These Shattered Stars -- Logs

The next day comes, and for once the cloud cover and fog has cleared enough to let some light down on the little Mos. Fengwu arrives not too long before the usual breakfast hour, and the Mos is filled with the sounds of moving equipment, people, speeders, and ground vehicles... apparently some heavy equipment has been ordered from nearby systems to help rebuild, and the first of it is trickling in today.

Zero stretches a bit, coming down the ramp. He brushes a hand through his short hair and waves. "Sah, Fengwu. Morning."

Freyja is sitting on the edge of the ship's ramp, swinging her legs as she brushes her hair. She's watching with interest to see the heavy equipment go by. She grins and waves at Fengwu as the young girl approaches, "Heiyo, Fengwu!"

Fengwu smiles and bows as she arrives. "Good morning Freyja, Zero. How are you this morning?"

Zero has left his broad-sleeved shirt open, scratching his chest absently and yawning. "Can't get used to this weather," he mutters, "Makes me want to sleep all the time." Partly to himself, he murmurs, "And in terrible places..." He grins a little and addresses Fengwu properly, "Well enough. Glad it's stayed quiet. How's your father?"

Freyja glances up at Zero with a faintly amused look, then smiles at the Sedraki girl, "Very well, thank you. How're you?"

Fengwu says, "He's doing much better, thank you! He was able to be up and around yesterday. Also, before I left this morning one of Ameil's people came by and removed the implants, and later today they'll be moved to the hostel!"

Freyja smiles, "I'm so glad to hear it, Fengwu. Congratulations."

Zero says, "Good... good. Maybe someday I can come home and help you cut down the Yaofeng for good... but I'm glad you three are safe at least."

Freyja is a bit surprised to hear Ameil's moving people to the hostel already, considering it will be at least a month for any Sedraki ship to arrive... assuming the information regarding Sedraki slaves arrived on Sedrak instantly, and immediate action was taken. Ameil must be really serious about this. Good, I think... or maybe she's just moving the injured?

Fengwu bows again. "Thank you, Zero. And thank you, Freyja. We know that we have you to thank. Fu asked me to repeat his offer from before -- that if you are ever on Sedrak again, you will be more than welcome in our home."

Freyja smiles, bowing slightly from the waist, from where she sits, "Your honored family is too kind. Please tell them we'd be delighted to visit, if we're ever on Sedrak again."

Zero smiles and returns the bow. "Tell him to look up Akikou Satau when he gets home. Your mother too. My mother was defending the créche too, they'll have plenty to talk about." He doesn't have to say, And by the time they get there, she'll be able to do that, too. She'll have time to catch up on all the words she hasn't said.

Fengwu nods, "I will do that!" she says enthusiastically. "Is there anyplace I can bring you today?"

Freyja looks thoughtful, "Well... I don't know. I indulged myself yesterday... Zero, do you have anything in particular you'd like to do or take care of? Or... Fengwu, is there anyplace you think is particularly nice or interesting?"

Zero says, "No, I've done everything I needed to do. I shook the Eclipse down pretty thoroughly... I think we can do some preventative maintenance on the drives and we'll be ready to fly again." He frowns, "I still want to know what that stench came from..."

Fengwu considers for a moment, then shakes her head a little. "I don't think so. I can't take you to the ruins -- oh, wait, I can! I don't have the implant anymore!" She gives a bit of a bounce for glee when she realizes that again. "I can take you there, if you like?"

Freyja grins, leaning back on her hands and watching Fengwu's happiness with great enjoyment. "Certes, Fengwu... that'd be lovely!"

Zero says, "Sure, I'd be up for that. Who says the Sith are the only ones that get to lurk around in catacombs?" He laughs, "Maybe we'll find another stray to pick up."

Fengwu bobs her head. "Sah! All right, we can go now if you like, unless you'd like to bring lunch out there with you...?"

Freyja gives Zero a dryly amused glance, then nods to Fengwu, "Let's pick up something for lunch on the way, hai?"

Zero says, "I'm for going right now. Why not? I don't have much to look forward to besides shaking down the engines one last time." He sits down on the rail and starts to fasten the little ties that hold his shirt closed, and reties his sash. "That's fine with me."

Fhazil ambles out of the ramp, stretching and yawning. "Oh, good morning, everyone," he says cheerfully. "Vakkal said he would stay with the ship today -- after giving me five minutes' worth of instruction in not letting anything happen to you, Freyja. I promised I wouldn't let you sprain a wrist while you were cleaving a gundark in twain."

Freyja giggles, leaning back to look up at Fhazil from her seated position, "Oh, really?" Her grin gets mischievous, "So, what's it worth to you for me not to stub my toe or something equally silly?"

Zero starts down the ramp, "Let's go get the speeder, Fengwu, this could be a while..." Freyja laughs, lightly jumping down to the ground and following.

Fhazil makes a wry face. "He promised he'd spike my caff with an oral depilatory. And I've just started getting used to having silver hair...." He grins and steps down the ramp after the group. Freyja giggles over her shoulder at Fhazil, her eyes dancing with amusement.

Zero doesn't look up, as the four are walking down the street. "We've got a rider," he murmurs. "Don't look back, Fengwu... just keep walking. Freyja... you have him?"

Freyja raises a thoughtful eyebrow at Zero, "Hai. Same species as... Dhaasul, hai?" It was as they were going down the street to the little shack where they'd gotten breakfast the other day, and where they'd intended to pick up their lunch, that she'd spotted the follower. "He seems to be making a, ah... cursory effort at best to remain relatively unseen?" She adds quietly, "He's lightly armored, like Fhazil, and could be carrying weaponry under the long, light coat?"

Zero murmurs, "Stay together and go ahead and pick up lunch; I'm going to try to circle him. If it looks like he's breaking to follow me, I'll come back."

Fhazil frowns, casting glances behind them. "Blast... can't see him, myself..."

Freyja says, "Neh, Zero, let us circle -- you lay in wait for him, please, so we all meet up together?" She grins at Fhazil, "Erm... that's because he's off to the side more than behind, my friend?"

Zero says, "I'm less likely to be seen. We don't want him to know we're onto him. If all of you disappear... he's going to know something is up."

Freyja says, "We won't disappear, silly. We'll just keep going -- you waylay him, and we'll double back to you."

Zero mms, "If you like, then. I'll go ahead so you don't need to change direction too fast."

Freyja smiles, "Shan't be... we'll be heading for the lunch stand. There're crossroads on the way for you." She continues to chatter cheerfully about lunch as she heads towards the stand, covering for Zero moving off.

Zero picks up his pace a little. He closes his eyes, extending his senses to feel the flow of the traffic around him; thousands of ripples in the Force and he just an eddy in the whirlpool and please don't mind him, just a nameless Grey Jedi... nothing to see here... he gets about twenty paces ahead of the group -- and then someone passes in between him and the group, and he's gone.

The small nerf-shack is reached, and Shnagh is more than happy to provide box lunches -- or the fluorescent equivalent he serves -- much like the ones he gives to workers at the scrap yard. Freyja picks up the lunches, thanks the nice counterman, keeping an ear out for any yelling or other commotion. She also scans silently to see if their follower is Force aware.

The street is just normally busy; nothing untoward. Their tail seems to be taking a leisurely stroll along some shallow side streets, always just within eyeshot of the group. To Freyja's eye he does not appear to be awakened to the Force. She's faintly relieved at that, but continues leading the small group onwards. She'll try to pick an area to walk through where a yell wouldn't be out of place.

Up ahead, along a narrow street that runs alongside the wall to the scrap yard, there appears to be a nice, quiet, not-well-traveled place where their tail can be confronted or otherwise dealt with. Freyja continues in that direction, although she does give Fhazil and Zero a mental heads-up as to where they're going. She's still talking animatedly -- it's about yesterday's dancing, now -- and showing off some of the dance steps, which allows her a good reason to occasionally scan around them as she pirouettes.

Freyja's constant, conveniently-disguised turning allows her to keep an unobtrusive eye on their tail as he ducks into a side-street that runs parallel to the one the group is walking, with some alleyways here and there linking the two. It is while pacing the group that Zero sees the Mandragolan drift by, focused completely on the group.

Zero waits a respectful distance before falling into step behind the tail with practiced ease, keeping the distance constant. He smiles a little to himself, flowing through the crowd like water. Since becoming aware of the Force and learning to work with it, some aspects of his old craft have become even easier and more instinctive.

The crowd thins out significantly, until it is only Freyja and her group along the wall, and Zero and his not-tail in the parallel street. The link the three share makes coordination for this almost ridiculously easy. Zero drops his Force Stealth as he follows, having received Freyja's confirmation the target is not Force-aware. He is suddenly there where he wasn't a moment before, his transparent ripple in the Force whirling into existence somewhere behind the others; this lets them know where he is and where the tail is.

Freyja just continues in the set-up, waiting for either Zero to call them in, or a yell. Zero lets his partners know, Waiting for him to jump. He seems to be taking his time. If he starts to break off, I'll cut him off and we can all have a talk.

The no-longer-a-tail has taken no notice of Zero suddenly being there. In fact, he seems to be perfectly content to simply follow the group for quite some time... at least until the end of the scrap yard wall, where he turns through an alleyway onto the street that Freyja and the group are walking down, coming out behind them about a dozen yards back.

Freyja is faintly surprised. Not only has the tail not bothered to close or anything, it's ignored the vanishing of one of the group's members. She wonders if there're more following that they've just not spotted yet. Zero picks up his pace a bit, beginning to close the thirty-pace or so distance between himself and the target. Heads up, he's closing; I'm going to close the distance with him.

Freyja raises an eyebrow and pauses... then casually shifts so she's between Fengwu and the alien. He's looking right at us, actually.

I see him. In front of Zero, the alien is extremely cool and collected -- he doesn't break pace as Freyja looks at him.

Freyja smiles, adding, I think he's going to try walking by as if he doesn't know us. She stands with her hands tucked neatly behind her back, waiting with interest.

I'm watching his hands. If it looks like he's going to jump, I'll try to tag him. Stay right there; he can't hit Fengwu from there, that's perfect.

Hai. Freyja waits with equal aplomb.

As Zero watches, something peeps softly from under the alien's coat and, still walking casually, he starts to reach under his coat. Zero takes off, closing the distance quickly. He's armed -- I'm going to drop him.

Freyja quietly brings the Force up around her, to (if necessary) knock something away from the group, and closes one hand around the lightsaber, Hai. Her mental tone is less light-hearted and more quietly firm now. Her eyes narrow as she concentrates, and the focus of battlemind washes silently across her perception of the field of action before her. She waits for Zero, ready to defend the group if necessary.

Zero closes the distance as quickly as he can. When he's just a pace behind the target he grabs the Mandragolan's shoulder, swinging him around in a restricted throw. The Mandragolan hits the ground and Zero springs back a step in a combat stance. "Drop what you have, now."

The Mandragolan hits the ground with an *oof!* as what falls from his hand is... a comlink-datapad combination. Freyja paces silently forward, concentrating friendship through the Force on the Mandragolan, "Heiyo... why are you following us, please?" She leans to pick up the Mandragolan's datapad, and smiles at him, "You dropped this, I think?"

The Mandragolan winces as he rolls onto his back. "Arrgh... stang, man! What-" He breaks off as he looks up at Freyja, blinking, not quite feeling the tendrils of the Force subtly influencing him. "Uh... hoi! Yes... yes, I did, thank you...." He casts a rueful look at Zero. "I'm... sorry I startled you."

Zero hms. All right -- he's not armed. He straightens up a little. "Sorry. I thought you had a grenade."

Freyja casually and surreptitiously thumbs the comlink so it only receives instead of sending, as she nods politely, "Forgiven, of course." She tilts her head thoughtfully at the reptilian, "So... why were you following us?"

The Mandragolan blinks at Zero. "A... grenade? Stang, I'm not -- no, wait, you wouldn't know that." He sighs as he sits up. "I was trying to make sure you were the people I was supposed to contact. Forgive me, but I have been on this world less than five hours."

Freyja grins, "Forgiven again, of course. Who are you trying to contact, please?" She offers him her hand to pull him to his feet.

Zero says, "Sorry about that. I'm not used to benevolent tails." Freyja giggles at Zero's comment.

The man gratefully accepts Freyja's hand up, smiling beatifically to her. "Thank you, ma'am." He nods to Zero. "Yeah, well... I almost feel sorry for the tails you've found in the past..."

Freyja says, "Quite welcome. You were saying, about who you were looking for...?" Zero just smiles.

The man nods quietly. "I am one of Ameil's... facilitators, and I was on the world of Guryan, about ten light-years away, when we got word of what happened at the fortress. Thorghul's attack, that is." He seems much more inclined to speak towards Freyja than Zero, which, all things considered, probably makes sense. "My work was to search for any leaks in Ameil's security at her holdings on Guryan. We found the leak and intercepted her before she managed to send her latest batch of information to Thorghul's people."

Freyja nods slowly, her gaze worried, "Ah... who is it? -and... why are you trying to contact us?" She's watching thoughtfully to see if this man is prevaricating at all, as well, although she'd be surprised if he did -- the friendship seems to have worked extremely well on him. "Oh, wait, it was a woman on Guryan?" She sounds faintly relieved, "Not someone we know, then?"

The Mandragolan continues, "She must have received word -- and more -- about the attack the same time we did. The message she was sending was about the attack, but noting in particular your group. She had added a comment at the end of the message: 'Aaron's contacts might be interested in this.'"

Freyja nods, unsurprised, "Ah... then he is working with Thorghul... and by extension, so is his employer." Dryly she adds, "I wish I were surprised."

Zero's face is impassive. Aaron...! The Hutts now, too! Damn it, how could we not have known how dirty Kalatis was?

Freyja smiles encouragingly, "And you wanted to contact us to tell us this?" Curiously she adds, "Why didn't one of Ameil's people that knows us just ask us to come in?"

The Mandragolan nods. "If you are speaking of Aaron Deno, yes. His contacts seem to exist mostly with and within Thorghul the Hutt's organization. Ameil's own organization is -- now -- mostly free from those mynoks, but obviously we have one last leak left to plug: whomever sent the information to the agent on Guryan."

He looks around a little self-consciously. "My own handler asked me to pass the information on to you discretely and outside of the fortress, since we're now not sure who the leak within it is." He grimaces sheepishly. "Honest, I'm usually much better at this sort of thing."

Zero sighs and dusts the fixer's shoulder off. "Well, stang. I'm sorry I put you down."

"Oh, that's all right. I should have expected it when you suddenly weren't with the group anymore."

Freyja grins and pats the Mandragolan's arm lightly, "It's all right, truly... things like that happen in Hutt space, or so I've been told." She adds curiously, "So... do you have any idea who the leak here is?"

"All too often, ma'am. That Deno has contacts in Thorghul's organization is one of those 'well-known secrets,' at least for what the Republic considers the Underworld. Orfune felt we should let you know Deno's people would be interested in finding you here -- and that as yet they have not. Is there anything you can tell us as to why Deno is interested in you?"

He shakes his head at the second question, "Not yet, but we are closing in. We believe that it is one of Ameil's... companions, or one of the courtiers who works in finance -- she was having a finance meeting at the time of the attack. The details of the attack, and your arrival, seem to be from the point of view of someone in the dais room when you arrived."

Freyja nods, "Hai. He tried to kill us, and failed... and looked bad in the process." She adds, glancing at Zero, "Bet he's got Black Wind contacts too."

The Mandragolan arches his brow. "I'm surprised, then. He has enough resources apparently to hire some fairly top-notch bounty hunters."

Freyja blinks slowly, "Oh, dear. Poor Ameil. I do hope it's not the last favored companion... the Twi'lek." She smiles at the Mandragolan guilelessly, "Well, now you know why we're a tad bit paranoid, hai?" She thinks a moment, then says with slow intensity, "Is she going to be questioning the ones that are currently under suspicion any time soon? -and if so... might we be there?"

He nods glumly. "I hope not either, but unfortunately... well, we just don't know yet." He looks a little surprised. "You wish to be there? I think that should be possible. I'd have to clear it with my handler and Orfune first; I'm not in charge of that side of the investigation."

Freyja smiles, "Well, sometimes we can tell if someone's lying or not? Sometimes."

He nods slowly. "Ah," he says slowly. "Well, I will pass that on, then. You should have the right anyway to see what that is all about, and why you were mentioned."

Freyja shakes her head, her tone quietly weary, "Please, we'd like to see a questioning before anything violent happens."

He nods. "Of course. I'll make sure Orfune knows."

Freyja says, "Thank you. I think it might be nice if we could help you pick out your leak before anyone got... hurt." She smiles ruefully, "And hai, we know this isn't Republic space... we're just offering to help if we can."

The Mandragolan nods, grimacing a little. "I... know that Hutt interrogations have a reputation for being pretty... well, un-pretty. I'm sure, though, Orfune would be glad for your help."

Freyja nods quietly, "Thank you. We'll be exploring the ruins today, but we'd be happy to come back early if that would be helpful." She'll bid the Mandragolan a friendly goodbye, then head out again with her friends. Quietly, after he's left, she murmurs, "That... was interesting."

Zero says, "Odd that Ameil would send a fixer out just to tell us that. Going out of her way, really."

Freyja nods consideringly, "Thoughtful of her... or of the majordomo. Still... I have no issue with a friendly Hutt lord." She grins wryly, "We did do her a rather large favor too, from what I understand."

Zero says, "We broke an offensive that might've ended her life. Nice to see the Hutts remember favors as well as slights." Freyja nods quietly to Zero as they walk.

The trip to the ruins takes the better part of the morning, actually. They appear to be in the next valley over, and it makes for a pleasant walk. Once on the ridge itself, the view is dramatic, with the fog-filled valleys below and the sun high in a mottled sky. At the base of the ridge, right below them, the group can see piles of stone, twisted helixes of corroded metal, overgrown palisades, and what might have once been statues before lichens, ivy, and harsh erosion got to them.

Fengwu suggests lunch here; that way they can explore the ruins, and return to the Mos in time for dinner. "Nobody's really sure who built them," she says, "but they date back a long time."

Zero says, "Hm. Strange. I certainly don't recognize them. Shame the Academy can't get out here."

Freyja is happy to sit on the side of the ridge and eat lunch while admiring the lovely view. She's enchanted by the locale, and looking forward to roving later. It's been a while since she's gotten to just wander about and exercise for the pleasure of it, while exploring a lovely area. Lunch is finished leisurely, and the group goes down the ridge.

Freyja notices Fengwu looks mildly uneasy as they start down. She gives Fengwu a curious look, then smiles, "Worrying about the absent implant?"

Fengwu looks up to Freyja, nodding. "Sah, it's... kind of a weird feeling...."

Freyja grins, leaning to give Fengwu a one-armed hug, "Savor it -- it's gone, hai?" Fengwu smiles and nods to Freyja, leaning in against her a little.

As they near the ruins, the group can see they're a lot simpler and smaller than they had originally seemed from high up. There is what was at one time a central stone building, open on all four sides except for the corner pillars, with a low, square table in the center. Runes of some sort are etched into the columns, and corroded braziers are at either side of the table. The statuary is even more esoteric, done in a very stylized fashion that, had they been in top condition, probably would not have been able to identify visually the persons they depicted -- or, perhaps a little unsettlingly, maybe now they depict the originals all too well.

Beyond this, there are the remains of a few buildings here and there, with overgrown cobblestone paths, and one very interesting feature: in what may have been the center of the area, a stone fountain apparently existed. It's dried up and overgrown now, but in the center is a slender, misshapen stone pillar, now covered with ivy, about three feet high and a quarter of a foot across. Rising from the center of this pillar, corroded and twisted and all but eaten away, is a piece of metal. It looks like once it may have reached to a point about twelve feet high, from top to bottom. And there appears to be a certain strength to the place... a strength or import within the Force.

Freyja is quite fascinated. She wanders around, running curious golden fingers gently over the faces of the statuary under the ivy... studying the runes in intent concentration... investigating the ancient braziers with a thoughtful expression... and slowly following the gentle tug of the Force to its strongest point. She's trying to get a 'feel' for the locale, a sense of what it was for, and who felt so strongly about this place.

Zero scratches his head, looking up at all the statuary as he passes beneath it, sticking close to Fengwu. "And who were you, I wonder."

Fhazil says quietly, "I have a bad feeling about this...." Contrariwise, Freyja and Zero don't. To them it is rather neutral, albeit... a living sense, in the Force.

Freyja murmurs absently, as she traces the runic writing about one of the pillars with slender fingers, "Bad? Mm... maybe it doesn't like the Dark? Feels more... neutral? -to me..."

Zero says, "Can't tell... I don't feel anything strong." He grins, "Is there such a thing as strong neutrality?"

Freyja spots it, then: set into the ground in the cobblestones and somewhat obscured by overgrowth, the colors somewhat faded, is what appears to be part of a former mural. The part Freyja can make out looks to her like Iormungander.

Freyja grins over her shoulder at Zero, although her gaze is still absent -- she's focused on what she's doing. Then she blinks in startlement as she looks back towards the column, noticing the sigil on the ground. "Hey... look, guys. I think it's an Iormungander!" She starts gently clearing the undergrowth back.

Fhazil shakes his head. "I... don't know. Maybe it really doesn't like the Dark. I don't feel like I'm gonna get broadsided like I did on Gyndine, at least..."

Zero says, "A what?"

Freyja links up with her friends, firmly whispering, Then we'll just stay linked together, so we can tell whatever is leaning on Fhazil that he's a friendly. Aloud she repeats, "An iormungander -- the serpent that holds the world together." She adds a little puzzledly, "Don't know what a Balmorran iormungandr would be doing out here though...?"

Zero says, "Wait -- wasn't that the symbol the Ophics used??"

Freyja looks up at Zero thoughtfully, "You're right... it was. How fascinating!" She grins, "Come give me a hand, please?"

As she clears away the overgrowth, they can see it isn't exactly the World-Serpent biting its own tail, but it looks very similar. Surrounding it is a pattern of inlaid stones, by now badly weathered with age, which forms odd, esoteric designs. As she spreads out her clearing efforts, Freyja can see more patterns in the ground-mural. Most of them so far seem to be esoteric symbols.

Freyja murmurs softly, "Oooh... pretty! Wonder what it all means..." as she runs gentle, almost reverent fingers across the ancient, weathered stones.

Zero hurries over and starts clearing away the underbrush. "Gods above -- if it's theirs... what else is buried down here?"

Freyja smiles, "Don't know... but let's see if we can find out?" She scans back and forth, wondering if this is where the Force tugs the most insistently.

The group clears away more and more of the mural, and suddenly the central design seems to leap out at them: a wizened non-Human -- possibly Kreevaki -- sitting in a lotus position, tentacles arrayed in some teaching gesture. Arrayed below or before him is a quintet of cylindrical shapes. Below are what look like stylized portraits of five beings -- only one of whom is Human -- each reaching up to one of the cylinders.

Freyja blinks in puzzled fascination... then gently touches one of the cylinder illustrations. Her voice is low, "Where are you? What are you?"

Zero tilts his head. "I don't even recognize that species... I wonder."

More designs become apparent in the mural, though the group isn't clearing away any more undergrowth; the designs just seem to be increasingly more visible. The Bendu wheel as suborned by the Jedi is there, but it is not alone. There are other symbols, many whose only significance now lies in that they have been used, re-used, and recycled many times over. In another corner of the mural there appears to be a student and a teacher of some kind, though they do not wear Jedi robes. Instead their robes are pure white, and the teacher watches the student assemble what looks like -- what simply must be -- a lightsaber.

Freyja draws her breath in slowly, "Oh, my... it's a training place, Zero. A place of learning and meditation, don't you think? Maybe even a place to not lose the Lightside, when the Darkside must have seemed most threatening?"

There is the faintest of sounds from elsewhere in the ruins.

Zero says, "I can't tell... it doesn't feel light, still. Just... quiet. On the other hand... maybe that was more important, to feel quiet-" Freyja stares intently at the cylinders. Surely they must ring some mental bell, have some significance still? Zero says, "-did you hear that?"

Freyja blinks, looking up at Zero a bit blankly, "Uh... what? Oh... you mean maybe it's one of the alternate paths?" There is another sound, closer. A flicker of white in the corner of Freyja's eye catches her attention but it is gone in a moment. Freyja blinks, looking up more alertly, "Heiyo?" She calls softly, "Come out, please? We don't mean harm... we'd like to talk to you?"

There is no answer -- at least, no verbal answer. Brief images seem to appear here and there -- figures in white walking slowly and solemnly along a path; smoke rising from one of the buildings. It's still visibly worn down, but the faint image of what it looked like once upon a time is overlaid atop it. It is like watching a double-exposed holo... or ghosts.

Freyja says, "Ah... maybe they'll communicate better if I try farseeing." She smiles, settling cross-legged, "Would you guys keep an eye on me while I do so?"

Zero feels for Kuwatuara. "Looks like they're come to say hello. Stay close to us, hey, Fhazil?" Fhazil, looking more and more nervous, nods. When Fengwu doesn't answer, a glance shows that she's curled up next to one of the rocks, snoozing.

Freyja doesn't really farsee in the sense of searching for a particular time... she just lets herself drift receptively into the ambiance of the area, to 'feel' for what it's trying to tell them.

As Zero touches Kuwatara he gets... not a message, but perhaps a bit of the memory within. Be still, it seems to say. Be silent. There is nothing to fear here. Be respectful, for here is where We had our start.... Zero gasps softly and freezes. "Freyja...! The sabers -- this is the place!"

Freyja smiles peacefully, her eyes half-closed, "Good... I'm glad they led us here. Give me a moment, and I'll see if they have something else they're trying to tell us, all right?"

Freyja's mind touches the pulse of the Force in the area, the gentle currents and threads of time... of History... and Memory. The images come into focus: students, some young, some decades old, walking solemnly to the pavilion where the master awaited them. Freyja shares, as much as she can, what she's seeing with her triat-elect.

The ancient, wizened Kreevaki sits there, still and calm as he assembles what looks like a very baroque lightsaber. No, perhaps not 'assembles' -- he does not slap components together and call it done. The tools arrayed before him seem little more than needles of varying shapes. He takes up one, studying the curve of a crystal-inlayed casing before him. He moves, touching the needle lightly to one specific place, turning it a quarter-turn in a precise arc. He sets down that tool, apparently satisfied.

They are not Jedi; and yet they are Jedi and more. They are not Brotherhood; and they transcend even that. A Jedi might look at the components of the lightsaber before the master saber-maker, declare them all but done, and finish the assembly in an hour's time. The master looks at what is before him, and sees only the start of his work.

The students come before the pavilion. They are punctual; the master has been here for a century and has never, ever been rushed, but he has never been tardy, either. Slowly the master sets down his tools as the nine students kneel. He looks at them; they return the gaze. Then he bows and they bow simultaneously, and one of the students recites a sort of canticle or litany. It is in a language unknown, but then one line is recited: "Toru Awatea-Houari."

Freyja's interest is piqued, even as she maintains clear focus, so her friends can see also. The sabers the three carry all but sing in response, a tripartite chorus of some odd, quasi-life sense of joy -- or rather of identity; a joy in identity. Freyja starts slightly, then smiles... true joy always lights something in her.

The litany continues. It is a short one, perhaps twelve such items in all. Perhaps they are the sabers this school or forge has made; perhaps they are groups of sabers. The last five are spoken clearly and concisely, as if they are a great achievement. The master bows as if receiving an accolade; then touches the quies-ovo cell that sits alone on the table before him. "Atarangi Rewera," he says softly, as if Naming it.

Freyja wonders if any of the twelve -- thirteen? -amazing lightsabers are still extant, but for their three.

The students visibly react with surprise and shock. The master raises a tentacle. "This is how it must be. This is its Name. I know what it means. I know what its future holds." The students exchange uneasy glances, but one by one they turn back to the master and bow, holding the genuflection.

Freyja puzzles, then asks her lightsaber quietly, What does that mean, please?

Zero nods, Fhazil...

The view fades; the students fade, the sounds from the crystal-forge fades, the sounds of ancient wind fades... until all that remains is the ancient Kreevaki master, sitting beneath the pavilion, head bowed over the now-empty table. When he speaks it is in a whisper that carries for miles. "It means my death by its blade, daughter of the Jedi."

Freyja starts physically this time as well as mentally -- then simply swallows hard, suppressing an urge to tears for this poor man who can see his own death, and bows deeply, the same as his students did. She can't help a small pang, though... she hopes she's never so unfortunate as to farsee her own death. She whispers, Is there aught I may do to help you, Master? We are in your debt.

The Kreevaki looks up; his eyes are milk-white, unseeing, but Freyja has little doubt that he could still fashion lightsabers by touch and sense alone. "It brings me happiness to know the Three Dawns survived to find blades again, so far in the future. That alone is help enough. It makes the end easier to bear. Alas, and yet sadness as well, daughter of the Jedi. The Shadow Devil will survive still as well. The Jedi for whom it was meant has Fallen, and now she comes to ensure we may not forge its better."

Freyja nods in silent understanding, then asks, Has the Shadow Devil been recovered also, already? Eerily, she thinks she knows the answer of whom will claim it.

"It shall be. When the Ophidians awake the Awatea and deliver them to you," he is clearly speaking in the future tense from his perspective, "-the Shadow Devil will know, and it will awaken. It will be found. In the Force time has no meaning. I weep, daughter of the Jedi. I weep for whom it will call and who will claim it. For they are already on the road which will lead them to Fall, and yet they do not know it."

Freyja sighs quietly, and hopes her guess is wrong... and it's not one of the Redcloak line, or poor Jedi Colburth. Is there any way for us to find it first, Master?

Zero adds, Or Master Balin Khoud... Freyja winces at that thought from Zero. She doesn't personally like Master Khoud... but she wouldn't wish Falling on anyone.

The master saber-maker is silent, his sightless eyes focused on something on the far end of the area which Freyja cannot see -- or rather, perhaps she can. It is near midday but the shadows of twilight are already gathering to the south of the compound. "No," he says sadly. "In your time, it has already been found."

Freyja swallows again, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. A little desperately she whispers, Is there nothing we can do to help?! It's clear from the emotional pitch of her mental whisper she means helping the soon-to-Fall, to prevent that Fall.

"Yes," then, "Yes! There is, daughter." The shadows are closing over the compound. Impossibly, the sun shines and yet everything is being covered in nightfall, at what seems like a leisurely pace (surely that is not the faint barest shape of a figure to the south, is it?). "Your path will be twisting, but there is a chance, if you find what you seek, that the Shadow Devil will learn of you. No one saber forged by me may defeat that one; I did my work too well. But the Awatea are not one... but Three...."

Freyja winces again, not really wanting to watch the death of the wise old man... but paradoxically, not willing to leave him alone. She's seen one Jedi Master die alone and friendless, at the hands of a former student... she cannot wish that fate on another, no matter how distant she truly is in space and time. Her own master's words return to her, a slow, rolling, reassuring growl, "There is no space, no time, in the Force..." She takes a deep breath, then reaches a mental hand out, murmuring, We will do our best, Master -- that we promise. Let us be with you now... and perhaps you can guide us when we Three meet the Shadow Devil again, hai?

Freyja reaches mentally for her two friends... she knows this is going to hurt. Zero is there, a spiral of silent energy, watching. I am always watching for you.

A whiff of smoke touches the group's senses -- smoke? Fire! And yet no flame is visible. Some red-orange light touches the master though, as if light reflected off his snow-white robe... as if something burns. "Awatea is Three, not one. Atarangi Rewera may be destroyed by Awatea. The one who is to Fall may yet be pulled back from the shores of Darkness. The Shadow Devil... I did my work too well, daughter of the Jedi. It exists as much as a concept, an icon, as it does a physical saber. This is why no one saber may destroy it. But the Three...."

His voice grows sad. "I am comforted. Though I am not Jedi, I have given my life for two hundred years to creating sabers both great and lesser for the Order. Atarangi Rewera was my greatest work, and so it is fitting that it be my last. I would have wished to forge a saber of Light, pure Light, before the end. But Atarangi Rewera has too much darkness within itself, within its very concept."

By now the shadows have become as thick as midnight, swirling around the compound as if they were liquid. And yet the master is alight, not only by a red-orange glow external to himself, but something within (that shadow-figure again, a shape made from the folds and creases of the absence of light. It walks up the steps of the pavilion).

"I wish I could be there when you succeed, where the Three cast back this little darkness that consumes so much. But I shall not be. I am sorry, Jedi. But this is my time."

Fhazil adds his strength to that of the group, mentally wincing as he is again reminded of the excesses of another Darksider.

Freyja takes a deep breath, feeling somehow more braced, more centered now Zero's there... then she gently pulls Fhazil closer to them both, remembering the words of his ancient sire for him, "If you are strong enough, break the stigma of being a Darksider; bring honor to your tradition..." She maintains her connection to the old alien. She doesn't understand why he'd bind Dark into a lightsaber... but considering the price he pays for that, she doesn't really think it's relevant currently. Right now she just wants to be there for him... when his time comes.

She does the best thing she can think of... she shares joy from one of his creations, joy caused because of his skill -- Kourakani's memnii of its wielder's elation and Light and life, dancing amongst the flowers she'd just helped restore. The serenity the master feels ripples slightly, appreciative of what use Kourakani has been present for, the whirlwind of life-carrying pollen raising his spirits. He exults in that image, in being there, in sharing it, and holds onto it.

Suddenly there is fire, endless orange flames which rip through the compound as if the very stone itself is burning, sheets of it which lick and tear and bite and burn. In the center is the pavilion, the master calm and at peace as the shadow-figure before him becomes solid for a brief moment, raising a lightsaber of roaring, saw-toothed violet. The Dark Jedi brings the saber down and the figures are obscured in a ripple of flame.

When the flames clear, the Jedi stands there above the crumpled form of the master. There is no joy in her stance, no victory, and yet no remorse, no regret, either. She stands there, fires raging and destroying the more flammable portions of the compound, Shadow Devil in her hand. With a slight gesture the heat becomes almost unbearable, the flames a whirlwind surrounding the pavilion. Perhaps the most hideous thing about the scene is that there is no cackle of mad laughter, no screaming, no weeping. There is only the thunder of the fire...

And then it is midday on Tynnea again, in the middle of the ruins of the saber-maker's school.

Freyja realizes she's crying, sitting cross-legged with tears running silently down her face. She wasn't able to save Master Hul-shan... he died before she arrived. She wasn't able to save this Master Kreevaki, as he also died long before she was born. Somewhere... somewhere in the universe there is a lightsaber drawing shadow, slithering Darkness into some Jedi's soul... she prays silently this time they'll be able to do something, to save the poor Fallen-to-be and to somehow stop the Shadow Devil, Atarangi Rewera.

The lightsabers are oddly warm, warmer than usual. Fhazil blinks as the image disappears. Then, looking a little the worse for wear, he senses Freyja's emotions through the link. Gently he moves to kneel beside her, placing a hand softly on her shoulder. Freyja...

Freyja puts her arms tightly around Fhazil, burying her face against him, and cries silently, grieving for the poor Kreevaki. She finds the prospect of being able to see one's own death rather terrifying. Fhazil holds Freyja gently, looking pained. He doesn't say anything, only holds her quietly.

At that moment they realize their comlinks are beeping, then blerting in an override tone. "By the Ice of Ziost, will somebody answer?!" Vakkal's voice has a panicked tone to it.

Zero picks up his comlink. "Vakkal, we hear you-"

Freyja blinks, sitting up and dashing tears away from her face, "Hai, Vakkal, what's wrong?" She smiles at Fhazil in quiet thanks, then looks back at Zero and the comlink, worried as to why Vakkal sounded panicked.

Vakkal says, "Thank the Maker! I felt something really weird in the Force a little while ago and tried contacting you, but there was no answer. Are you all right?" Freyja sighs in relief... so that's what he was worried about! She smiles, taking a moment to wipe the tears from her face with a hankie.

The image disappears as Freyja wipes away her tears, but for a moment she blurrily sees the white-robed master leaning over Fengwu, gently touching her. Even when the image is gone there is one last bit of Memory: Let what has transpired be for her nothing more than a bad dream; hers is a different destiny than yours.

Freyja nods to the Master, forgetting for the moment he may not be able to see her, then adds to the comlink, "It was us -- the weird feeling in the Force. We're fine; please don't worry. We're sorry we alarmed you, Vakkal."

Vakkal says wryly, "It's all right. If I wasn't alarmed I wouldn't be me!" He pauses. "Are you sure you are all right?"

Freyja grins, then nods, again forgetting she can't be seen, "Hai, truly, Vakkal. We farsaw the creator of our lightsabers -- the Three-Dawn sabers. It was... very strange, and rather tragic, and..." She takes a deep breath, not wanting to start crying again, and simply says quietly, "We're all fine." She sighs softly, then adds, "Oh... we may get a call from Ameil's people about questioning some suspects. Patch that through if it comes, would you please?"

Vakkal's nod is almost audible as well. "All right. The last of the supplies have been loaded, by the way. And yes, there's a message here from the majordomo Orfune, saying something about how they found the leak. You have an invitation to the fortress later tonight for the interrogation. How the hells did you guys wrangle that?"

Zero just stands with his back to the others, facing the entrance. He is perfectly, silently calm in the Force. Both hands are behind his back, either end of the Silver Guardian in them. Freyja says, "Oh, good. Er... well, sort of good, I guess. Um... we asked nicely?" She whispers quietly to her brother Padawan, Are you all right, Zero?

Vakkal says, "'Nicely'? If you ask Naga Sadow to stop the Sith invasion that nicely, I think he just might say 'sure' and go back to sipping sapphire wine on Ziost."

Freyja brightens, "Really?" then giggles.

Zero nods softly. I'm all right. It's clear what has to happen now.

"Or at least get a few planets returned, I'm sure..."

Freyja looks over to Zero, Find the Shadow Devil, destroy it, preserve its wielder, and hopefully bring him or her back? Then she grins at the comlink, "Does he share the wine? He can keep some worlds if he'll share..."

Zero nods. And if they can't be brought back... then they will have to be cut away. No more infernos.

Freyja nods slowly and gravely in agreement with Zero's mental whisper. She adds softly, But please... let me at least try, first?

Vakkal, unaware of the mental conversation, continues cheerfully. "For someone who asked that nicely? I'm sure he'll have a cask or two to share. Probably invite you to dinner, too. I'm not sure if you want that, though...."

It's not my place to destroy everything. Only to guard what has to be safe... and to cut what has to be removed. You do what you have to, Freyja, and I'll watch over you.

Freyja smiles at Zero, We all will. Thank you for bracing, back then. Her smile turns into a grin as she says to Vakkal, "Is it a tasty dinner? -and is he an interesting conversationalist, or does he tend to turn you into a small pile of dust if you don't use the fruit fork properly?"

Fhazil rolls his eyes. "Just make sure there's dancing, and she'll want it fine," he says, with a grin that doesn't fully reach his eyes, as he follows the mental conversation. He adds to it: And while my 'role' is apparently destroying things... I won't just lash out. Like Freyja said... as three. I'll just knock holes in whatever walls need to be broken through.

Freyja giggles at Fhazil's verbal comment, and gently squeezes his hand at the verbal one. Then she smiles, rising gracefully, "If the majordomo calls again, let her know we'll be back in a bit, Vakkal, all right?" Her tone is dry as she adds, "I think I'll wait and not worry about any Sith lord dinner invitations for now." She smiles again, more sincerely this time, adding, "And truly we're fine, Vakkal. Please don't worry."

"A pile of dust? Oh, no. Apparently, the 'polite' thing amongst the purebloods if you do something bad is they utterly ignore you. I saw it once -- a journeyman who had done something really boorish, without remorse, was simply walked around by several Lords who continued talking as if he weren't there. They didn't even look at the poor sod. I guess they didn't even need to look at him to notice he was there, which probably made it all the more disconcerting.... I'll pass on the message, certainly. And... I'm glad you all are all right. Tell you what, come back to the ship when you get back; I'll order in dinner for you."

Freyja blinks, looking faintly startled, "Really? Huh... that's what aristoi do on Balmorra too." She smiles, adding, "That'd be lovely, thank you, Vakkal. We'll see you soon."

Fhazil makes a wry sound after the link is closed. "He neglected to mention that some Lords do a bit more than just ignore people who make serious faux pas."

Freyja smiles calmly at Fhazil, "Not surprising. I'd think the journeyman's lord was furious at being so mortified. I know I've seen something similar at home." She giggles, adding, "And I bet he also neglected to mention the Dark Lord's most likely reaction to being asked to stop too -- so? It was still a mood lightener, and nice of him to tease with."

Zero tucks Kuwatuara in his sash again. "Let's go home."

Fhazil grins. "Well, Naga Sadow isn't known to destroy just anyone who displeases him or says something wrong to him. He's managed to gain some respect as a good leader, at least." He nods Zero, standing and offering to help up Freyja. "Yeah; dinner, and then Ameil."

[Previous Log] [Index] [Next Log]

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

All material on this site is
Copyright © 2002-2024 Reality Fault
unless specifically indicated on each document.
All Rights Reserved.
Administrated by Reality Fault Webmaster