“Well yes, I suppose we were but-” Aria began in response to the Cathar’s original query, but trailed off as her partner grimaced uncomfortably and brought on their apology. Instead, the Champion smiled gently and offered both tutors a nod. “Nonetheless, we are very glad to have you helping us. And I'm sure we will speak again soon.” however, as Paix rightly pointed out, they were required to direct their attention to the communications center. Bidding the tutors a quick farewell, the Champions made their way back through the Academy to join the Elders and arrived in time to catch the tail end of an angry broadcast from an Alliance captain.
“That doesn't sound good, at all…” Aria muttered, trailing off as Malu appraised the Champions of the situation. Voldon vehemently cursed Manus’ approach, prompting an equally sharp response from his peers as Kira protested to her husband's suggestion of abandoning the other planets to their fates. The news made Aria’s fit twist in fright; not least due to the sheer volume of chaos the former Jedi Master had managed to spread across the ENTIRE Outer Rim over such a short period of time, but also at the realisation that the Qyaari and the Alliance would struggle to contain so many choke points effectively….Voldon was right, Manus knew and he was trying to force their hand. Kira had a point though, what gave the Qyaari the right to decide who was “important” enough to receive their aid and who had to tough it out themselves? No, they couldn’t pick favourites, they had to help them all in whatever means they could. Relief washed over the Champion as Voldon acquiesced to Kira’s plan of action and began issuing orders for various Council members to attend to certain tasks.
Aria wanted to step forward and volunteer for them to go to Taris, concerned for Tabitha and Volgorl and desperately wanting to ensure they were safe and well, but Matthew put voice to his statement first, and before she knew it, Voldon was assigning them to accompany him to Voss while Malu offered to head for Hoth, and presumably Ailel helped to organise the younglings to accompany each of them and then remained here on Zinuthra to help the instructors and other personnel keep everything running as smoothly as possible. This left only Cheriss without an assigned task, the look shared between them leaving Aria unsettled for reasons she could not place. Even more so when the other Elder didn't immediately answer Voldon’s question, instead choosing to remain silent while she weighed up her options before turning towards Vano and Kira.
“Can you two handle Belsavis?”
Both Knights were quick to nod in affirmation.
“Of course.”
Turning back towards Voldon, Cheriss nodded once more.
“In that case, I’ll come with you to Voss. We don’t know what Manus might have waiting for us there.”
Something about the tone in the two Elders’ voices made Aria feel uneasy. She pushed her apprehension away and tried to focus on the task at hand. With their actions decided, the members of the Council began to disperse on their various missions.
The Champions would meet Cheriss and Voldon in one of the hangar bays within the next hour, Voldon made that EXPLICITLY clear. The implied destruction described by the Voss ambassador left them no option but to respond with the utmost urgency, of course, meaning that they packed the essentials before proceeding to the named landing bay post-haste. The transport ship, which was in fact less of a shuttle and more accurately classified as an escort boat given its modest weapons array, stood with its engines live and idling when Aria and Yerbol arrived there, an agitated-looking Cheriss pacing at the end of the loading ramp.
“An escort, is that really necessary?” Aria quirked an eyebrow up in question.
“If the entire Rim has gone to as much Bantha fodder as those distress calls imply, we can’t be taking any chances.” Cheriss muttered as she rushed them aboard the spacecraft. “I’d rather be in a ship that can fire back than a flimsy shuttle transport.”
Aria couldn’t argue with Cheriss’ reasoning, however she couldn’t say she was entirely happy with it either.
I don’t like this. She spoke to Yerbol through their Force bond. This whole situation with Manus has made them all so jumpy and distrustful...it’s disconcerting.
With everyone now on board and settling into their seats, the escort lifted off the landing pad and shot out of the opened hangar doors, the landscape below them rapidly shrinking and giving way to the inky blackness of space. Both Qyaari Elders were grave-faced as they waited tensely for the pilot to steer the ship towards the Outer Rim, the words they exchanged spoken in quiet tones that suggested they were trying not to be overheard...Aria could not help but eavesdrop however, in the hopes of hearing something that might quell her own nerves.
“I appreciate you coming with us.” Voldon was normally calm and collected in any situation, but this time she could hear the tightness of worry in his voice.
“We have no idea what Manus has been doing on Voss,” Cheriss answered, brows knitted together in a tight scowl. “To attack them so openly….and for them to have not seen it coming...Voss ALWAYS have visions. It’s not a good sign.”
“It could be a trap.” hearing the words from the officiating Elder’s own mouth somehow made the thought of that possibility in Aria’s mind even worse. She could almost FEEL her stomach twisting itself into knots.
“If it is, you’re not going in alone.” Cheriss retorted firmly. Aria didn’t need to hear any more, instead reaching over to place her hand gently on her partner’s knee, hoping to seek some form of comfort as she tried to remain as level headed as possible.
As always, Yerbol seemed to know before she had even finished the train of thought herself, catching her eye as he closed his hand around hers and squeezed gently. Aria managed a faint smile in return, attempting to change the subject and occupy the remainder of the journey with a less somber topic.
“I've never been to Voss, you know. All I know about them is what other people tell you.”
“Hah, well they are certainly a strange people.” Cheriss smirked, the serious mask disappearing for a moment and replaced by an amused smile. “More amicable than most who are as primitive a society in comparison, but strange nonetheless.”
“More strange than YOUR people, Cheriss?” the Champion’s cheeky jab at the highly matriarchal and, in some respects, almost tribal, society on the Dathomirian homeworld earned a chiding scowl from her Elder.
“Yes, even then.”
“How so?”
“The Voss as a species have an innate connection to the Force, some say second only to the Miraluka.” Voldon explained. “But the Mystics are the most gifted, and in that way by Voss standards the most “fit” to make decisions, the others take every word they say at face value...because the Mystic’s visions are NEVER wrong.”
Aria found that very hard to believe.
“That CAN'T be possible though...always thought everyone that said that was exaggerating.”
“Oh, they aren't.” Cheriss shook her head. “They ALWAYS know. No-one else has ever been able to explain it, but the Voss Mystics’ premonitions have always guided them through their troubles….it’s how they were able to intercept the Imperial occupation when the Emperor tried to take control of the planet for the Empire, the Republic tried to stick their noses in too and the Mystics put a stop to it before they could start shooting at each other.”
“So you can understand,” Voldon continued the Elders’ earlier train of thought, leaning forward in his seat and pressing his fingers to his temples, “How it is so bizarre for the Ambassador to tell us that even they DIDN'T see Manus coming, AT ALL.”
“Makes sense though, doesn't it?” Yerbol pointed out. “If he could coerce them to join him and use that power to “predict” all our counter movements….there’d be nothing the Qyaari or the Alliance could do to stop him from taking over.”
That was a very distressing possibility.
“That is, if there are any Mystics left alive when we get there.” Cheriss hissed vehemently. It certainly wouldn't be below Manus to destroy the Voss’ home in response to their refusal to support him. They would have to gather what information they could from the Ambassador and any other survivors when they touched down, which according to the pilot’s voice that rang out over the intercom at that precise moment, would be soon.
“Approaching Voss now, Masters Qyaari. No sign of hostile craft on scans.”
“Very good, captain, proceed with care nonetheless.” Voldon responded, still rife with suspicion that they would be ambushed.
Aria turned her attention from the Qyaari Elders to peer out of the viewport as they crept closer to the planet, unable to stifle her gasp of surprise.
“That mountain is HUGE.” the rocky spire that jutted outwards from the planet’s surface was easily on par with Quensu’s crystalline mountain ranges, if not larger. Certainly big enough to be easily visible even from this distance.
“Voss-Ka, the capital (and only) city.” Cheriss explained. “And probably one of the only places well fortified enough to be reasonably safe from Manus’ ilk.”
They would soon find out.
Member
Birdboy,
Fetzen,
mickilennial,
Oso,
Lurking Krog,
swannie,
Kaithe Dame,
Dion,
Dark Cloud,
PrinceAlexus
