These Shattered Stars -- Logs

Back at the monastery, Freyja checks in with the patients in the infirmary. The apothecary had to sedate the Sith dog-like entity, as he had regained consciousness and was getting violent and incoherent. The Mandragolan is still unconscious and will be for the better part of the day. Once that is done, Roakkana calls for a meeting in the conference room, with Freyja and Quiet as well as Kalloss and Colburth. He begins it simply enough: "Does anyone have anything to say about what happened this morning?"

Freyja settles cross-legged in her seat and looks around with interest at the Jedi, deferring politely to them. She suspects Kalloss will be more in pain from the loss of the Jedi and the injury of the Twi'lek Jedi Guardian, since he knew them both longer than she did. Kalloss is extremely silent; it's hard to read Ithorian expressions, and he was never very talkative, but he apparently doesn't feel any urge to say much -- or rather anything at all, for that matter. Quiet says, "Only that we should rest while we can. Sadow's loyalists are still here and we've conveniently removed their competition." Freyja nods silently at Quiet's comment.

Colburth nods, "And it's safe to say that Methel-ssa will act like a typical Sith: stealthy, quiet, and hard to root out."

Roakkana nods, "True. It is also assured that finding the loyalist Sith and her surviving minions will not be as relatively easy -- or, I daresay, apocalyptically climactic. We may also be faced with the possibility that more Sith, either loyalist or Oath, may come to Marnaas."

Freyja sighs softly at that thought. She looks at her Jedi Master, then at Colburth, and wonders about trying to discuss this problem from a more strategic point of view... like why Jedi are deserting to the Sith in droves, apparently, and why the Templars are lying, and reflecting so poorly on the Jedi... and what's so terrible about the Bendu anyway. Quiet says, "It is a certainty. This is a war."

Colburth nods firmly in agreement with Quiet, as does Roakkana, "That it is. A curious and difficult one, at that, but a war nonetheless. The question is what is to be our next move in this war -- for Methel-ssa is surely planning her own, without the hindrance of the Oath of Fire." Freyja considers for another moment... then decides best to ask in private. Roakkana glances to Freyja, and smiles quietly, "Speak your mind, child, I wouldn't have asked you here to hold your tongue. This isn't a cloistered class, after all."

Freyja glances sideways at Colburth again, then says politely, "I... was wondering about a rumor I'd heard, Master Roakkana. It would seem the easiest way to win a war is to win over all of the other side to your cause. So... I was wondering why there seem to be Jedi being won over to the side of the Sith... but none the other way?"

The Wookie looks to Freyja thoughtfully, "That is a good question, child." He looks to Colburth. "Perhaps you can answer that question?" Freyja gives Colburth an interested look. Quiet holds his thoughts until Colburth can speak.

Colburth blinks, and looks around the table briefly. Then, with a resigned expression, he nods, "There've been... a few converts, from the Sith to the Jedi. They've been few and far between, though. Most Sith that have been taken in have been dissatisfied with the Hierarchy for some reason. The work has already been halfway done for us, in a way. It's my opinion -- and it's been sometimes ignored by my superiors -- that the Sith have active recruiting or proselytizing campaigns. They actively look for dissatisfied Jedi and win them over before the Order notices. Short of surgically attaching every padawan to their master and keeping every knight on a leash, there'll always be times -- no matter how minuscule -- when the Sith can seek to convert Jedi."

Freyja says curiously, "Why isn't the reverse true? And why are you reluctant to discuss this?" She wonders silently to herself if her previous thought was more correct than she'd realized -- and that Jiosch's comment about hypocritical Jedi was indeed based on modern experience, and not ancient grudges, as Colburth had immediately assumed.

"I don't have the exact numbers of Jedi converting to the Sith and of Sith converting to the Jedi. Nobody in the field does -- they're being kept in confidence by the Watchers and the Council." Colburth casts a glance to Freyja, his expression a little hard to read -- though his voice is wry, "I'm reluctant because I'm starting to wonder if there's not something more fundamental to the Order of concern here. I don't know why the Order hasn't tried active conversion of Sith, though I can't imagine it hasn't been proposed by people closer to the Council, no matter how unpopular the idea of the Sith actively recruiting from amongst Jedi is."

Freyja interestedly comes right back with, "What do you think the more fundamental something is, sir Knight?"

"That's what I'm still thinking upon."

Freyja opens her mouth to curiously ask further... then realizes Colburth probably isn't wild about being basically harassed in public by a Padawan, and politely shuts up. Quiet says, "Perhaps they're more interested in the expedient of neutralizing them, rather than investing in the expensive and chancy attempt to convert them. The Dark Side is, as they said many times, easier. What incentive have they to come back? It would be far easier to kill them." Freyja gives Quiet a rather startled look at the comment about those seduced by the Sith having no reason to return... but isn't sure how to answer that, considering who's in the infirmary.

Both Colburth and Roakkana -- and, though it's hard to tell, Kalloss -- look at Quiet. Colburth's face is a mask of confusion as he tries to parse the multiple meanings of what Quiet is saying, while Roakkana is eminently thoughtful. "Interesting," the Wookie murmurs. "While hardly something the Council would even acknowledge as being right or wrong, it's an intriguing consideration."

Kalloss speaks up then, turning his huge head to the Wookie, "Master Roakkana, perhaps such a thing would best be debated amongst masters-"

"Not at all, Jedi Kalloss." The Wookie gestures to the table, "You are all likely tomorrow's masters yourselves... if this war does not claim us all first." He thinks for a moment. "Is there any way we can consider this in terms of Marnaas? Should we attempt some means of reaching out to the Sith?"

Colburth shakes his head, though not with finality, "I do not believe so, Master. They have a Sith Lord. No Sith Lord -- or Jedi Master, for that matter -- has ever converted." Honestly, he adds, "That we know of, at least."

Freyja considers for a moment, then asks a leading question of Colburth, watching him carefully for his reaction, "Would the Bendu suggest the Jedi reaching out to the Sith?"

Colburth frowns in confusion to Freyja, "The Bendu? I wouldn't know, Padawan Freyja. I never studied the Bendu."

Roakkana makes a quiet sound almost like a Wookie cough, but says nothing. Quiet says, "I don't think it viable. We are too few, and the Sith too strong. They will be seeking to strike at us while we are still weakened from battling the Oath for them. Again... what reason would Sadow's loyalists have for abandoning their cause now, when they have a ripe opportunity in front of them?"

Roakkana looks to Quiet thoughtfully, even as Colburth (with some relief) turns to the troubleshooter, "Er, yes, there's no reason to think that the Sith won't start to take advantage of the state we're in, and the lack of any competition. They will likely begin to step up their operations. Methel-ssa has a number of options open to her, and will likely pursue several of them at once: she may attempt to suborn the local government, sabotage local confidence in the Jedi as a whole, attempt to convert Jedi from the monastery-"

Freyja just watches Colburth quietly. She finally sighs softly, perhaps in disappointment, and simply says, "If I may ask, what caused you to look so sharply at Master Roakkana when he was speaking softly in Bay 18, Jedi Colburth?"

He breaks off at Freyja's point-blank question, blinking to her. Freyja just looks with quietly calm interest at him. Roakkana is studiously quiet, while Colburth's brow furrows. Then he remembers, and sighs, "Padawan Freyja... recognizing the words used by an ancient religion is different from knowing how members of that religion would think and act and recommend. Oghan is a few weeks' travel from here. Going there and asking the Bendu themselves might be easier-"

"I think that's quite enough." Roakkana's voice is no louder than it usually is, though there is the undertone that will brook no argument.

Colburth flushes and ducks his head, then stands. "With your permission, Master," he says, sounding chagrined, "I will go and walk the perimeter to check on the monastery's security net."

When the Wookie speaks, it's with some of the usual humor, "In the military parlance found in the commanderies, Jedi Colburth, 'denied.' We need to determine what our next actions will be... and unlike the Oath of Fire, the loyalist Sith are somewhat more unlikely to mount an all-out attack on the monastery... as you pointed out." Colburth sits down then, hurriedly and with a slightly pained expression. Freyja looks a bit... confused, but remains polite and alert looking. She glances at the Wookie... then turns hopefully back to the Human, hoping her question will really get answered this time.

Roakkana folds his large hands, "Now, then. I think it's clear that without knowing more about the loyalist Sith, we will be at a disadvantage. Not having personal experience with Lord Methel-ssa -- none of us save for Dhaasul, that is -- we do not know how she thinks. On the other hand, she has had time to study and question the Mandragolan siblings extensively about the personalities here. I recommend that we contact both the Watchers on Coruscant as well as the Academy, and see if they can tell us anything about Methel-ssa; if anyone has reported contact with her."

Kalloss says, "I will take care of that, Master. I may be able to ask some of the monasteries and commanderies elsewhere."

"Excellent. Jedi Colburth, you mentioned that you had concerns about the planet's security and sensor network, and their customs personnel."

"Er... I said that I could have been mistaken about them being-"

"Solidify your thoughts, and later today tell us specifically what they are."

"I... yes, Master."

Quiet says, "We have one small advantage thus far."

Roakkana looks to Quiet. "Yes, Zero?"

Quiet says, "Thus far, the Sith presence is concentrated in a single Lord and a few of her followers. They have not yet insinuated themselves into the planet at large. The possibility exists that we may still strike them before they manage to take root in positions of power on the planet."

Freyja feels faintly guilty. She didn't mean to get Colburth into trouble... just to think a little, perhaps. She gives him a sympathetic glance, then turns to the Wookie and says softly, "May I try talking to Dhaasul before he's um... debriefed, Master Roakkana?"

Roakkana nods to Quiet, "From what I know of the Sith, they are patient in that regard... when they are pursuing their goals. I can't imagine Methel-ssa will want to suborn the world in any way other than perfectly, if that is her option. Thus, she will be taking her time. We have that time to at the very least disrupt them, and prevent Methel-ssa from receiving any more support by breaking whatever line of transport leads onto Marnaas."

Then he nods to Freyja, "Yes, please, child. I have hopes he may be redeemed. As it is, it will be several weeks before the Watchers will be able to send any sort of secure transport to bring him, Talmon, and the Sith back to Coruscant. I would like to somehow have this resolved before the Watchers decide that what Marnaas needs is many, many more Jedi here." Almost imperceptibly, his eyes flick to Colburth. the Human knight nods once. Roakkana stands, "Now. If there is nothing more to be done, Jedi Kalloss, Jedi Colburth, please attend to your duties. I will be available if you need me, as will Master Mynas." The two knights nod and step outside the conference room, the door closing behind them.

Freyja waits until they're gone, then says politely, "Thank you, Master Roakkana. So... may I ask you instead, then, what it was you said in Bay 18 that was so disturbing to Jedi Colburth?"

Quiet watches the others go, "Is there more?"

Roakkana lets out a breath, and sits back down. "Some, Quiet, yes. For both you and Freyja. I have something important which I need you both to take care of. Child, I said an old Bendu invocation for sanity and order in a chaotic universe, and a word in that prayer is 'Ashla,' which means 'light above' or 'light' or 'above' in Oghanan. As I mentioned to Quiet before, I seem to be getting old, and am not keeping my voice down well enough. 'Ashla' is recognized by many whose jobs involve concerns of heresy and apostasy within the Order, as Templars often must do." He chuckles quietly, "Though I doubt it did much more than confirm to Jedi Colburth that my views of the Force are anything but strictly orthodox."

"Oh... that reminds me." Freyja relates her conversation with the Templar, including her warning to him that he should not tell her anything he didn't want her Master to know, and the interrupted discussion about the nature of both truth and honor... then gives the Wookie a troubled look, "I... was very disturbed to hear what the Templars were doing, Master Roakkana. I know you already know, but... well, I thought you should hear it too."

Roakkana nods to Freyja, losing none of his humor, "Yes, I fear my own views of the Force have not made me very many friends." He sobers, "My only regret is that this stigma will fall onto you -- and possibly Quiet, as well." He shakes his head, "The matter of the Templars is troubling, yes. Entire commanderies of Templars is something that the Supreme Chancellor specifically warned the Order about, so long ago." He smiles a bit, "Far be it from me to tell you to be careful, child. All I would say is for you to remember that it will not be me administering your trials when it comes time for you to assume knighthood. Though that isn't something to necessarily worry about now -- or at all, if I know you, my padawan. The truth will come out eventually, child. In the meantime, I think you've given quite a head-full for Templar Colburth to think about...."

Freyja nods quietly to the Wookie, then says firmly, "I will continue to be careful, Master Roakkana. What is it you wish Quiet and myself to do?"

Quiet simply says, "Stigma is not a concern of mine. What others think is not my problem."

Roakkana looks to the two for a moment, then smiles slowly, "Good. I'm glad to hear that from both of you. What I need you to do is investigate how the Sith came on-world. Colburth will tell you his suspicions, but I need for you both to ask questions and get answers. I'm reasonably confident that you will not need to be concerned with direct action by the Sith yet. Methel-ssa will act like most Sith would: quietly, behind the scenes, not acting directly just yet. Though that will possibly be soon, depending on what we learn from the Academy."

Freyja nods slowly. "I'm... not sure how good I am at investigating rather than just watching, Master... but I'll try." She looks curiously at Quiet, "Do you know how to investigate stuff like this?"

Quiet says, "I have a few suspicions... and simply invoking the name 'Jedi' around the Republic military may gain us some limited access."

Roakkana rumbles, "I need you to, Freyja, and I know you can do it. If your tenacity with wanting to drag the truth all but bodily from Jedi Colburth is any example, you will do well. You will have Colburth's leads. You already do have the authority of the Jedi, and if I remember correctly, Quiet, you have Senator Kalatis' limited seal, which will give you some authority. This is his sector, after all. "

Freyja nods thoughtfully, "All right. Let's give it our best shot, then. Although... I'd like to talk to the people in the infirmary first, if that's all right." She grins a little sheepishly.

Roakkana rumbles, "Yes, please do, Freyja. They may also be a good source of leads. Though... considering that the apothecary had to sedate the Sith again, do be careful."

Freyja nods, "Well... I don't think the dog-Sith will volunteer anything. I was more interested in Jiosch, Talmon, and Valsha."

Roakkana nods, "All right. I will leave it to your discretion then, as to where you will begin. By the evening meal Colburth should have the information for you."

"Good. We'll have an idea on where to start, then." Freyja rises and bows politely, "Unless you have more for us, Master Roakkana, I'll go start in the infirmary?"

The monastery's infirmary is a small place. Jedi are normally a very healthy lot, and the role of apothecary is usually a secondary one, filled by a healer who's on their first tour out of the Academy. The room itself is about six by ten meters, and like most of the rooms of the monastery is made of some old-hewn stone with wood paneling, with three somewhat comfortable beds along two walls. The apothecary has brought in cots for Valsha and Kuuna, who are physically the least wounded. The third wall, and the wall with the doorway, have cabinets with multiple tiny drawers, and a large rack of a variety of medicines and herbs -- some native to Marnaas, others brought in from across the sector.

The apothecary notes to Freyja and Quiet that Kuuna is still unconscious and he has no idea how to bring her out. He is going to ask permission to contact the Academy to find out what's wrong with the monastery's guardian. Valsha is resting, and Jiosch and the Sith-dog are still out, with no hint as to when they'll be awake. The Mandragolan, though, is showing signs of coming round. Freyja paces in quietly and greets the apothecary politely. She nods as the apothecary speaks, collecting her cloak now that Kuuna is neatly tucked into a bed to recover. She pauses by each person to see how they're doing... Kuuna first. She lays a hand quietly on the Twi'lek's forehead and whispers a small benediction for the monastery's Guardian.

The guardian makes no response, remaining the same: while resting, she twitches now and then -- either a finger, or a foot, or a head-tail. Freyja gently strokes the woman's head-tails, whispering, "Be well soon, Guardian, please. My Master has need of you, and I would see you well also." Valsha is next. Freyja smiles at the girl, murmuring softly, "Hello, my friend. How're you feeling? Better, I hope?"

Valsha looks up at Freyja with her large, startling, silver-irised eyes. "...Fine...." she says softly. She's a few years younger than Freyja, and still seems a bit dazed, "I'm... sorry for trying to hurt you, Padawan Freyja."

Freyja smiles again, "Don't worry about it; no hard was done. You were startled." She grins cheerfully, "We just have to make sure you're not startled again, hai?"

Valsha smiles a little, "Master Mynas was in earlier. He said I shouldn't worry, that there's nothing to scare me here." She looks over at the supine Sith-dog, and her smile fades, "Vakkan is scary, though, when I hear his thoughts."

Freyja looks suddenly fascinated, "Valsha... you hear his thoughts?" She sits down on the edge of the bed, unwittingly echoing her own Master as she gently takes the girl's hand, "Don't be afraid, child... you can help people with a wonderful ability like that. Consider... does Vakkan know how to heal, or wake up, the monastery Guardian?"

Valsha nods quietly once, at the question, "I'll try not to be, Padawan Freyja... and that's what Master Mynas told me too -- that I would be a wonderful healer. Jedi Jiosch told me that, too."

Freyja smiles a bit ruefully, squeezing the girl's hand gently, "I envy you that. I can't sense that." She pauses -- interesting, so Jiosch only recently turned? -then gently adds, "Does Vakkan know how to heal Kuuna, Valsha?"

Valsha looks to the Sith, and makes a bit of a face, shaking her head, "He never knew how to heal anything, and that makes him mad."

"Really?" There's a small note of pity in Freyja's voice, "Only to destroy? Poor thing... no wonder he hurts. Did no one ever teach him?"

Valsha shudders a little, "They tried. He tried. It never worked. He got more angry when he couldn't."

Freyja nods, "All right. Well, maybe some Jedi healers can help him, instead of Sith ones." She touches the girl's face lightly, "Valsha... don't listen to his thoughts any more. Put up a personal shield."

Valsha nods quietly and soberly to Freyja, "All right."

Freyja moves to the dog Sith, Vakkan, and gives him a gently whispered benediction and best wishes for the Jedi being able to sooth his madness. Jiosch is next, and she regards him with quiet fascination. She hopes to talk to him about hypocritical Jedi, if she can, when he awakens. She touches his forehead lightly and murmurs a benediction for him also. Jiosch is also unconscious, and makes no reaction. Which isn't surprising considering that most of his chest is buried beneath bacta packs. Freyja stops by Talmon's bed also, to see how the young man is doing... or if he's even awake. She belts her cloak on around her in the usual fashion again, camouflaging her slender form.

Talmon is awake, reading a hardcopy book in the Trandoshan style -- that is, a book opened vertically and read bottom-to-top -- and looks up as Freyja approaches his bed, "Oh, good morning, Padawan Freyja. Master Mynas said that you had come back from the spaceport after... meeting Qatto Verg." He glances at Jiosch and Valsha, "And found what you were looking for."

Freyja smiles, "I'm glad to see you're feeling better, Talmon. So... have you made any decisions yet on what you want?" Her tone is very gently teasing.

He closes the book, settling it on his chest and folding his hands over it, "No, none. As I said, I don't think I'll have a choice. Since the Sith didn't destroy the monastery, it will be for the tribunal to decide what will happen to me."

Freyja studies the Trandoshan a little sadly, then says quietly, "You always have a choice, Talmon." She sighs softly, then adds, "If Jedi Colburth wanted to talk to you, would you see him?"

Talmon nods, "I know... and I choose to stay with the Order and accept the punishment and atonement I am to receive." He shakes his head, "Running isn't the answer. Neither is, well, just throwing in with the Sith again. That won't help me any." He blinks and eyes Freyja warily, "It would depend about what. Under the Protocols, I don't have to answer any questions until the tribunal proper, and I don't think I'd want him sitting on my tribunal."

Freyja brightens noticeably, "Then you have made a choice, Talmon." She smiles, touching his folded hands lightly, "For what it's worth, I think it's the best one. And... Colburth might surprise you." She grins.

Talmon looks dubious, then nods a little, "Thank you Padawan Freyja... and I don't know if it's tiredness or what, but if he wants to talk with me, he may."

Freyja grins, "Good for you." She adds sincerely, "May the Force be with you, Talmon," before she moves quietly away from his bed.

"And also with you, Freyja...."

Freyja smiles warmly over her shoulder at Talmon, then goes finally to stand by the Mandragolan's bed. She studies the reptilian form thoughtfully, then gently touches his forehead and starts the benediction again. Maybe that will help him wake up calmly. The Mandragolan twitches a little at the touch, blearily coming conscious as he slowly opens his eye, "What... oh. It's you. The Jedi healer."

Freyja grins, "Well... no. Just a Padawan Humanling." Her tone is gently teasing again, not sarcastic, "How are you feeling?"

Dhaasul grimaces a little, "Like a sarlaac's been chewing on me. I know I told you not to help me... but thank you."

Freyja looks a bit puzzled, "Why would we not help you, Dhaasul? You came to us almost dead... it would have been wrong not to."

Dhaasul grimaces with the effort of talking. "I didn't say you wouldn't," he says easily. "I wasn't a Jedi all that long ago."

Freyja says curiously, "Why did you change? Did you find no honor in being a Jedi?"

Dhaasul sighs, "My sister didn't, no -- and I refused to let her make the journey into darkness alone. There was more honor in doing that than forsaking her like the Order would."

Freyja says, "Will you return now to the Order, now that your sister has found her own honor?"

Dhassul is quiet for a moment. "She has, hasn't she," he muses. "She fought like a devil. If the little Oather Human hadn't so completely fried her, she would have fought on no matter how much Verg cut her, and would have gone on even after her body died...." He shakes his head, "I did not expect to survive. Methel-ssa and I both knew I was dying. But someone had to tell you what had happened, which is why I came here...." He's quiet for a moment. "You're going to be going after her next, aren't you?"

Freyja says, "Methel-ssa?" She considers for a long, quiet moment, then says quietly, "We kind of have to, don't we?" She is internally suddenly very glad she moved Valsha's hands aside as promptly as she did. She doesn't want to die yet.

Dhassul closes his eyes, and nods. "It's what you have to do," he says simply.

Freyja says gently, "Do you care for her?"

"Methel-ssa? Yes. In a way. Or at least, I came to. I had heard Sith Lords can be capricious, willful, capable of killing only on a whim. Methel-ssa is all that, but there is an element of control and discipline. Patience. Even honor. That is a truism I've seen, at least of her -- and, from what I can tell, of other Sith Lords. If they have nothing else, they have their word, as miserly as they are with it. They are true to their goals and true to themselves, as fractious as they are. There was never any doubt that Methel-ssa and Qatto Verg would try to destroy each other, even when they first met in parley for this world and it was cordial. They did not use honeyed words with each other."

Freyja thinks for a moment, then says slowly, "Where does your path now lie, Dhaasul? With the Sith, or with the Jedi?" She touches the Force lightly as she asks her question, wondering if the Mandragolan will try honesty or not with her.

From across the room, though the Mandragolan can't see him, Talmon has his attention perked in that direction. Dhaasul shakes his head, "Until not long ago, I hadn't even thought I'd be alive to decide. Padawan, in the Sith under Methel-ssa I found honesty -- a brutal honesty, but honestly nonetheless. Methel-ssa told you when she was upset, and she made her displeasure known. There was no talk about heresy or apostasy. You were Sith or you were not. The Sith don't care about how you do something, as long as it is done. I could pray to a thousand darkside gods and claim my power came from them and not the Force within, and all that would be done, if I did my work well, would be some derision behind my back from those who feared me. As long as I was Sith, and held that title with honor and power against any who would try to take it away from me, it did not matter. That sort of feeling... is very, very attractive, Padawan. I do not think I would be able to return to the Order after living like that, unless...." Freyja nods, listening with silent intensity. He shakes his head. "Unless... the Order changed dramatically in the weeks I have been absent from it."

Freyja smiles slowly, a touch of rue in her voice, "I suppose we shall see." She slides one of her hands gently over one of his, "So... would you like to say a benediction together for your sister?"

Dhassul opens his eye, blinking and frowning slightly, "A benediction to whom?"

Freyja thinks a moment, considering... then smiles, "A koan to her spirit's peaceful passing, perhaps?" She intones the first line of the koan that helped Valsha, then adds, "You know that one, yes?"

The Mandragolan thinks, and nods a little, "Yes, I do. Though she took pride in her... violent passing, that she might find rest now would not be unfitting."

Freyja smiles. She slowly intones the koan with the bereaved Mandragolan, then falls silent. A moment later she says quietly, "You know... if you thought the Order should change to a more open and honest form... maybe you should talk to my Master Roakkana. He would listen, I think." She rises and nods politely to Dhassul, "Thank you for speaking with me," then leaves quietly. She has much to report to her Master.

A little later Roakkana calls Quiet and Freyja to his quarters. The door is open there, and as the two arrive, Colburth is waiting with the Wookie, standing straight but not stiffly so, a neutral expression on his face. Freyja is her usual quietly smiling self. She wonders if Colburth's upset with her. In a way, she supposes, he has a right to be... she was a little careless about where she was asking some of her questions. Quiet says, "Roakkana. Colburth."

Colburth only nods. Roakkana is more verbose, "Ah, good. Colburth, please begin."

The Templar starts without preamble, "I've compiled my notes and thoughts on Marnaas's security. The primary concern was the sensor net. Marnaas achieves one hundred percent coverage through a network of sensor satellites. These satellites are fairly typical for a Colony world. Some go down occasionally, but there's always ways to move other satellites in place to maintain coverage. The weak link in this is in the monitoring stations. There are three: a primary and two backups which are not normally manned or linked into the system. The primary center is at the spaceport."

"The Lindecrantz and the other cruisers provide some additional security. One cruiser is always on-station in orbit; the others tend to remain at the naval base on Marnaas's moon. They try to arrange the orbits so that military sensors are pointed at one hundred percent of Marnaas's orbital space at all times. This doesn't always happen, there are some windows which can be very roughly predicted, depending upon the rotation schedule for the cruisers.

"The spaceport is the primary settlement on Marnaas. There are a number of smaller outlying settlements but all local government functions are handled here. Any ship landing on Marnaas without a special permit needs to land here and is subject to customs inspections. The special permits are only given to residents of the outlying settlements." He pauses for breath.

Freyja makes mental notes: got to check the monitoring stations... and find out the cruiser windows, then. Quiet says, "Go on."

Colburth continues, "Now, my concern here is the customs inspectors themselves. There are twenty, enough to cover the usual traffic. A ship is not permitted to offload or even open up until it is inspected, and is guarded by droids and police until it is, but they are permitted to land. There are a few... discrepancies in the customs logs that I've been allowed to see, but nothing I had the authority to pursue further. These discrepancies are pretty common in worlds that have been fairly lax, and since Master Hul-Shan was killed these discrepancies disappeared -- typical of a customs department getting its act together in the wake of an 'incident.'

"The discrepancies are relatively small things: some evidence of contraband being slipped in, 'small packages trade,' and such -- minor things that one finds often enough... usually for bootleg vids or the occasional Kessel spice packet. One inspector was covered for by his fellow inspectors when he was absent from work, and his signature falsified. The superintendent of customs noted that she had to do some inspections herself due to shortage of manpower, and some discrepancies were bureaucratic mess-ups that she takes responsibility for, for not being able to devote all her time to back-office paperwork." Colburth takes a breath. "That's what I've found in my time here. As I said, I didn't have the authority to take it any further." He makes a bit of a sour face, "Not as a knight visiting the monastery, that is."

Freyja wonders puzzledly if she'll be able to find out anything more, then. How could a Padawan, even of the monastery's Master, outrank a Knight? Roakkana nods quietly. "I've spoken with the governor of Marnaas. He's told me that we will be given every courtesy in investigation of this issue. You two might also wish to contact the military. I think between Kalatis' seal and the support of the governor, you will be able to have a few more doors opened up."

Freyja nods, "That will probably be necessary, yes." She thinks, then says, "Where are the two non-primary monitoring stations, please, Knight Colburth?"

Colburth looks to Freyja, "One is located beneath the governor's residence. They use it as a planetary operations command center in emergencies. I think because it has a lot of fancy displays and blinking lights that look good for them to be fussing over on the vids." Freyja covers a grin at Colburth's blunt commentary. "The other is about fifty kilometers north and half a kilometer underground, at an undisclosed location that the government operates in conjunction with the military."

Freyja nods, "All right." She glances at Quiet, "Do you think we should check them out?"

Quiet says, "We'll have to. We lack the manpower to cover these sensor windows alone. Unless the military will help us, or unless someone can acquire a starfighter for me, it's our only option."

Freyja nods, and looks back at the Wookie and the Human Jedi, "Can we? What's arrangeable?"

Roakkana says, "You're certainly welcome to use the Starbird, and the military might be able to help as well. It's at your discretion. I will see if I can get the governor to let you into those areas."

Freyja nods, "All right, thank you, Master Roakkana." She looks back at Quiet, "What else do we need to get or check?"

Quiet says, "We'll continue to deal with that for now. If these leads turn up nothing, we'll deal with the customs officials next."

Freyja nods again, then looks back at Colburth, "Is there anything else we should know?"

Colburth thinks for a moment, then shakes his head, "Only to be careful. Keep in contact with Master Roakkana constantly. Even while I'm working here, I can be in the city in less than fifteen minutes if I break a few laws, and if you two are in trouble, I will break them. If something happens, or if you think you're getting close... er, just be careful."

"All right." Freyja smiles, appreciating Colburth's care, then looks at the Wookie next, "Master Roakkana, may I talk to you for a moment before Quiet and I go?"

Quiet says, "I'll go warm up the speeder."

Roakkana nods. Colburth takes his leave, leaving the room to the Master, the padawan, and the troubleshooter. "What's bothering you, child?"

Freyja grins at Quiet, but waits for Colburth to leave before she describes her conversation with Valsha about the maddened Vakkan, who so desperately wanted to heal, apparently... and her conversation with the Mandragolan. Once she's done, she adds a bit wistfully, "Jiosch mentioned hypocritical Jedi too, and I don't believe any more that he was referring to some dim, misty past. Master Roakkana... why does honesty seem to be becoming so rare amongst the Jedi, please? Is there a way to change them back?"

Roakkana shakes his head, looking suddenly very tired, "The Order grew, child. It went from a band of disparate individuals to a single, unified organization, still made up of often disparate individuals, devoted towards preservation of everything they held as right and good. Then they undertook the additional task of being the Republic's plenipotentiaries and peacekeepers. We are now an order numbering millions of beings, united in a single purpose. And, as always happens to such a group, politics comes into play. To be a master in the Temple is to have a number of projects and concerns -- some of them personal, some of importance to the Order as a whole. In all this, concessions and compromises must be made in the pursuit of these projects, and one's beliefs are as much a point of contention as one's actions.

"I have no doubt that all of the masters of the Order have the best of intentions for the Order and the Republic in mind. Unfortunately, with disparate beings conflicts of interest come into being, and certain viewpoints come into and out of favor. As for your very apparent concern with honesty amongst the members of the Order, there are things that the Sith agents cannot be permitted to know. There are things that are embarrassments. And there are things that one does not tell others for fear of such things being used against them, to discredit them and ruin their reputation, such that they will not be able to ever do any good for the Order, ever again."

Freyja's voice is faintly startled, faintly incredulous, "Do the Order members really believe the Sith don't know these things, considering how many Jedi have turned away because of them?"

"They hope, child. No doubt many projects have been compromised to the Sith... and yet, there are secrets still. I do not think the Sith know about the Templars, yet." He becomes thoughtful, "Though you did say that Talmon knew Colburth was a Templar..."

Freyja nods, "I suspect Colburth will try to find out how." She smiles faintly, "If he's smart, he'll apologize first."

"I imagine of more concern to Jedi Colburth is if the Sith of the Oath of Fire informed anyone else. Even so, there are, I am sure, other secrets within the Order. For example, does it bother you that the Watchers do not reveal their sources of information?"

Freyja thinks a moment, then says frankly, "I was worrying about just one problem at a time, Master. Hopefully if some of the problems can be fixed, there will be a snowball effect... and later problems will be more easily fixed as a consequence."

Roakkana nods quietly. He looks down, thinking, then up at her, "I hope you are right, child. Let me ask you this, however: what is the goal of Truth?"

Freyja frowns thoughtfully and considers for a while... that's a hard one. She finally says haltingly, "To... to just be. It is something to aspire to... a part of the balance, like light or dark...? No... no, it's more like a goal, I think. A... a center, yes, that both light and dark are within?"

"So Truth is in dependant of the Light side or the Dark side?"

Freyja bites her lip gently, considering... then says slowly, "I think so, Master... but I am not sure."

Roakkana says gently, "This is a hard topic to broach, child. I fear we live in times where the Order is changing dramatically. Allow me to ask you this, then: what is deceit?"

Freyja thinks again for a long moment, then says slowly, "An intention to fool someone else... to lie to them. I... think it is wrong. It certainly seems to be a commonly used tool of the Sith."

Roakkana rumbles, "What about in use against the Sith, to keep something from them? Or if you know that someone's life will be unpleasantly changed if certain people found out something? Say the Watchers have someone within a Sith battalion, and are receiving information as to where that battalion is going to strike next. Truth demands that no such operation be even undertaken... and yet, in the pursuit of that deceit, the Sith offensive can be blunted -- maybe even stopped."

Freyja says slowly, "I do not know if I understand your example, but I would then ask... where does it stop, Master Roakkana? When has there been 'enough' deceit? And once deceit is the norm between allies... how can they trust each other any more? The Templars have broken their word and leave the Temple, and someday everyone will know that the Jedi cannot be trusted. Even the Jedi will not know whom to trust amongst themselves... we have that already, I fear." She adds simply, "Um... actually, I'm sure I don't understand the example, Master. I'm sorry."

Roakkana sighs quietly and nods, "That's... all right, child. You are right. Deceit feeds upon itself, and there never seems to be any end of it... for whatever reason." He smiles quietly, "Well. Be assured that right now you are looking for the truth -- the truth of how the Sith came to this world -- in hopes that we can prevent them from doing it again, and denying Methel-ssa reinforcements."

Freyja studies her Master for a long, silent moment, then says with painful slowness, "What. You asked me for a reason." She has a horrible internal moment of panic, as if she'd failed some critical test... and now Roakkana is bitterly disappointed in her.

Roakkana sighs and stands, "Child... which is better, when the way someone lives their life is possibly at stake: the Truth unsaid, or deceit?"

"Oh." Freyja considers, then says firmly, "To save the life of a friend from a murderer -- I'd lie. That's easy."

He nods quietly, "That is when a life itself is at risk. What about to save a friend from a life that he might not wish for himself? Keep in mind, child, this is not the dialectics of the Praxeum. I am not seeking some incontrovertible axiom which you have been told. I am asking what you feel."

Freyja nods, looking thoughtfully puzzled, "Can you, um... explain a bit more, please? Are you asking if I'd lie to the friend? Wouldn't it be more effective to show them the consequences of their actions than to deceive them?"

"Actually... well. Perhaps that is close. You know the ways that the Order recruits its members. We ask, and the gifted being must join of his own free will. What if that being refuses to join the Order?"

Freyja looks a bit startled, "Er... why in the Force would they do that?!" Her tone is quite sincere. She can't imagine why someone would refuse to learn of the power within them.

Roakkana rumbles, "Perhaps they feel the Order is hypocritical. Perhaps they do not agree with the orthodox teachings and dogma of the Order. Perhaps they wish to retain some choice of what they do with their life. They are disturbed by their gift, but wish to control it without subsuming themselves into the culture of the Jedi Order."

"Oh." Freyja sounds embarrassed, "Sorry... I forgot. So... who would I be ly- uhh..." Her gaze gets far away, and then she lights up, "Oh! Did Quiet talk to you then?!"

Roakkana shakes his head, "No need to be, child. What-" He blinks. Slowly. He starts to make a soft, chuffing sound, then slowly sits down, the chuffing increasing. Freyja soon realizes it's the Wookie's laugh, "Oh, my. Oh, you never cease to amaze me, child. Yes. Yes, he did." Then, a little more soberly, "You understand the dilemma, then?"

Freyja beams at the chuffing -- she hears it so rarely; it's nice -- then shakes her head, "No, not really, Master, I'm sorry. Are you saying I shouldn't tell anyone that we're helping him? That's easy." She says pragmatically, "It's silly to get Quiet into trouble when he wants to change." She adds curiously, "Did you know there's something inside him that's hurting, that he's smashing down? I don't know what it is, but I think it has something to do with how he got scarred." A little wistfully, "Can you help him with that? I don't think he'll let me."

Roakkana looks much more at ease now, and less tense, "Child, I was afraid to even tell you. I agree with you: truth and honesty are so very precious, and deceit piles upon deceit. It may be the thing that will make us falter the most before the Sith. But as a living, thinking, moral being I cannot let Quiet suffer because of his gift. It is such a rare gift that it needs cultivation, if for no other reason than that if it is left alone it will become just another beacon for the Sith. At the same time, I cannot and would not force him to join the Order. So, though you have guessed, I have resolved to help him -- train him, and not tell the Order that I am doing so. They would not approve anyway, as they would want to give him to a master who is seeking a padawan, and who is not already training one."

The Wookie leans over and sets his cane down against the wall, "His is a story of survival, child. It has forged him into the person he is now. When one discovers that one has the gift of awareness in the Force, it can often be overpowering and bring reflection." He looks up wryly, "Some of what we call 'wounds' aren't wounds at all, but the shapings of the smith's hammer... and some of what we might call 'character traits' are the deepest wounds of all. As you know, the training process takes a long time for good reason. Each of us has issues with the universe that are resolved in one way or another. Few speak of it, but the padawan-learner system is as much for masters as it is for padawans, as both master and padawan learn of themselves from the other. You have learned of the issues you have carried regarding your family of wealth and power. So too, with every padawan I have trained, I have learned something more about myself. With you, it was a deeper understanding for a need for balance that seems to have gone out of fashion amongst other Jedi several thousand years ago."

Freyja looks puzzled, "But... there are Masters with more than one Padawan. Why not you?" She looks fascinated as she rolls a new concept around in her head. Her being around helps her Master? What a lovely thing! She's greatly pleased to hear she's useful too, in more senses than just being someone to fetch and carry.

Roakkana's smile is at the same time sad, wry, and rueful, "Come now, child. I'm not a very popular person in the circles of the Temple. You know this."

"Oh." Freyja looks a bit embarrassed again, "I... I'm sorry, Master. But..." she pauses, then says consideringly, "I do think Quiet trusts you more than he would some stranger Master. I'll help if I can."

Roakkana rumbles, "No need to apologize, child. I dread the day when you accept such things blandly."

Freyja frowns, "I'd rather not accept things like that blandly, Master. I think it's wrong to punish someone, however non-verbally, for being honest with no intent to harm."

Roakkana nods, "As do I... though there are many who have varying definitions of 'intent to harm.' We can talk more of this later, however. For the time being, you and Quiet need to ask some questions and get some answers. Myself... I will try to scry where we might find Lord Methel-ssa."

Freyja nods, "Of course." She turns to go, then pauses and flashes a shy grin over her shoulder, "Um... thank you, sir..." then hastily leaves, a slightly gabbled, "MaytheForcebewithyou!" trailing over her shoulder.

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

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