These Shattered Stars -- Logs

Bare minutes later Zero has been placed under sedation and into a full-body bacta tank. The medical droid monitoring him informs Freyja he will be there for about twelve hours, and that he'll be under observation for at least a few hours after he comes out; the following afternoon will see him as good as new. Meanwhile, one of the Jedi is remaining in the room, working on suppressing the unconscious Zero's Force presence, just to be safe.

Diath is waiting outside the bacta room, looking over a datapad. He looks up as Freyja exits. "How is he?" he asks.

Freyja sighs, looking relieved, "He's fine now." She studies the toes of her boots for a moment, then looks up at the Jedi, "It hit me, as he was getting tucked into the tank... remember I said I felt a quiver in the Force? Well... it wasn't someone using the Force that I felt, I think. I think what I felt was someone through the Force -- I think I felt it when Zero felt that huge wave of pain at being shot." She shakes her head slowly, her eyes worried, "I hope he'll learn soon that he can call me for help, when things like that happen... that he doesn't have to go it alone."

Diath nods. "That can happen sometimes to people who are very close in the Force. I'm given to understand that it's one of the downsides to fighting in a Templar manus."

Freyja tilts her head curiously at Diath, "Downside? Howso? I'd think knowing when someone you care about is hurt and could use some help... would be a good thing?"

"It might be distracting in heavy combat. I... don't know what happens if one dies. Then again, I'm not a Templar!"

Freyja looks thoughtful, "I wonder... I wish I knew one, to ask about things like that. It's a... curious subject..." Her voice trails off for a bit, and then another thought hits her, "Do you know any Templars from a manus? Also, do you know why Paladin Diana was on Telti?" She grins mischievously, adding, "And um, while I'm being terribly nosy... do you happen to have that windsong sword on you?"

Diath shakes his head. "I don't know any Templars, actually. Someone I knew in the praxaeum a while ago became a Templar, but we never really kept in touch, and I don't know if she joined a manus."

"As for Telti, we were there investigating rumors of some kind of Sith incursion. The sector prior was concerned that the Sith were preparing Telti to be another world for invasion. What we found were Sith, all right, but it was a lot more brutal fighting than I ever imagined Sith would put up, especially since they'd been pretty quiescent before we showed up. They killed a few members of the company and put half of the rest into the hospital before we finally beat them. Even then, I guess we really didn't. Their leader tried to escape, but for her troubles a Guard cruiser blew her ship to dust. A couple of Jedi I talked to about that said that they couldn't believe the Sith had fought us so fiercely.

"Anyway, we were recovering on Telti when, a couple of weeks later, Diana made her announcement and left on a flight out of Telti that evening. It was pretty sudden." He adds, "Uh, as for the sword, I don't, no. I don't usually carry it with me, actually. Why do you ask?"

Freyja frowns thoughtfully, then says slowly, "What kind of Sith were they? Did they tend to ramble on about the cleansing fires of darkness or struggling shadows or such? And... do you know what the leader's name was?"

Diath blinks. "Actually, no. They didn't say much at all, actually. Just started trying their best to kill us the night we got on-planet. We never did figure out their leader's name. And... there were three of them. Three Sith, plus their leader."

Freyja frowns again, "Wolf-feathers. I wish I knew more about them." She sighs quietly, worrying, then shakes her head at herself. There's nothing she can do about it now. Instead she says, "Well, I was wondering why Paladin Diana would leave so suddenly. I mean, did anyone unusual turn up with a message for her, or anything? And did she leave the sword specifically to you? And if she did..." She grins interestedly, her eyes alight, "I wonder if she left a message in it for you, so you could perhaps join her later or something?"

Diath thinks for a moment. "No, I can't say -- wait. Actually, yeah, now that you mention it, the day before there was a Jedi courier who came with a message for her. I didn't think about it, really; we've gotten visits by couriers fairly often, now and then. I didn't really talk with her after the courier arrived, but the next day was when she made her announcement." He arches an eyebrow. "A message in the sword? I'm... that'd be something! I wouldn't know how to find it, though, if there was one..."

Freyja says, "Well, you said it was heavy, including the case, right? So... why not check the case first?"

Diath nods slowly. "I'll do that. Thanks, Padawan Freyja, I... hadn't even considered she might do something like that." He looks cautiously to Freyja. "What made you think she would do such a thing?"

Freyja grins cheerfully, "Because she's trying something new and different and unusual -- being a paladin! -- and leaving something so specific to someone specific said to me that she might be thinking you might someday like to try the something new and different and unusual too! So... d'you know who the courier was?" She blinks, then says cautiously, "It wasn't a Human male, was it?"

Diath doesn't seem to be entirely convinced by Freyja's explanation, but he doesn't pursue it. "I didn't know the courier personally, no. He was Rodian, I think, or looked it. Padawans of some masters are sometimes asked to do that, particularly Padawans to masters who reside at the Temple, or a praxaeum, or monastery."

Since that was the true, actual reason Freyja thought of the sword perhaps having a message in it, she's not really sure what else she could say to convince Diath. Instead she simply asks curiously, "Oh, he was a Padawan? To what master, do you know?"

"No idea, really. I think he said he was out of Okhranu in Balmorra Sector, but that's it."

Freyja considers thoughtfully. Okhranu is one of the lower-population worlds in the sector. It's partly reliant upon foodstuffs from Balmorra's moon, but it's otherwise fairly quiet. She knows there's a Jedi way station there, which is little more than a small building in the capitol run by someone the Order trusts to provide a hostel for Jedi passing through, and as a courier drop-off point. "Huh. Interesting. Has anyone tried tracking who it was? Or... finding out what ship or ships she bought on Ambria?"

Diath shakes his head. "Couriers are usually registered, but that's not information easily gotten. We'd have to know who sent the courier first, before we'd be able to figure out who the courier was. As for Ambria... I only found out today that she was there, and if Paladin Dakkan's contacts couldn't track her after Ambria, I doubt we could. But it might not hurt to see what private ship purchases were made in the name of the Order. As a master or a paladin she might be able to justify to the purser's office her own transportation. Want to go check?"

Freyja tries to remember what species Jedi Master Balin Khoud's current Padawan is. She hms to herself... the Padawan's Human, if she recalls correctly. She nods to Diath thoughtfully. "I think so. I think we're either going to find out a lot of ships left with her... or we won't be able to find out anything at all." She pauses, then adds, "Although... may I try speaking to one of the captured individuals before we leave the hospital? I'm curious as to whether any of them know anything about whom the spice and guns go to. I'm wondering if the 'troubles' mentioned by Linijast, the native woman, are related to excessive spice use."

Diath frowns. "A lot of ships? Why do you say that? But sure, let me talk with the City Guard rep here and see if we can't get you talking with one. I don't know, though, they might insist on their attorney."

Freyja smiles, "If one does, I'll try talking to another. If they all do..." she shrugs and grins cheerfully, "Their loss!"

Diath nods, "Well, there's nothing that says they have to talk to anyone without an attorney, but let me go check. Anyone in particular you want to talk to?"

Freyja considers, then says quietly, "The younger ones. They're more likely to talk to a pleasant girl... and possibly even listen."

Diath nods, then goes to talk with the City Guard. He's gone for several minutes before coming back. "I'm afraid they're all screaming for lawyers," he says. "Those who are conscious, that is. The Guardsman told me some interesting tidbits, though. Seems that they're with the Yaofeng Tong, one of the larger organized crime gangs on Sedrak. They're also known as the Black Wind Gang. Supposedly the other tongs are just pikers in comparison; the Black Wind date back to the latter part of the Ten Years' War. The spice goes to local distributors and helps to finance their turf wars with the other tongs, along with their illegal gambling dens, extortion racket, and bribery network. They don't deal in too much else, at least; in fact they also strongly support veterans of the War. These organized crime groups baffle me sometimes."

"Anyway, the guns are another story. The City Guard doesn't know what to make of it. They found a case of them. The gangsters just said that they were given them by their bosses, and were looking to unload them on an arms dealer. Of course, there's no dealer in the galaxy who'll buy slug-throwers for anything but a song. And they say they weren't going to be selling them to the natives, but who can tell? Obviously the City Guard are very interested in those guns."

Freyja nods and sighs, wishing she could have talked to the men anyway... even if she only watches them, she can sometimes tell things others can't. Ah, well... "So... may I keep this rifle, at least for the nonce?"

Diath nods. "Actually, they're not too happy to give that particular one. After I told them about you going to talk with the natives, the forensics people talked to their bosses, who talked to their bosses, and they said that if you're willing to take one of the other rifles they found, seeing as they found a crate of them, that'll be fine. The crate holds four. There were three in there, and the one you picked up probably was grabbed by Tukang."

Freyja looks curious, "Why one of the others?"

Jedi Diath says, "They'd really rather not give up the one that was used to fire on you guys. It's evidence in felony assault on a Republic plenipotentiary. The others are just evidence in felony trade in restricted arms."

Freyja says, "Ah, I understand. Hai, that's fine with me." She pauses, then says with quiet rue, "Would it be wrong to just... peek in on one of the men? ...and see if I could persuade him to talk to me at all?" She smiles quietly to herself. A Republic Plenipotentiary... it makes her and Zero sound so important and official!

Diath frets for a moment. "Well... I'll see if I can't convince the City Guard to let you see one for a little bit. But if he starts screaming for his attorney, that's gotta be it. The City Guard want as airtight a case against these guys as possible. They're hoping that they can -- legally -- get one of them to start talking about the Black Wind Tong."

Freyja nods and grins, "I'll leave quietly and immediately if he even thinks the word lawyer hard enough that I can hear him! I just think if it seems I'm not immediately associated with the City Guard, maybe one of them might talk to me a bit... possibly the youngest or most shaken up one, you know?"

Jedi Diath says, "Maybe. Still, be careful. Most Sedraki might happily let gangsters languish in jail without a second thought, but they're trying to establish their legal system as legitimate and respectful of citizens' rights. We have to work with that and within it."

Freyja nods quietly, "Absolutely."

Diath nods, then goes and checks with the City Guard. Shortly he returns. "Okay. You can check in with Bei Shaofong, over in that room. A Guardsman and myself will be in attendance, and the meeting's going to be recorded. That's to cover the Guard's butts when his lawyer starts complaining. Is that acceptable?"

Freyja blinks... then laughs! "Oh, dear. Neh, if we're going to be loomed over, it won't really work -- the man will be too wary to talk to me." She smiles and shrugs, "Well, thank you for trying, at least."

Diath sighs and nods, "I'm sorry, Padawan Freyja, but the City Guard are really careful about that sort of thing, especially when plenipotentiaries are involved."

Freyja says, "Careful about what sort of thing? I certainly wouldn't hurt him... I doubt he could hurt me?"

"It's not about physically hurting him, or you, or physical safety. It's about something he might tell you becoming inadmissible in court. Plus it involves Republic-level representatives in local law enforcement. I don't think that would really have much effect, but the good attorneys leap on things like that."

Freyja nods quietly again, wondering why anyone would allow attorneys on their world -- what incredibly obstructive time-wasters they appear to be! "Well, we might as well go look at your sword then. Who knows? Perhaps Karrac will have had enough time to think now, and we might persuade him to help us with translating the Sith information we've found? Oh!" She pauses, then adds slowly, "I think maybe... maybe... we have the right phrase for the key to the tenth gate. I'd at least be willing to give it a try if the opportunity should arise, hai?"

Diath nods slowly. "I suppose I still can't ask what this 'tenth gate' is that you're talking about?" he asks with a grin.

Freyja smiles ruefully, "I'm sorry, Jedi Diath." She starts to walk out of the hospital with him, adding, "Oh, and checking on Ambria too... oh!" She stops, then hastily moves forward to catch up, "Also, can you show me how to use one of those holo-thingies to call Zero's parents, so they don't worry?"

Diath ohs! and nods, "Sure! They've probably been informed, but calling them would be a good idea." Freyja nods in agreement. She just wants them to know everything's all right, and that their son and his companions missed the bus. She doesn't want to worry them by telling them Zero's injured -- she'll let him tell them that tomorrow.

Once at the Jedi building, she and Diath check up on Ambria... and are rather surprised (or rather, it's not likely Freyja is surprised) to find that a number of ships were quietly stolen from there about the same time Paladin Diana was last there. For some reason, Paladin Dakkan's contacts did not mention that little bit of information.

Diath looks really shocked by the implications. "'The Ambria Naval Base spokesman,'" he reads from the screen, "'said that it was only smaller, mid-range vessels which were stolen. The most telling theft was a Binder- class interdictor gunship that was at Ambria for trials. Based off of Sith gravwell projectors, the Binder can ambush small ships and pull them out of hyperspace. Thus far there have been no reports of such an incident-' What the hell is going on?!"

Freyja nods quietly to herself as she listens to Diath, who shakes his head, standing and pacing, clearly trying to keep his cool. "I don't get it, Padawan Freyja, I just don't get it! Diana leaves with barely any word, goes to Ambria, and for all we know really did engineer the theft of a bunch of armed spacecraft. Why? What the hell is it all about?!"

Freyja looks up at the upset Human Jedi, opening her mouth to reply... then closes it, looking down. Finally she looks back at him and says softly, "Maybe... maybe ask Master Roakkana? I'm sorry, Jedi Diath... but I'm just a Padawan... he'd know what can be said and what can't, but I don't."

Diath sighs. "Yeah," he says, looking deflated. "I'll... I'll ask him. I just... damn it all!" His hands clench for a bit, then he says, "Uh... let me get the windsong sword, I'll be right back..." He heads up the stairs quietly.

Freyja watches the Jedi leave... then sighs, looking at Vakkal and murmuring, "I hate secrets."

Vakkal nods quietly. "I understand," he says softly. "He and Paladin Diana had worked together for years, I think, and this just shattered a lot of what he thought he knew about her."

Freyja nods again... then sighs more softly this time, and leans against Vakkal quietly, waiting for Diath to return. A little dispiritedly she murmurs, "Maybe Karrac's got good news for us, or the sword will have a nice, helpful message... maybe..." She looks up the stairs, wondering if Diath's checking the sword quietly on his own. She hopes not... he seems like a nice person -- not someone that deserves getting dragged into this mess.

Vakkal nods quietly, and shortly Diath comes down, lugging the heavy case. "All right," he says, his voice closer to his usual light tone. "Let's see..." He sets the case down and opens it, lifting out the blade... and pausing. "The case first, you said?"

Freyja smiles, "Well, which is more unusually heavy?" She settles cross-legged next to the case, studying it curiously as she speaks.

Diath considers for a moment. "The case," he says. "I think the sword is pretty much as it usually is. She tended to favor heavy blades."

Freyja nods, "Then it first, hai?" She runs her fingers lightly across it, getting a feel for how it's put together.

Jedi Diath nods and sets the blade gently to the side. The interior of the case is lined in a soft, red, velvet-like material with some kind of padding beneath that "gives" a little, even though there's a molded depression for the sword to fit in. The case itself is of a mahogany-like wood with silvery clasps and hinges, but no other decoration or markings.

Freyja lightly runs her fingers across joining points, as in where the material joins the wood. She takes her time, thoughtfully regarding the case as she examines it tactilely. She's the first to find it -- a near-invisible fray in the lining of the lower part of the case. A little subtle tugging lets the red fabric be pulled out so the white, spongy yet resilient material beneath is revealed.

And tucked away in there is a metal medallion and a small datapad.

Freyja murmurs softly, "Well, well, well... look, Vakkal, Jedi Diath." Her slender fingers gently work out the medallion and the datapad without tearing the fabric any further. She holds the medallion up to the light, regarding it curiously, the datapad resting on her lap for the moment... the medallion is surprisingly heavy for its size, and is of a cobalt-colored ceramic material -- which makes it all the more surprising as to its weight. If it were made of lead, perhaps, it would weight as much. Freyja does not know the design upon it; it is not any sort of Bendu wheel, but rather some sort of variation of a two-dimensional representation of a tesseract.

Freyja smiles, "Lovely color," as she examines the medallion, curious as to whether it opens or does something. It's so heavy she half expects that. She studies the confusing, logical-looking but impossible design... then murmurs, "Oh. A tesseract. So that's how they're thinking to bring her back."

Diath blinks. "Uh... pardon? Bring who back? How?"

Freyja holds up the datapad, smiling as she starts to reply -- then she pauses, silently studying the confused Jedi. Finally she says quietly, "Jedi Diath, this was left for you, so if you wish me not to see it you should take it now. However... if this is what I think it is... you may not like what you find here. It is your decision." She waits silently, her clear, ice-blue gaze calm.

Diath pauses... then shakes his head. "No. I'd never have even thought of looking for it without your help. And you know more about what the blazes is going on than I do." He takes the datapad and turns it on... and blinks. "Well... hell. Why is it asking me..." He frowns slightly. "It's... password protected, and it's asking me for the name of her... niece? But she never talked about her family on Bandomeer..."

Freyja murmurs quietly, "Valsha. Valsha Redcloak." She taps her own datapad so it records.

Diath looks at Freyja for a long moment, then enters the name in. He gives a start. "That was it... here, it's... a message..."

My friend Diath,
I wish I could have told you more of what I now know. All I can say is that if you know the name of my niece then you've probably learned of the danger she was in on Marnaas. Believe me, it was a surprise for me as well when I learned that I had relatives who escaped Bandomeer. I supposed I should be grateful to Master Balin Khoud, in a roundabout way. She escaped, fortunately, but there's more, much more, than that.
I have to go find her, Diath. I have to find her and get her away from the people who want to use her. As you've surely learned, she's very strong in the Force -- exceptionally so. Perhaps the Kel Dor are right after all about silver eyes. It was her strength, at first, which brought her to the attention of the Orphic Jedi on Ossus. They're a small sect of farseers and Lightsider prophets squirreled away in the hinterlands of Ossus. They've preferred to keep themselves secret for quite some time now; that the Jedi have not only a few people who can occasionally read the future, but several score who can reasonably accurately see the future, is a well-kept secret, and one I don't blame them for keeping. It's been many years since the Orphics were consulted, but they still wield not inconsiderable power in the Order, and they had been watching little Valsha carefully. When some insane Sith cult almost took her for their own on Marnaas, the Orphics asked the Council to bring her to Ossus, where she would presumably be safe.
Diath, she may never make it there. There are others besides the Orphics who know about her and her heritage and what she may be capable of. It's more than just who her ancestors are. It's more than what her powers in the Force are. She's become a symbol, and I have to keep her from becoming a pawn as well.
You probably have heard by now of some of the things I've done. I don't know what they will be, myself, but I can't imagine they're acts worthy of a Jedi. I'm sorry. I can only hope that by the time you've read this you've learned enough to understand why we've done what we have -- yes, I am not alone in this. There are others who are helping me, and I'm glad for their help. I'm sorry I did not ask you to come with me, but the ones who have... deeper motives regarding the war against the Sith themselves have some growing sway in the Council. I have just enough time to safely make the arrangements I need to go to Valsha. There is simply no time to make those same arrangements for you, and for that I'm sorry.
With this datapad you'll find a sigil. Most Grey Jedi will recognize it. Not all will be able to tell you where I've gone, but none will betray you to the Order and the elements within that have, by my saving Valsha, no doubt become my enemies. Of course, finding any Grey Jedi will be hard. Not all paladins and errants are gray. And even some masters tend towards the gray. I will try to get word to you soon, if you haven't been able to find us.
I know I will miss you, Diath. You've been a good friend, one of the best, and I wish I could have you by my side for what's to come. Always remember, though: the Force is our ally, whether we know it or not.
The Force be with you,
Diana Redcloak

Freyja blinks, then her eyes widen in startlement at the comment about Gray Jedi -- are all Paladins gray?! Then her eyes narrow... 'grateful to Master Balin Khoud in a roundabout way' -- aha! So Khoud must be heavily associated with the "Oather Jedi" -- which Diana appears notto be! Freyja's suddenly terribly relieved Valsha's with both Grays and family -- and not Oather Jedi. And the Orphics... she sighs quietly. Well, that would appear to shoot down her hopeful theory that Valsha's just bait -- and not someone trapped in a destiny of Red Generalship again. She frowns... or does it... she blinks again. Bright Lady, that comment -- the implication of where Gray Jedi go -- has Valsha been taken to Zhar?! With growing confusion she wonders... errants as grays, too? Does that mean... Colburth is a Gray?!

Freyja blinks again, shaking her head once slowly, "Holy... flying... sheisse!" She takes a long, slow breath... then gives Diath and Vakkal a rather bemused look, "That... was a lot in one shot -- going to take a while to digest it completely!"

Vakkal is thoughtful, if silent. Diath just looks even more frustrated. "I'm... glad you know what she's talking about, Padawan Freyja," he says quietly. "At this point, all I know is that 'something strange' happened, and Diana's involved with it, and it has to do with a relative of hers whom I never even knew she had until today!"

Freyja is silent for a moment... then says gently, "Well... you know one thing for sure. You know what the Oathers are that we've spoken of -- an insane Sith cult." She sighs, not adding yet again another redundant apology, and simply says, "Please... may I ask you to take this to Master Roakkana and Paladin Dakkan?"

Diath lets out a breath, then nods, standing and picking up the datapad. "Sure," he says. "Let me fire this off to them. I'll recommend encryption." He walks over to another terminal and starts connecting to Ark Nova and Master Roakkana.

Freyja says, "Er, neh, please?" She patters lightly after him, resting a hand lightly on his to stop him, "You... this is highly explosive, Jedi Diath. Truly. Please... can you take it to them?"

Diath blinks, looking up to Freyja, then back to the datapad, then up to her again. "It's... that dangerous?" he asks quietly.

Freyja says without a second's hesitation, "Hai." Her ice blue eyes are again calm, clear, and utterly sincere.

Diath lets out another breath. "All right. I don't know how I can fabricate an excuse to get up to Ark Nova, though... at least anytime soon."

Freyja smiles in relief, giving him a quick hug, "Thank you, Jedi Diath."

Jedi Diath returns the hug, a little wanly. "Don't thank me yet. Just... please promise me that sometime, when you can, you'll tell me what's going on."

Freyja adds thoughtfully, half to herself, "How to get you up there quickly... giving a report?" At his request she grins, although it's not very happy, "Believe me, Jedi Diath, the day all the lies and cover-ups are refused is the day I'll be very happy to tell you anything you'd like to know about this."

Diath grimaces a little. "I won't ever find out, then. Most reports are done by the uplink. I'll... see what I can do. But I won't let it off my person until then."

Freyja thinks for a moment... then shakes her head, "Jedi Diath, I do not think I exaggerate when I say what you're holding may be either the death, triumph, and/or complete metamorphosis of the Jedi Order. I think you will indeed find out someday... because I, for one, will continue to do my best to thwart the gagging silence that's currently being imposed. I think it's wrong... and beneath Jedi and Sith and Grays all!" Her voice has gotten a bit impassioned by the end of her sentence, and she takes a breath, mentally calming and centering herself, then murmurs sheepishly, "Um... sorry. I, ah... feel a bit... strongly about this..."

Diath nods and sighs, looking at the datapad before tucking it securely inside his tunic. "I'll take your word for it, Padawan Freyja -- I have to," he says quietly.

Freyja says unsmilingly, "Thank you. I hope Master Roakkana and Paladin Dakkan can tell you more. I fear I cannot." She sighs quietly, then forces a small smile. "So... if you do not mind, I'd like to peek in on Karrac, and see how he's doing. Is that all right?"

Diath nods, "Sure, feel free. Just tell Jedi Naami that I cleared you."

Freyja grins suddenly, quoting an ancient religious book she read many years ago, "From the midst of the radiant light, the intrinsic sound of Truth will resound like the rumble of a thousand thunderclaps. Do not fear it! Do not try to flee!" She laughs softly, taking the Jedi's hand, "We will have a time to share information, Jedi Diath. We'll make it happen, if we have to." She smiles at the bemused Jedi, gently squeezing his hand in hopeful reassurance... then nods, "Jedi Naami, hai. Thank you." She leaves quietly and swiftly with Vakkal -- it's frustrating to continue frustrating the good Jedi.

Diath simply nods, giving a bit of a smile in response, and thanking her. Jedi Naami lets the two in to see Karrac. The young Sith canid is just sitting up as the two enter. "Oh, hello," he says quietly, blinking at both.

Freyja smiles, "Heiyo, how are you? We're stuck here for the night, so I thought I'd peek in, see how you were doing, and see if you had any other questions?"

Karrac shakes his head a little... then sighs and nods. "You... made it patently clear to me that I had no future unless I... did something. What are my options?

Freyja pauses... then waves a hand at the chair, "May I sit?" The canid blinks, then nods quickly.

Freyja says politely, "Thank you," and settles cross-legged on the chair. She thinks for a moment, then says slowly, "Well, I'd have to say that I can only give you suggestions that I can see. Vakkal or you may see other options that I've not realized." She gives Vakkal a slightly curious glance, remembering the big dog Sith asking her what she 'saw' when she first caught sight of Karrac... and wondering thoughtfully what Vakkal himself sees as well.

Vakkal doesn't have an immediate answer to Freyja's questioning glance. Karrac nods quietly, "All right. I'd... be interested in hearing them. Because... I know I can't go back to Khar Velos; I can't go back to the Empire... I don't know if I'll be allowed to leave the custody of the Republic but if I can..."

Freyja smiles, unsurprised at Vakkal's silence, and turns her gaze back to Karrac with a nod, "All right. Well, as far as I can see there are different, um... schools of Force users... with different factions within each school of thought. I think there are three main... 'flavors' of Force use -- Dark, or the Sith; Light, or the Jedi; and the Grays. It sounds like the Sith school of thought has been closed to you, at least as far as joining publicly with them, even if not in specific use of the Force... which would leave you either the Gray or the Light as potential, um... companions in life." She smiles a bit ruefully, "That is, at least, the, ah... 'high theory' version of what I'd see as feasible for you currently. I'd rather not mention particular details until you have a better idea of what it is you'd like to do."

She rests her chin in her hands and elbows on her knees, and asks curiously, "If you could do anything you wanted, what would you chose?"

Karrac sighs, closing his eyes. "I just want to live through this, really. I'm barely awakened to the Force, and I've just made it impossible for me to go back home."

Freyja is silent for a moment... then she spontaneously reaches out to rest her hand lightly on Karrac's arm. Her voice is sincere, "I'm sorry, Karrac."

Karrac looks a little surprised at the touch, but just shakes his head. "It... it wasn't your fault. It was mine. I made a mistake -- er, lots of mistakes... and I have to live with it now. Them now, that is."

Freyja nods, tucking her hand quietly back into her lap as she listens. She's glad to hear Karrac's ready to face the consequences of his actions... that should help him weather this upcoming thunderstorm in his life. The oddest thought drifts through her head, as the sheer size of the disaster Karrac's life has become registers to her... do people from Khar Velos ever need a hug? Do they ever cry?

Freyja hopes if they do... that Vakkal will feel he can get that hug from her. She's not sure, but she thinks Zero knows that already. Well... she hopes so. She sighs quietly, then pulls her thoughts to the present, "Well. Do you have any preferences on, um... potential options? Or any other questions?" She wonders idly if he's at all curious about Vakkal... apparently not. Then again, he was terrified not so long ago... so that's probably understandable.

Karrac bites his lip, then shakes his head. "I... I just don't know," he says quietly. "If the Republic and the Jedi even let me go, which I doubt, I... I just want to find a place to hide."

Freyja rests her chin in her hands, thinking for a while. She's not sure what to tell the poor guy at this point. Finally she says, "Well... while hiding may be a good idea sometimes... is it really what you want to do for the rest of your life?" She pauses, then asks curiously, "How long do you guys live ordinarily?"

Vakkal answers quietly, "We aren't as long-lived as Humans. Our natural lifespan is seventy, perhaps eighty standard years, compared to the Human norm of one hundred years. On the other hand, we carry our age slightly better."

Freyja nods her thanks to Vakkal, then turns to Karrac again with a smile, "Surely there's more to do for, what, fifty or so more years, than to hide? What are your dreams?"

Karrac shakes his head. "I wanted to go out and see what was out there, serve my nation and improve myself... but I can't do that anymore." The canid fidgets a little. "I'd like to live without living in fear. I know that Sith are supposed to be able to use fear... but I'm not much more than the lowest apprentice."

Freyja wonders with sudden curiosity if the Khar Velos natives that have left the planet ever regret not having children or mates... or is that particular drive not part of the culture? She makes a mental note to try to find out more later, if she ever gets a chance to peruse a Sith library or if Vakkal feels like talking comfortably with her... then smiles, her eyes warm with memory, "Live without fear... I can certainly understand that." She pauses, then quotes slowly,
"True love opens wounds
Emotion can strangle you...
But fear destroys all.
Look beneath the face
Of the one you would call 'foe'
Perhaps an ally?"

Karrac sighs quietly, and rests his head in his hands. "I know what you're saying," he says quietly. "And I want to believe that you're trying to help me, even if you are a Jedi. But what future do I have in the Republic? I'm a war criminal. A Force-awakened war criminal."

Freyja shakes her head and sighs, then unfolds her legs and stands, stepping quietly over to stand next to Karrac. If he does not flinch away, she gently puts her hands on each side of his head, firmly turning it so he's facing Vakkal. She says simply, "Think, Karrac."

Karrac blinks at the touch, then blinks again as Freyja makes him look at Vakkal. He almost tries to pull away, then stops. "I... I wanted to ask... but I couldn't... how is it that... that he's... the last I heard he was apprentice to Lord Ghang..."

Freyja smiles, "Can't know unless you ask. Even if he doesn't want to tell, you have to ask first to find that out." She doesn't let go, her hands holding his head firmly and gently.

Karrac swallows, then nods and takes a breath. Vakkal waits patiently, expressionless. There follows a conversation in the tongue of Khar Velos. It goes fairly quickly, and by the end Karrac seems... intrigued. He looks to Freyja. "How do you deal with the questions from the Republic? Or... or aren't there any?"

Freyja has released Karrac's head by now, although she does first lightly brush his fur back where her hands scruffed it up. She sits down next to Karrac and thinks, then replies slowly, "There have been, hai. I've been fortunate, oddly enough, in having a Seal put on the time period when Vakkal and I met, by the Jedi Order, which allowed me to say I couldn't say... and which has given me time to consider what I'd say when I couldn't dodge the question any more."

She grins, adding, "I'd tell the truth, of course." There's a note of quiet pride in her voice as she adds, "I'd say Vakkal is my Soulguard and huskarl of Haus Rigg. That is not up for debate." She remembers her angry outburst at her mother, and adds with great firmness, "-and if necessary we'll leave for someplace else, where we are welcome." She studies Vakkal for a silent moment... then smiles quietly. She's still tremendously honored that Vakkal chose to be her Soulguard. She finishes with, "My family takes this sort of thing... extremely seriously."

Karrac nods quietly. "I can understand that, I think. I... wish I was as fortunate." He frets a little, then shakes his head. "You're saying that there's hope, that I can survive this, without being sent to some Republic intelligence center?"

Freyja looks a bit puzzled, "How do you mean, fortunate?" She considers, swiftly doing a mental review as she waits for Karrac to explain. What is it exactly she wants this terrified kid to realize and do? Well... she first wanted to be sure he was willing to try to make things better -- that he realized his actions had consequences, and wasn't trying to blame everything but himself. He apparently did so. Then she wanted him to realize he had options open to him that he'd not realized -- like the Jedi and the Grays. He seemed to grasp that also. Now, she's unsure herself -- what would be best for him? What does he want? She doesn't know exactly, and she doesn't want to give him bad suggestions, based on her misunderstanding what he really wants and needs.

Slowly it hits her... he doesn't really seem to know either. Despite being of the third gate in the Oath, he's still barely an apprentice, probably a year or so out of Khar Velos. The world-view he's been given must be incredibly inaccurate... even less than that of a high schooler on her homeworld! He simply doesn't know the options that might be open to him. He doesn't really grasp what a Graysider is, or understand that alternative Force traditions exist. At best she'd guess he knows of them in passing -- the same way she knows there are different colors of ants!

Karrac fidgets a little. "To... have that opportunity, however it came about. To be able to survive capture by the Republic -- and more than that, to survive the Oath."

Freyja raises an eyebrow, wondering if that's the whole truth, then just puts that thought aside. Gently she points out, "Well, so far you have survived capture by the Republic, hai?"

Karrac looks just a little incredulous. "I'm... sitting inside a building guarded by Jedi. I'm... sorry, and this is not sarcasm, but is there less to the relationship between the Jedi and the Republic that I wasn't taught?"

Freyja parses that sentence, then looks a bit confused, "Er... pardon? Could you explain that, please? Maybe I misunderstood what you meant by 'survive'?"

Karrac sighs softly, then nods. "You're right. Padawan, my fear is that because of what I have been taught, because I am a Sith and have taken the Oath, that I will be made to disappear into the depths of a penitentiary for the Force- aware, or quietly killed."

Freyja blinks, "Oh! I understand now." She smiles, "I don't think that happens... at least not to my knowledge, which of course is not complete. However, I'd reiterate to you what I said before." She leans forward, staring directly at him to give her words as much strength as possible, because this is ultimately the best advice she can give him, "If you want something, ask for it. If you don't want to be killed, if you'd rather, um... say, if you'd rather get sent to some quiet monastery to learn more, or have a particular person in mind you'd trust yourself to, or something like that -- ask for it! You may not get it -- but if you never ask how can we even know what you'd like?"

Karrac nods quietly. "There is... nobody I know. But... I will think on it, and I'll... ask." He brightens a little. "Would they let me do that? Find a quiet, safe place to... to just learn more?"

Freyja says, "Maybe." She smiles, "Ask." She considers a moment, then adds cautiously, "I can offer you a name of someone... who might be of some help to you, if you wished?"

Karrac nods, this time very quickly. "Yes, please. I would... like that very much."

Freyja smiles, "All right. Paladin Dakkan. He's upside in Ark Nova... and he can speak the tongue of Khar Velos, although it's not easy for him."

Karrac blinks. "I've... heard some talk of him. I will try to ask to speak to him." He almost flattens himself as he bows to Freyja, his hands clasping his wrists. "Thank you," he says, quietly, an odd tone to his voice. "Thank you..."

Freyja says, "You're welcome, Karrac. I hope I could help some." She tilts her head curiously as Karrac bows, wondering at that odd tone. It's not one she's ever heard Vakkal use before... she'll have to ask later. For now, she simply says, "If you have any other questions, or anything else I can help with, ask for me, all right?"

Karrac keeps his head bowed. "Yes... yes, I will do that. I will remember. Thank you."

Freyja gives Vakkal a slightly puzzled glance -- is there some gesture she's supposed to make in reply? Vakkal glances to Freyja and shakes his head, then inclines his head to the door. Freyja nods, then rises to leave. At the door she simply says, "Good night, Karrac," and slips quietly out. However, once the door's closed behind her, she grins at Vakkal, "All right, I'm wild with curiosity -- what was he saying there, please?"

Vakkal takes a deep breath. "I've... never quite seen anyone -- of my species, that is -- so utterly broken up. The Human equivalent would be outright weeping, Freyja. He has something he didn't have fifteen minutes ago: hope... that he can live through this."

Freyja's eyes widen in startlement... then she says slowly, "I, uh... he does?" She considers a moment, then smiles with pleasure at Vakkal, "Good, then. I'm glad he does... and if I helped any, I'm happy I could do so." She starts walking with Vakkal towards the room the Jedi have kindly loaned them for the night. As she does so she says puzzledly, "So... is it wrong to... I don't know. Were he Human I'd have given him a hug. Is your species not touchy except when happy or something?"

Vakkal shakes his head. "No, we can be, uh, touchy, as you say. Sometimes, though, we don't like to be touchy when we're extremely upset."

Freyja nods thoughtfully, "All right." She smiles, looking up at Vakkal and adding, "Thank you for directing me right for that, then." Her grin gets mischievous as she adds, "So... what'd you say to him in your language, if you don't mind my asking?" She pauses, then adds more gravely, "Vakkal... I hope I helped; I hope I gave good advice. I didn't say anything obviously stupid for someone from Khar Velos, did I?"

Vakkal nods, "He asked me what my situation was; why I could walk freely. I told him that I was formerly of the Oath of Fire, that I survived, and now I was your huskarl -- your Soulguard. He asked if I feared the Oath, and I told him no -- the Oath holds no fear for me now, only loathing." He shakes his head. "You told him what he needed to hear. There was nothing taboo or stupid to my people that you told him, I assure you.

Freyja looks a bit relieved, "All right, good." She paces silently along with Vakkal for a bit, then looks at him and smiles warmly, "I'm glad you were along today. Thank you... for everything."

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Last modified: 2002-Jul-16 16:14:54

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