A Forgotten Jedi's Return

[Cavalas Onn]

He had forgotten the serenity of this place.

It had been difficult getting on the planet, knowing that if he identified himself to the fleet outside he wouldn't be let in and yet somehow he managed to slip right through its defenses with the chartered light freighter. Perhaps because the Force willed it? Cavalas wasn't sure the Force willed him anything anymore. For too long had he tried to close himself off, convinced that doing so would also keep the Dark Side at bay, yet as the months and years passed him by he knew he shouldn't fight the Force itself. Meditation came back into his daily regimen although he never really trusted himself to follow the Force freely as he was afraid of what he might encounter. The heart of a soldier was more than once filled with anger and hatred, their reason for enlisting having to do with the burdens and regret. Cavalas was able to sense it and counsel them into finding some form of inner peace again. He was too afraid of what the Dark Side could do even when it only manifested itself in those that couldn't wield the Force.

Now he was overwhelmed with its energy. Wearing his old Jedi modular armor of dark brown leather, he walked among the trees and grassy fields for hours until he finally saw the temple rise up in front of him. Immediately some form of regret went through his stomach. "What will I sense in the people that live here now?" he asked himself, full of fear that he would not find the many images of Fennex walking around, but of Evalyn and Kal. Yes, he had known the Dark Lord of the Sith before the latter's fall. If only he had struck him down back then...

Not wanting to let fear and doubt slip back into his mind, Cavalas sat down on the grass and closed his eyes. Slow and cautious, he allowed himself to seek out the Force and let it flow through him as he traced the Force through his surroundings. He sensed the unrest at the temple yet didn't focus on it or lingered, for the trees gave him a peace of mind he hadn't felt since he was a boy. No doubt his presence in the Force would be noticed, perhaps even by old friends (@Loco) and soon they would come and brand him an exile. He deserved it because he had deserted them in their hour of need.

 

[Austin Wolfe]

theme​

Having apprehended the transport earlier that day, Cavalas had been one of the two who managed to slip away. While Austin Wolfe had spoken to an apparent stowaway who in fact had some aptitude with the Force. Having sent the transport of visitors away already, it came to the Master's attention that another man had traveled on foot towards the Temple. Flying back with the rest of the Temple Guard who accompanied him, Austin strode out from the Academy to go meet the newcomer. Even from a distance, the doctor could sense that the Force was strong with this man as well.

Coming within earshot of the seated man, Austin came to a stop and clasped his hands behind his back. He simply stood for a moment, allowing the man some more moments of meditation. The Temple Guard stood at the entrance of the Academy, though were told to stay put by the doctor. "Good afternoon," he greeted with a cordial smile on his face. "I see you also came on the transport earlier. But I sense something different in you — purpose, determination." Austin also sensed unease, but it was fading quickly as the man meditated on the peacefulness of his surroundings. "I am Master Wolfe," he continued, bowing slightly. "What brings you to Tython? I doubt you are here for sightseeing."

Austin hoped he didn't appear threatening, especially as he came out alone. He did not sense any darkness within the newcomer, and despite the Order not welcoming visitors, there was something different about the dark-haired man before him.

@Ecclessey​

 

[Cavalas Onn]

Cavalas had sensed the presence the temple guardians and master Wolfe had in the Force some time before he would actually be able to see them, yet he never opened his eyes and simply continued in his meditation. He had changed in that aspect compared to the Knight Crusader of five -or even eleven- years ago. The man back then would've met the newcomer with a straightened back and clearly visible lightsaber. Always the most zealous man in the room.

Now, he merely waited for the newcomer to begin and remained calm and unburdened by how he wanted the group to view him. His breathing was slow and on the third long exhale after master Wolfe (@Vosrik) introduced himself did Cavalas open his eyes and smile up at the master. "Master Wolfe-" he said calmly, yet his eyes would forever betray the things he had seen, just like the worry lines on his face spoke volumes of the life he'd lead during the One-Hundred Year Darkness. "-my name is Cavalas Onn-" his sentence was interrupted when the -now 41 year old- man raised himself up to a standing position. "-a former Knight Crusader of the Jedi Order-" he paused, because the next part would be the crux and the answer to the master's question. "-and I've come to rejoin after a long absence."

His tunic was typical for the old Knight Crusader. The leather was darkened and clearly weathered by extreme climates and endured exposure to the elements and what remained of the armor was badly maintained in the past years and had turned black. He didn't quite look the part of a good-natured jedi with such an outfit and add it to the look in his eyes there's naturally be some doubt as to his words. Cavalas knew this, thus he bowed back to the master. "-perhaps someone from the old days could vouch for me?"

Whoever was left. Kal became the Dark Lord of the Sith, so he wasn't going to mention him as character witness. Evalyn was long dead but even if she wasn't she probably had hated his guts. Vinn turned to the Dark Side as well and was rumored to have been zombified before her death. None but Fennex was left of the old gang that searched for Rem Shivaaga.

 

[Austin Wolfe]

⋮⋮ Cavalas Onn ⋮⋮ the doctor thought as the newcomer introduced himself. The name was unfamiliar to Austin, though he identified as a former Jedi Knight after having been gone for a while. "Knight Crusader?" the Master chuckled. "My, you have been gone for some time indeed. A great deal has changed within the Order — including the reorganization of the Councils and the former sects." Inviting Cavalas to stand and walk with him towards the Academy, he continued their conversation. "I was once a Guardian myself. As for one who could vouch for you..." Austin trailed off, not really having known many Jedi as he segregated himself to the Jedha infirmary until a year or two ago.

He shook his head with a sad smirk. "It is...truly most unfortunate, really. Most among us who live long enough to become Councillors in our midst are quickly cut down by the Sith. Our Grandmaster, Wyck, leads us well. Our High Councillors include Bruce Guleya, Vollen Shai...and perhaps Fennex soon as well. Do any of them know you from your time as a Crusader?" Austin asked, stepping silently along the pathway as they slowly approached the Academy. "You must realize, Cavalas," the Master spoke in a more solemn tone, "that we will have to question you thoroughly before allowing you back into the Order." He did not mean it as a threat, and hoped the returned Knight understood this. "In light of recent events, we have had to keep a close eye on our ranks. Too many have already been lost to the Dark Side." He stared off toward the spires of the Academy, thinking on the many who fell and now stood at the head of the Sith Empire. Austin would do all in his power to prevent it from happening again.

@Ecclessey @Loco​

 

[Cavalas Onn]

Cavalas accepted the invitation to walk besides master Wolfe. Years ago he had not cared for the guardians who had been hiding in the Order's temples instead of going out into the galaxy like he had to hunt down exiles and dark jedi. His distaste for what he viewed as their cowardice had been one of the reasons he grew disillusioned by the Order as a whole, something he hoped he had put behind now half a decade later.

His hands folded behind his back, Cavalas was clearly comfortable and at peace as he walked towards the academy and the Temple Guards who were eagerly awaiting him. The names of the councilors and even the grand master were foreign to him, although he supposed they had all been part of the Order since before he left none had been prominent members in the conclaves and trials he witnessed. Except one. "Fennex is still alive-" he smiled as he said it, "-that old fox was with me when we rescued Rem Shivaaga on Dantooine-" he frowned and his head turned towards the mountains in the distance, "-I take it the Captain-Crusader has become one with the Force now?" Rem had lead the crusaders until his last crusade was wiped out by a long forgotten droid army on Dantooine. Cavalas had been emotionally scarred by what they found when they found him and the search itself had made him doubt the convictions of all his then-companions and almost had him brush too close with the Dark Side. Vin and Kal soon fell thereafter and Cavalas had exiled himself from the very Force itself. That first year after the war had been so dark and uncertain.

Upon hearing that he'd be questioned thoroughly, Cavalas turned his head back towards the Master Wolfe, "I understand-" the memory of past events had removed the smile from his lips and the joy in his voice. "-for I knew Kal Vox long before he became Dark Lord of the Sith." and I should have seen his fall coming more clearly and dealth with it more definitely.

@Vosrik @Loco

 

[Austin Wolfe]

A smile crossed the face of Austin as Cavalas recognized Master Fennex' name. "Old fox, indeed. Would you imagine, he has begun growing some grey hairs now?" he commented lightheartedly. Good thing the Jedi Master wasn't anywhere nearby to catch what he said...hopefully. "Though, my interactions with him have been incredibly favourable. I am unsure whether he is 'One with the Force' per se, but he is a wise and honourable Master." It was interesting to hear a bit about Fennex' history — particularly that he was a Captain-Crusader of the Order. Previously, Austin held a measure of disdain for the Crusaders as many of their sect were known for their cruelty against the Exiles.

"He has taken up the responsibilities of our recently deceased Arbiter of the Order, Councillor Jon Atreides. He and my friend Galahad Vult have been working tirelessly to uphold the Code and Tenets with those in our Order. In fact, they had to strip one of our previous Masters of her title — due to reasons I am not privy to." Austin looked listlessly off into the distance as they continued walking, thinking on matters within the Order. "We must not allow any more to fall, as Kal Vox and Alais Drast have."

The light returning to Austin's eyes, he smiled resolutely again towards Cavalas. "However, my interactions with you, albeit brief, have filled me with hope. It is always a good thing for Jedi to return to the Light. I am sure you will be reinstated as a Knight swiftly."

@Ecclessey @Loco​

 

[Fennex Zeerda]

It was such an indignity, Fennex thought, that despite all of their efforts building a defense fleet and securing the numerous temples of Tython to serve as listening posts, Knights garrisons, and defensive positions, that anyone and everyone seemed to just waltz right up to the front gates any time they felt like it. What was the point of defenses if they didn't defend against anything? By the Force, he'd go see to this mess himself he decided, stomping his way down the steps of the temple and muttering to himself. Such indignity. Making his way past the Temple Guard who were standing close watch from a distance, Fen saw that Master Wolfe had beaten him to it this time.

Strange, the Master thought as he drew near. He felt something familiar... Something he'd not felt in a long time now. He could smell it too- a scent from years past, that he couldn't quiet place. It made him wonder if his nose was starting to go out too, or if it was just his memory that was getting wonky. Who knew? Coming around the towering (over him) form of Austin to stand at his side, Fennex finally lay eyes on the intruder he was about to give a stern talking to for disturbing his afternoon meditations. His tail swished. His whiskers twitched. He raised a furry eyebrow.

"Cav?" He finally blurted incredulously.

@Ecclessey @Vosrik

 

[Cavalas Onn]

At first, Cavalas thought that the familiar feeling came from simply discussing the old fox but despite the topic changing to Kal Vox, Alais Drast and then his own return to the Jedi Order, that familiar feeling grew and even brought the former crusader back to Dantooine. That feeling was there when he had almost fallen over to the Dark Side and it was that presence that told him to see reason. It was -unmistakenly- the Forceful presence of the old fo-

"Fennex?" Cavalas blurted it out almost at the same time as little jedi master. Immediately the smile returned on his face as he kneeled, "-when they told me you'd become master I had to come and see for myself." Truthfully, Cavalas was still too zealous and serious for his own his good and while that made both his relationship with the Light Side of the Force difficult and his social network limited, that he wanted to see Fennex as 'Master Zeerda' was completely without falsehoods. ]

@Loco @Vosrik