Of Greatest Fears

[Raydo]

Hanna City, Chandrila 1700 Hours Local​

Jonas Valrin had been on Chandrila for several months. The excitement of his election had faded. He spun the expensive red leather chair away from his desk and looked out of the beautiful city he now called home. The view from his office was stunning, it looked out of the Hanna City and the Silver Sea beyond. Jonas had never wanted for anything, but he had never been so content before in his life. He finally felt like he was where he belonged.

The only piece out of place was the unfinished letter had penned and thrown away a hundred times. He glanced at the simple piece of paper as it sat out on darkly stained wood desk.

"How do you talk to the brother who you haven't spoken to in almost twenty years" was the thought that so often ran through his head. What could he say? His brother had been sent with the Jedi when they were both very young. He had not heard from his older brother since. Jonas just couldn't understand why he would shun his family.

He had planned on sending the letter to the Jedi, in hopes it would find its way to him. But day after day it sat on his desk. Perhaps Jonas was afraid that his brother wouldn't care. Perhaps Jonas was afraid of what he find. He knew next to nothing about his brother, Sylas Valrin.

He let out a heavy sigh, looking at the crumpled piece of paper one last time before resolving to, once again, finish it in the morning.

He looked out over the Silver Sea, just as the sun was beginning to dip out of the sky. The water sparkled and shimmered as the sky turned a brilliant orange. His mind wondered for a brief second until the soft beep of the intercom snapped him back to reality. "Senator Valrin, Someone is here to see you." his assistant said pausing for second before finishing "Someone from the Jedi Order."

Jonas quickly turned around, his eyes locking on the intercom for a long second. "Senator Valrin?" the young female voice asked. Jonas moved to intercom "Yes, well please send him in." he said calmly, masking the myriad of thoughts running through his head. He couldn't believe his brother had finally come to see him. There was no other reason for a Jedi to visit him. He moved to the front of his desk.

He straightened dark green vest as he waited.

@GABA

 

[GABA]

The Jedi listened carefully as the female at the desk chimed into her boss' office informing of his guest. Kyrene hoped he wasn't too busy, but from what the older Knights had told her, most Senators made time for the Jedi, since they seemed to think the Jedi always had something important to say. Though, for Kyrene, she didn't think, she knew she had something to address with the young Senator, and it brought her ease that he had the time to see her, though a small frown would cross her face as he assumed she was male. Typical.

The female aide ushered the young Jedi Knight to the Senator's office. Her dark blue eyes took in her surroundings, his office much more elaborate than she had expected and it truly showed how much wealth was poured in order to make up for power. Her long handled saber bounced against her back with her steps and her robes were a bit more formal and decorative than most of the browns others wore in the Order. She clicked her tongue as though she was going to say something about the room's decor, but instead smiled to the Senator and gave him a small bow, some of her blonde locks fell past her cheeks.

"Senator Valrin." she greeted, "I am Jedi Knight Kyrene Amyntas, and I am grateful you have granted me this time to share with you." she paused, folding her hands before her, "I come with not a diplomatic urgency, but one more personal, one I believe you will would find more of value. It was of a good few months ago that I had seen you on the holonet and questioned how very familiar you looked to a Jedi Sylas Valrin, who, with a heavy heart had passed on into the Force shortly after." Kyrene explained, she wasn't sure if the Senator knew of his brother or his whereabouts, but what mattered to her was the message she needed to deliver.

In fact the young Knight would have never bothered to seek out the Senator if it wasn't for her recent expedition involving the Senator's late brother.

 

[Raydo]

The door to his office opened, and Jonas couldn't hide the slight look of confusion as the young Jedi walked through the door. She glanced at the room, and Jonas had been practicing reading people for the better part of a decade. He could tell when he was being judged. She moved into the room and the door closed behind her. He returned her bow with a slight, but polite bow.

He had heard of the Jedi Knights, though he had never met an actual Jedi. Jonas, being rather young for a Senator, never judged someone based on their age, but she seemed pretty young to be one of the famed Knights of the Jedi Order. She appeared to only be 16, or 17 at the oldest.

Before he could respond to her greeting she informed him of his brother's death. He froze as his brain hurried to process what she had just told him. He barely knew his brother, and he was saddened, but he couldn't help but feel guilty at the fact we wasn't more so. He had never, in their twenty years apart, assumed he would die. Sylas had become more of an idea to Jonas, with only his first memories containing any vague images of the boy. Now, he was gone. His biggest feeling at the moment was regret. He should have sent the letter soon, maybe his brother would still be alive.

An awkward silence grew in the room. "I..." he tried to continue but stumbled with his words "..I.." he chuckled out of awkwardness "..I apologize, you have caught me off guard." he said gesturing to one of the two chairs sitting in front of his desk. "Please, sit down." he offered as he sat down in the chair next to it.

How would he tell his Mother? His father had only died last year, and now this. It would destroy her. She had always hid her worry from Jonas well, but he knew she had always regretted letting Sylas leave home.

"Did you know my brother?" he asked quietly.

 

[GABA]

Kyrene was washed with waves of emotion from the Senator, he was more shocked than anything, perhaps disappointment too, and a tad of regret that seemed to grow as he took it all in. He motioned for her to take a seat while took a seat next to her, she felt some hesitation as all she wanted to do was deliver the message and leave, but it seems that was not going to be her plan now. She sat down, adjusting the saber on her back so it wouldn't poke her uncomfortably in the neck as the Senator continued asking if she knew his brother.

Did she know his brother? "A little," she replied, "Sylas was a good few years older than my clan, he helped me and the other padawans with our saber skills." Kyrene thought back to the training classes lead by the elder padawans, Sylas was one of them. Though what Kyrene left out was the part about how he and his padawan buddies used to prank the younger students around the temple halls. Her eyes drifted in thought, knowing very well a story like that was not perhaps the best to share at the moment, though she thought about her dream and her attention snapped back.

"However, he must have known me because I saw him, shortly after he passed away." She waited for the Senator to point her out the door, from a non-Jedi perspective it probably sounded a little ridiculous, even she thought before consulting a Master it was a little funny, "He came to me and told me to leave his lightsaber on Adara, at the old twisted tree in the forest in which you two used to play." Kyrene studied Jonas for a moment, she recalled her hike through the forest while huffing at the air to give her a hint as to which old tree he spoke of, it seems as lore would have truth, they sure did like to be vague.

"So I found it, and left it there for you to find."

 

[Raydo]

He coudln't shake the numbness he felt towards the whole situation. It was too sudden, too much to process.

Jonas laughed at the poorly timed joke. He smiled as he waited for her to laugh, but he found no humor in her facial expression. Was she lying? Was she crazy? Sure, He had heard the Jedi held rather extreme things about the Universe, but this was bizarre.

He gave her a puzzled look. "Why?" he confusedly asked. "I barely know what a lightsaber is, and unless there is a senatorial gladiator ring I don't know about, I can't see a scenario where I would need to." he said half jokingly half annoyed.

He thought for a moment, staring at the polished floor before he stood up. He didn't much care about the lightsaber, but it was a piece of his brother, the brother he would never know. Maybe through this, he could gain some sort of insight into who his brother really was. Besides, he couldn't just leave it in the woods for some punk kid to find.

Whether or not this Jedi Knight was visited by a ghost or not remained to be seen, but he couldn't hide a small amount of excitement at the adventure. "Well, I guess I have woods to search." he said pausing. He knew she wanted to leave, and head off to whatever grand and mysterious things Jedi Knights did with their time. "However, I find it doubtful you placed it at the right tree. So." he said clapping his hands once "Care to accompany me back to Andara to help find which old tree, in a forest filled with old trees, you left this artifact at?" he said with only a partially smug grin. He didn't need a "Higher Power" to know she wanted nothing more than to be gone with this place.

 

[GABA]

The Jedi was convinced he thought of her as crazy. "Oh, no," she reassured Jonas, "I made sure it was the right tree, the Force lead me there, the whispers and the pull and when I set it inside the niche, then I felt ready to return to see you." Kyrene reassured the Senator, recalling how she reassured the Masters at the temple.

"But..." Kyrene thought for a moment on his offer, "I believe I can spare some time to accompany you to Andara..." She wasn't used to being a Knight still, and remembered she no longer needed to report back in to the Masters in the Order.

"Or have all the time..." she added, thinking some more, "Perhaps, your brother told me to put it there because he has something to tell you?" she asked him, standing up, seeming eager to go to Andara.

 

[Raydo]

"Wonderful then!" he said with a only slightly mocking tone. He walked out of the office "Val, do you mind contacting the hangar and letting them know I need to travel to Andara, please." he asked his assistant. The young assistant gave him a puzzled look. "Now?" she asked glancing at the a console screen. "Adventure my dear, adventure!" he said spinning towards the exit.

Should he really be joking right now? He just found out his brother had died, and he was joking like nothing had happened. His new Jedi companion probably thought him some sort of cold hearted monster.

Once they were out on the streets of Chandrila he returned to their conversation. "What could he want to tell me?" he blurted out as they moved towards the hangar. "I only barely remember him, and it isn't like he didn't know where I was at. Do you Jedi not get vacations?" he asked. He hated himself. Was he really getting mad at his dead brother for not visiting?!

He wanted this to be some sort of message. He wanted this to be sign. That is why he was even going. In his heart he knew this was something, but the voice in his mind told him this was a waste of time. He spent the rest of the short walk in silence thinking about what had happened in the last hour.

His Luxury Transport was already on the landing pad, the pilot standing by the ramp when they arrived. "Senator Valrin." he said with a nod of his head. "We should be ready to depart in just a few moments." He returned the nod and smiled "Thank you. We are ready to leave when you are." he replied making his way up the ramp. The center of the ship was an office and lounge.

He walked into the open room and to a small bar on the far side of the room. "Can I get you a drink?" he paused "Do Jedi drink?" he paused again "Actually, are you old enough to drink?" he said laughing. He put several ice cubes in a small glass and poured a small amount of Andaran Whiskey and sat one of the few large chairs in the center of the room.

As the ship's engines began to power up, Jonas sat back in his chair slightly and took a sip of his drink. "So, Kyrene, if I may call you that, How does one become a Jedi? I know very little about the topic, but I am assuming you are recruited fairly young considering Sylas was 7 when he was sent to the Order." he asked inquisitively. He had asked his parents about the Jedi multiple times growing up, and they told him of the legends to were known to Galaxy, but it seemed the stuff of fairy tales. Men and Women wielding magic powers who could kill thousands of foes single handedly.

 

[GABA]

Following the Senator, Kyrene wasn't sure what to think of this guy, he clearly didn't believe too much in her tale or the Force. Though perhaps it was how most outsiders precieved the Jedi; Kyrene let out a quiet sigh and scratched her head in thought. She felt so naive and really wished her Master was still by her side to help her; her own doubt felt cold, but she quickly shook it, looking for the confidence that lead her to this spot now. The Senator still seemed too hyped than she was comfortable with and pondered if it was just his way of handling the shock. She could imagine ever losing a family member, all her brothers and sisters were still living and were healthy.

Kyrene followed Jonas onto his shuttle, feeling impressed by the interior as most ships she had traveled on were very basic. She found a comfortable spot in a chair and Jonas offered her a drink, but politely declined as he backpedaled on whether or not she was even old enough to have a drink before sitting down himself.

"Well, most of us are brought to the temples at a young age. Sometimes Masters visit families because the child's abilities blossom at an earlier age, other times its simply just the call of the Force." she explained, answering his question, certain though he would believe the first part and not the latter. "I was about four when I arrived at the temple, supposedly I was mind tricking my siblings into giving me things." Kyrene grinned. She had no memory of doing so, but since her Masters had told her, she believed it to be true.

"Did you and Sylas have any other brothers or sisters?" she asked him, but her instinct told her he did not since his brother's spirit asked her to see to Jonas.

 

[Raydo]

Jonas raised an eye brow "Mind trick? So you can read people's thoughts or someting?" he asked curiously. That would be disconcerting, a group of powerful warriors who could read the mind's of the opponents and make them bend to their will. The stuff of nightmares.

He got caught up in his thoughts and didn't realize the growing silence until she asked a question in return. "We have one older sister, Isabella.". Well, he had an older sister. She had more memories of their brother than Jonas had, but she quickly married into another noble house shortly after the departure of their brother. "Are these.." he paused as he looked for the word "..powers? Passed down genically or is random?" he asked finishing his drink and placing it on the table in front of hi,

She also mentioned this Force again. He had heard of it in passing in his very short time as a Senator, but knew next to nothing about it. He would of asked, but she spoke as if it was something that everyone knew as common knowledge. He supposed he gave it some weight, he was traveling across the Galaxy based of vision from it.

 

[GABA]

She eyed him curiously when he revealed he had other siblings, she found the situation peculiar as to why his borhter chose him over anyone else. Though, the Senator seemed more intrigued about the Force and how it originates. For Kyrene, this seemed like common sense, but then again, she reminded herself not everyone grew up in a temple nor had the lessons and values of being a Jedi instilled in them for a lifetime.

"Well, no, mind trick isn't like that, but there are some who can manipulate the Force in order to read minds..." she paused, thinking about her words to make it as simple as possible for the young man to understand, "The Force, you see, is an energy that surrounds us and flows through every living being. We are all connected by it." Kyrene explained, thinking about how much she sounded like her Master.

"I don't believe its necessarily a genetic thing...since if we're all connected, then anyone should be able to hear it in one form or another." Kyrene tapped her chin in thought, trying to recall what she knew about her own family, "So, with knowing that, maybe you have a little bit of a stronger connection to the Force than you think and that's why your brother has sent us on this journey." Kyrene gave him a hopeful grin.

 

[Raydo]

The idea of their being individuals who could influence the will of others, or read their thoughts unnerved Jonas. It seemed like a huge threat to the free will of those not "gifted". He had heard the stories of the Jedi and their noble philosophy. He wasn't sure how much weight he put into her ideas about the Force. Had he already been influenced by her? His desire to know his brother, to be close to him had caused him to wonder out into space on nothing more than blind faith. Even in his skepticism, he found himself wanting to trust the Jedi. He had always prided himself on being a good judge of character, but perhaps he should not be so quick to trust his gut.

He was a politician, and was skilled in hiding emotion from his face, but he was tired. He now saw he showed such interest in the Force and the Jedi to keep his true feelings of sadness, guilt, and anger from bubbling to the surface. He now found it difficult to hide his sadness and worries on his face.

Jonas nodded as she finished speaking. "I suppose we shall see what your "Force" holds for me in the morning. For now, I will retire. I trust you will find one the guest quarters to your liking. Please don't hesitate to ask myself or the crew if you need for anything and make yourself at home." he said placing the glass on the small table beside his chair as he stood. He made his way to the door and as the door slid open he turned and opened his mouth to speak but struggled to find the words he wanted to say. There was so much he wanted to know about his brother, about what had happened. After a brief paused he gave a half smile and quietly added "Good Night, Kyrene" and exited the room.

As he walked to his room the emotions he struggled to hold back came crashing into his mind. He made his way to the chambers at the end of the short hallway and sat on the bed as the door closed.

He sat in the dark room and stared at the floor. He finally allowed himself to grieve as the first tears fell down his face.

 

[GABA]

Kyrene fell silent as Jonas excused himself for the night. Her words were quickly reevaluated as she tried to decide if she may have spooked him with the Force. If so, she could relate to a degree as when she was first learning about the Force, how she was in awe of its limitless power it seems to hold over the choices of individuals. It truly was something dangerous if the wrong individuals such as the Sith gained knowledge in, but on the other hand, as she was taught and truly believed it was a wonderful power to have in order to help others in the galaxy. Regardless, it may have not been the right time for the Senator, his mind clearly unfocused with the shock of the news of his brother's death.

The young Knight wished Jonas a good night also and left the room shortly after he did, directed by staff on his ship to where her quarters would be. She propped her lightsaber staff against the wall and laid down on the bed, folding her hands behind her head as she went over what had happened today. Her mind fell into meditation as she thought, her feelings stretched forth into the galaxy looking for answers and guidance for her quest with the Senator.

It would not be long until they would arrive on Jonas' homeworld.

 

[Raydo]

Jonas was exactly sure when sleep found him, but when it did, it was uneasy. The thoughts of the day ran through the half lucid mind of the Senator. At one point, he had an dream image of a man he didn't recognize, but felt familiar at the same time. That is when the beeping comm awoke him, notifying him they had arrived on Andara.

He quickly showered and changed into new clothes and exited his room heading towards the landing ramp. He passed by the room he had sat in with the Jedi the night prior. A single glass lay in the hallway in front of the closed door. Jonas looked around, somewhat puzzled. He picked the glass up and placed it just inside the room before continuing down the hallway.

He walked down the ramp and into the afternoon heat of Andara. They had landed at the private landing pad on his family estate. He saw the Jedi standing off to side as he was approached by an aging steward of the family. "Master Valrin, This is a surprise. We had no idea you were planning a trip home. Your mother will be quite pleased, will you be joining for dinner?" the elderly man said. Jonas smiled and placed a hand on the man's shoulder. "It is good to see, Sylas. Perhaps, I have some business to attend to before hand." he said smiling. With that, the elderly man bowed and began to return to the large house that could be seen in the distance through the trees.

He looked over to Kyrene. "I am following you, Master Jedi." he said adding a teasing tone to title. If she had indeed chosen the correct tree, the walk would take about twenty minutes. Several guards fell in line behind the two as they moved off towards the woods. Jonas waved them off "We will be fine" he said to the group. Within minutes they had found themselves in the thick Andaran forest. The only thing that hinted at nearby civilization was the occasional sound of a ship passing over head.

The image of the face he saw was still vivid in his mind. It was almost as if he could see it still when he closed his eyes. "So, this may make me sound crazy. Well.." pausing slightly "..this may actually mean I am going crazy, but last night I kept seeing the face of a man I had never seen before." he admitted to the Jedi. He then went on to explain the appearance of a man that was slightly taller than Jonas, had short cut brown hair, and wore a black robe. He looked sad, but never moved or said anything. After he said it he couldn't help but feel a tad silly. He should had just kept his mouth shut.

 

[GABA]

While meditating, Kyrene fell asleep, she didn't remember doing so, but luckily the change in the hum of the ships engine's alerted to arrival of Jonas' home world. Fixing a few loose strands of her hair, she met the Senator and followed him outside, going from the slight chill of space to the heavy hot hair and the Jedi would have been more than happy to admit she did not like mid afternoon heat.

They were greeted by an elderly man who only seemed to take notice of Jonas, though Kyrene preferred it as she struggled to keep her clothes from sticking to her skin. After exchanging some greetings, Jonas turned to her and commented she now would lead the way. Though the 'master jedi' title made her a little uneasy, she knew herself as a Jedi but master jedi made it sound as though she were a high master of the order with limitless knowledge and wisdom. Kyrene gave a coy grin and small two fingered salute. "This way then..." she said hiking to the forest entry. She stood in front of the entry for a moment and let out a slow breath. Her senses ignited as she reached out into the Force, letting herself follow the path that she took the last time she visited. It was more familiar, more calm as it welcomed the Jedi and the Senator into the maze of ferns and tree trunks.

Kyrene found the path easier the second time around, allowing the Jedi to take the time to really feel her surroundings, the life that pulsed was serene for the young knight, so much, she nearly forgot her original purpose, but Jonas' speaking up brought her back to reality as he described to her about a man he saw in his dream the night before. She glanced over to Jonas and grinned, "Maybe it was a premonition...of your future murderer..." the Knight gave a playful scowl, but realized she was still in the company of a Republic Senator and that could spell bad news for her later, "...or it could have been Sylas, kind of sounds like him when I saw him..." Kyrene bit her lip and hurried her forward so the Senator couldn't see her cheeks blush bright red.

"This way! We're almost there!" she said picking up speed.

 

[Raydo]

He has glad his head of security was not around to hear the joke. The man would have him locked away for a month for his own protection. Jonas chuckled as the Jedi quickened her pace. Could it have been his brother? Or maybe it was just what he thought his brother looked like? It seemed so real.

They were heading in the right direction. As they made there way through the clearing the air changed. Jonas couldn't put his finger on it. He quickened his pace, passing the Jedi Knight as they entered the clearing with a tree.

He hadn't been to this spot in years, but it looked exactly like it had that day he had last seen his brother. Its gnarled branches twisting and turning into the sky. It somehow felt dead and alive at the same time. At the bottom of its base, rested a black hilt. He wasn't sure what called him forward, but he found himself moving closer and closer until he was directly in front of it. He dropped to his knees and starred at the hilt for some time.

The wind seemed to carry the peaceful whispers of the dead. He couldn't understand them, but everything pulled him to the blade. He reached out slowly and his vision went black as soon as his fingertips felt the cool metal.

Seconds, Minutes, Hours, or Days passed in that darkness. Jonas wasn't sure how long he was there before a scene started to form. He saw the man from his dream the previous night. He stood on a sand dune over looking some rocks. He shouted at two hooded figures below, but Jonas heard no sound. The man leaped down, igniting a blue blade and the two men ignited red blades. They fought for several minutes until the man with blue blade lost his footing and was run through. The two men quickly ran off.

The scene faded and he found himself once again in that blackness until he caught a beam of light in the corner of his eye. Jonas saw the man once again, this time standing, or maybe floating in the beam of light. "Jonas, It is good to see you brother." he said smiling. Jonas had a hard time finding a voice "S..Sylas?" he asked.

The man smiled ignoring the question. "I haven't much time." said before continuing. "The Sith are the greatest threat to your Republic, the greatest threat to the Galaxy. You will find the answers you need in the Force. You must learn to listen to it, to trust it." he said as he faded slightly into the light. "It calls to me now, brother. Tell the Jedi who accompanied you that I am sorry for the jokes I played on her youngling clan." he said chuckling, it reminded him of Jonas' father. "I am proud of the man you have become. Give my love to our Sister and Mother. May the Force be with you." he said as his voice trailed off.

The light faded and he blinked open his eyes and found the old, mossy tree he had grown up around. He stared down the lightsaber he held in both of his hands. He had seen his brother's death, but felt at peace about his passing. He looked down for more long seconds before standing up.

He placed his hand on the tree and felt its damp bark and smiled. "Sylas said he was was sorry for the jokes he played on your..clan..I think it was?" he said laughing. He wasn't quite sure what that was, but maybe she made sense of it.

He brushed off his pants from the dirt that had collected on them. He looked at the Jedi as he turned "Kyrene, I thank you for this. I am indebted to you. When we get back, I will have one of our shuttles take you wherever you need to go, and if I can ever repay you, you only need ask" he started walking home. "Of course you are welcome at my home as well. Though I warn you my mother, Lady Valrin can surely be more vicious than any monster you have faced as a Jedi." he said laughing.

 

[GABA]

The Force stirred and Kyrene stopped, seeing the tree ahead of them. She glanced over to watch Jonas continue walking, almost in a daze as she could tell something called him. The young Knight crouched down, watching the Senator as he neared the old gnarled tree. She rested her chin on the top of her knees, watching carefully before closing her eyes also as a breeze brushed her cheek and the Force pulsed through the Senator.

He stood there for a long while and Kyrene watched him patiently, keeping a look out from any nosy intruders who could threaten to break the young man's focus. Kyrene felt herself intrigue; raised in an environment where everyone thought the Force was nothing but common, seeing Jonas experience the Force was something else. She was curious what he was thinking, what he was seeing or feeling... though one could very easily do so with her talents... a bit of excitement crept in her stomach.

By the time Jonas came out of his trance, Kyrene had made herself comfortable, sitting crossed-legged in the forest floor brush, leaves, and sticks and her long staff lightsaber hilt rested her in lap, finding its new purpose as an armrest. She watched him as he placed his hand on the tree and spoke. Kyrene was stunned for a moment when he mentioned his brother apologizing, but soon a smile would grace her face. Rising to her feet, she gave him a bow as he indebted himself to her.

"Thank you Senator, I am pleased I was able to help you find some peace today. The Force is with you and I have yet to believe it is not finished with you."