly more sounds of life began to fill the air as they neared the cargo bay, voices that seemed to be in a discussion of sorts. A discussion about their future, about were they needed to go, The Jedi caught most of it as they hung outside the doors.
"He is a potential ally Kraytan. Mandalorians are very loyal to clan and family above all else, and it would be in our favor to gain the help of some of them."
Jedi Master Sorni and the Medical droid entered the cargo bay just as a lull had began in Kraytan's and Deja's debate, the others watching and waiting to see who would end up speaking again. That was when the Jedi Master walked in and a sight to be seen she was. To say that she had seen better days was something of an under statement, her robes were still tattered and burnt as from the damage they accumulated from the escape. Her faced looked more Wisend as of late a new series of bruises and cuts now casted on it. The soft glow of a Bacta Patch was emitting from underneath her robe from her blaster wound, the right sleeve of her robe was practically gone torn to shreds by Vroskner, all and all she looked how probably most of them felt right about now. But their was something in her eyes, a mischievous glint that somehow had not been effective, and smile on her face had not been slayed by the empire just yet. She stepped forward as all the eyes were still focused on her as she cleared her throat and began to speak.
"In my humble opinion I believe when you are losing in a game of Pazaak there is no harm in going all in and hoping for the best. Though the wise gambler would already have has deck stacked for such occasions. From what I've gathered is that we are all wanted criminals now and now we have one goal, and that is a goal of survival. So here is what I propose we have to take chances and one of those chances will be on that of Beskad Maximus, we will have to have faith in the legendary tales of Mandalor honor and family values. But before we do that first we need to get a ship that will not draw attention as much as a current status, something small and something light. This is why I propose our first stop be Nar Shaddaa, it is in many ways the perfect combination of back alleys for us to disappear into and find what we need, yes I know it is not the nicest place especially for the young ones. But we can find a ship that is not as noticeable as a troop transport, maybe a smuggler ship of sorts, one that can slip in and out and no one would blind an eye, and Deja on Nar Shaddaa untraceable communication is sort of a hobby of theirs and that would be the safest way for you to get into contact with your Sister. It is a black market world and from my days working for the Council of First Knowledge, I have a few contacts available that could give us a clean slate, new identities, new credit chips and the works. Once Deja gets contact from her sister we move on from their either from Maximus or if we have to escaping to Mon Cala or somewhere else. Though then again this is just the humble opinion of a injured probably delirious Jedi."
mickilennial,
Alisdragon911,
Rockette,
Lemons,
DocTachyon,
Captain Uni,
vietmyke
